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Lover and Anxiety: A Thread
Lover has a way of discussing anxiety in ways that Taylor never fully touched before and I’ve going to go through every track with a commentary on how.
Lover has a way of discussing anxiety in ways that Taylor never fully touched before and I’ve going to go through every track with a commentary on how.
1. I Forgot That You Existed
A song about realising you’ve let someone’s opinion of you control your emotions for way too long. It’s encouraging yourself to let go of the fears that someone else has pushed into the mind, and just feel indifferent about past betrayals.
A song about realising you’ve let someone’s opinion of you control your emotions for way too long. It’s encouraging yourself to let go of the fears that someone else has pushed into the mind, and just feel indifferent about past betrayals.
2. Cruel Summer
A song specifically about anxiety in a budding relationship. She makes direct references to low expectations: “always waiting for you just to cut to the bone” and eventually explodes due to the consistent suppression of her feelings out of fear of disappointment.
A song specifically about anxiety in a budding relationship. She makes direct references to low expectations: “always waiting for you just to cut to the bone” and eventually explodes due to the consistent suppression of her feelings out of fear of disappointment.
3. Lover
Even in a love song, there are moments of anxiety. She shows insecurity in the line “I’m highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you.” She then professes to give all of herself, scars and all to her lover.
Even in a love song, there are moments of anxiety. She shows insecurity in the line “I’m highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you.” She then professes to give all of herself, scars and all to her lover.
4. The Man
The man reflects Taylor’s realisation of how people’s perception of her is heavily impacted by sexism. She points out how women are rarely believed and their successes are questioned, which is widely believed to cause high levels of imposter syndrome in women.
The man reflects Taylor’s realisation of how people’s perception of her is heavily impacted by sexism. She points out how women are rarely believed and their successes are questioned, which is widely believed to cause high levels of imposter syndrome in women.
5. The Archer (1)
The Archer directly examines the feelings of anxiety. She begins by questioning her own goodness and desires with a “what if.” She then points out her endless list of things she wanted to say but never did. She discusses her growth in a negative light and
The Archer directly examines the feelings of anxiety. She begins by questioning her own goodness and desires with a “what if.” She then points out her endless list of things she wanted to say but never did. She discusses her growth in a negative light and
Confessed to “riding off alone” as a way of avoiding confronting her issues. The chorus admits to times in which she has attacked and been attacked and questions whether she could truly be loved. She then delves into whether her relationship with her lover is doomed to turn 2
Bitter, only to dare to consider she might be safe where she is. She admits to how her anxieties grow into fires at night, but ones only she can feel and see. She laments are how she might be doomed to die alone as her heroes did. The song builds to a resonating bridge 3
In which she feels everyone can only see her flaws. She wonders if her lover can too and confesses that that is how she feels about herself. She feels unfixable. As the song draws to a close, she draws a happier conclusion. She decides to place faith on herself and her lover.
6. I Think He Knows
On the flip side, she follows it up with an acknowledgement on confidence. The attraction of someone who is incredibly sure of themselves, and the way that being around them can encourage you to acknowledge your own worth and treat yourself with respect
On the flip side, she follows it up with an acknowledgement on confidence. The attraction of someone who is incredibly sure of themselves, and the way that being around them can encourage you to acknowledge your own worth and treat yourself with respect
7. MAATHP
This song covers anxiety to two aspects
1. fear of social acceptance and learning to be okay with quality of friends > quantity
2. Anxiety over the future of your country and desperation of seeing “the bad guys win” over and over. Becoming disillusioned with 1
This song covers anxiety to two aspects
1. fear of social acceptance and learning to be okay with quality of friends > quantity
2. Anxiety over the future of your country and desperation of seeing “the bad guys win” over and over. Becoming disillusioned with 1
A system that is failing you. She’s helpless and the “damsels are depressed” a mental illness commonly associated with anxiety. She acknowledges that she ran at a time when she should have fought for what was right, and vows to stand up for what she believes in from now on.
8. Paper Rings
In this much brighter song, Taylor acknowledges that her past has made her who she is today which has resulted in a strong relationship with foundations in learning from mistakes. She compares moments of private infatuation to her new pride in her strong feelings.
In this much brighter song, Taylor acknowledges that her past has made her who she is today which has resulted in a strong relationship with foundations in learning from mistakes. She compares moments of private infatuation to her new pride in her strong feelings.
9. Cornelia Street
This song rivals the archer in fear, but specifically based on the prospect of losing her relationship. Taylor has found someone she loves so much that losing it is an unbeatable idea she can’t help but ponder. She expresses how all that’s associated with
This song rivals the archer in fear, but specifically based on the prospect of losing her relationship. Taylor has found someone she loves so much that losing it is an unbeatable idea she can’t help but ponder. She expresses how all that’s associated with
Her lover would have to be removed from her life should they turn sour. She states that the relationship began tentative with her convinced she was being led on. She is only just attempting to give into the prospect of contentment forever.
10. DBATC
DBATC immediately ponders the potential of being on the other side of cornelia’s fears. The dreaded break up has occurred and Taylor is struggling to let go of her hurt. She muses on the parts of her that will never feel clean again and she finds herself begging for
DBATC immediately ponders the potential of being on the other side of cornelia’s fears. The dreaded break up has occurred and Taylor is struggling to let go of her hurt. She muses on the parts of her that will never feel clean again and she finds herself begging for
Answers from impossible sources. It plays into the part of anxiety in which sufferers often find themselves clinging to past pains out of fear of happiness, believing that happiness only leads to sadness
11. London Boy
This track embraces a new life in a new country and talks of the bravery to acknowledge that she is proud of her romantic attachment and is happy to say “the rumours are true, I am in love.”
This track embraces a new life in a new country and talks of the bravery to acknowledge that she is proud of her romantic attachment and is happy to say “the rumours are true, I am in love.”
12. Soon You’ll Get Better
A pure confession of fear. The fear of losing someone that means more to you than anyone in the world. A desperate clinging to the hope that things will one day change, but a harrowing realisation of “delusion in the mirror” 1
A pure confession of fear. The fear of losing someone that means more to you than anyone in the world. A desperate clinging to the hope that things will one day change, but a harrowing realisation of “delusion in the mirror” 1
And a broken confession that she is questioning how she could possibly cope with this potential loss. She tries to be strong and not let her fears overcome her ability to support her loved one through her pain.
13. False God
This song covers the idea that relationships are a believe system and more often than not they’re false ones. She dares her lover to leave her in order to test him with a drive to push her faith to the limits and prove the falseness, but for now she vows to worship
This song covers the idea that relationships are a believe system and more often than not they’re false ones. She dares her lover to leave her in order to test him with a drive to push her faith to the limits and prove the falseness, but for now she vows to worship
14. You Need To Calm Down
In this single she asks people to “calm down” with her aggressive desire to hurt others. She talks of the potentials of unity and she states that her aggressors have not broken her yet. She insists on her own self-acceptance.
In this single she asks people to “calm down” with her aggressive desire to hurt others. She talks of the potentials of unity and she states that her aggressors have not broken her yet. She insists on her own self-acceptance.
15. Afterglow
She questions why she has to “break what she loves so much” with this song apologising to her lover for their fight being her fault. She asks his forgiveness for letting her fears dictate how she views their relationship in a negative way she confesses
She questions why she has to “break what she loves so much” with this song apologising to her lover for their fight being her fault. She asks his forgiveness for letting her fears dictate how she views their relationship in a negative way she confesses
To “living like an island” isolating herself out of pride. This song shows her growth in the sense of realising she can be her own worst enemy at times.
16. ME!
The duet is all about self-acceptance and letting your lover know that despite everything they may never find someone who can give them the relationship you are giving them. She bombastically accepts that she is worthy of love.
The duet is all about self-acceptance and letting your lover know that despite everything they may never find someone who can give them the relationship you are giving them. She bombastically accepts that she is worthy of love.
17. It’s Nice To Have A Friend
The progression of INTHAF follows a storyline of developing a friendship so trusting it becomes a life long love. She talks of finding the nerve to touch someone’s hand and being honest with your partner, and the safety of real love
The progression of INTHAF follows a storyline of developing a friendship so trusting it becomes a life long love. She talks of finding the nerve to touch someone’s hand and being honest with your partner, and the safety of real love
18. Daylight
In daylight, Taylor reflects on the darker times she has had in her life and how she has moved past them. She talks of a “twenty year dark night” which refers back to The Archer’s “I wake in the night// the room is on fire” she confesses that she has been the
In daylight, Taylor reflects on the darker times she has had in her life and how she has moved past them. She talks of a “twenty year dark night” which refers back to The Archer’s “I wake in the night// the room is on fire” she confesses that she has been the
Antagonist of her own story at times, but has henceforth decided to let go off this darkness. She reflects on her previous ideas of believing that happiness can only lead to sadness and acknowledges that she was wrong. After an album full of the ups and downs of anxiety,
She vows to only be defined by the the things she loves. She concludes that you must “step into the daylight and let it go.” You are what you love.
Overall, Lover covers many shades of anxiety that Taylor has never quite delved into before. That is why I think Lover is one of the strongest and most emotional albums Taylor has made.
