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Every Song Taylor Swift Has Written by Herself

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  • Taylor Swift is credited as the sole writer on more than 60 songs across her career.
  • This means she composed the lyrics and melodies alone.
  • These include fan-favorites like “Our Song,” “Love Story,” “Dear John,” “Red,” and “The Black Dog.”

Taylor Swift has been writing songs since she was 10 years old, when she first picked up a guitar.

At 15, Swift became the youngest songwriter to ever sign a publishing deal with Sony. In the two decades since, she has built a billion-dollar empire off the strength and popularity of her musical catalog.

“Everybody has their own sort of niche or specialty thing that they do that, you know, sets them apart from everybody else,” Swift said in “Miss Americana,” her 2020 Netflix documentary. “My storytelling is what it is for me. I know that without me writing my own songs, I wouldn’t be here.”

Although Swift has frequently worked with noted producers and fellow songwriters to create music collaboratively — as with her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” which she co-produced and cowrote entirely with Max Martin and Shellback — Swift is credited as the lead writer on every song she has ever released.

Swift is also credited as the sole songwriter on more than 60 tracks across her discography, meaning she composed the lyrics and melodies alone. These are listed below in a loose chronological order.

“The Outside”


taylor swift stagecoach 2008



“The Outside” is the sixth track on “Taylor Swift.”


John Shearer/WireImage

Album: “Taylor Swift” (2006)

Best lyrics:

I tried to take the road less traveled by
But nothing seems to work the first few times

“Should’ve Said No”




Taylor Swift performs at the 2008 ACM Awards.


Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Album: “Taylor Swift” (2006)

Best lyrics:

I should’ve been there, in the back of your mind
I shouldn’t be asking myself why
You shouldn’t be begging for forgiveness at my feet
You should’ve said no
Baby, and you might still have me

“Our Song”




“Our Song” was released as a single in 2007.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Taylor Swift” (2006)

Best lyrics:

Our song is the slamming screen door
Sneaking out late, tapping on your window
When we’re on the phone and you talk real slow
‘Cause it’s late and your mama don’t know

“Christmas Must Be Something More”




“Christmas Must Be Something More” is the fifth track on “The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection.”


George Napolitano/FilmMagic

EP: “The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection” (2008)

Best lyrics:

What if ribbons and bows didn’t mean a thing?
Would the song still survive without five golden rings?

“Beautiful Eyes”




“Beautiful Eyes” is the first track on Swift’s “Beautiful Eyes” EP.


Rick Diamond/WireImage

EP: “Beautiful Eyes” (2008)

Best lyrics:

I wake up, I’m alive
In only a little while, I’ll cry

“I Heart ?”




“I Heart ?” is the sixth track on “Beautiful Eyes.”


Vince Bucci/Getty Images for AMA

EP: “Beautiful Eyes” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Wake up and smell the breakup
Fix my heart, put on my makeup
Another mess I didn’t plan

“Fifteen”




“Fifteen” was released as a single in 2009.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Back then, I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had
To a boy who changed his mind
And we both cried

“Love Story”




“Love Story” was released as a single in 2008.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Romeo, save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it’s real

“Hey Stephen”




“Hey Stephen” is the fourth track on “Fearless.”


Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Hey Stephen, I could give you 50 reasons
Why I should be the one you choose
All those other girls, well, they’re beautiful
But would they write a song for you?

“You’re Not Sorry”




“You’re Not Sorry” is the ninth track on “Fearless.”


Don Arnold/WireImage

Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

You’re looking so innocent, I might believe you if I didn’t know
Could’ve loved you all my life if you hadn’t left me waiting in the cold
And you’ve got your share of secrets
And I’m tired of being last to know

“Forever & Always”




“Forever & Always” is the 11th track on “Fearless.”


Theo Wargo/WireImage

Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Was I out of line?
Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide
Like a scared little boy?
I looked into your eyes
Thought I knew you for a minute, now I’m not so sure

“The Best Day”




“The Best Day” is the 12th track on “Fearless.”


Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
And I didn’t know if you knew, so I’m taking this chance to say
That I had the best day with you today

“Change”




“Change” is the 13th track on “Fearless.”


Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Erickson Public Relations

Album: “Fearless” (2008)

Best lyrics:

So we’ve been outnumbered, raided, and now, cornered
It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair
We’re getting stronger now, find things they never found
They might be bigger but we’re faster and never scared

“Jump Then Fall”




“Jump Then Fall” is the first track on “Fearless Platinum Edition.”


Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Album: “Fearless Platinum Edition” (2008)

Best lyrics:

The bottom’s gonna drop out from under our feet
I’ll catch you, I’ll catch you
When people say things that bring you to your knees
I’ll catch you
The time is gonna come when you’re so mad you could cry
But I’ll hold you through the night until you smile

“The Other Side of the Door”




“The Other Side of the Door” is the sixth track on “Fearless Platinum Edition.”


Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Album: “Fearless Platinum Edition” (2008)

Best lyrics:

With your face and the beautiful eyes
And the conversation with the little white lies
And the faded picture of a beautiful night
You carried me from your car up the stairs
And I broke down crying, was she worth this mess?
After everything and that little black dress
After everything, I must confess
I need you

“Today Was a Fairytale”




“Today Was a Fairytale” is the 20th track on “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).”


Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Erickson Public Relations

Album: “Valentine’s Day (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (2010), “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” (2021)

Best lyrics:

Can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me

“Mr. Perfectly Fine”




“Mr. Perfectly Fine” is the 22nd track on “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).”


Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” (2021)

Best lyrics:

Because I hear he’s got his arm ’round a brand-new girl
I’ve been pickin’ up my heart, he’s been pickin’ up her
And I never got past what you put me through
But it’s wonderful to see that it never phased you

“Mine”




“Mine” was released as a single in 2010.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter

“Sparks Fly”




“Sparks Fly” was released as a single in 2011.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Get me with those green eyes, baby, as the lights go down
Give me something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around

“Back to December”




“Back to December” was released as a single in 2010.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

And then the cold came, the dark days
When fear crept into my mind
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye

“Speak Now”




“Speak Now” is the fourth track on “Speak Now.”


Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

She floats down the aisle like a pageant queen
But I know you wish it was me
You wish it was me, don’t you?

“Dear John”




“Dear John” is the fifth track on “Speak Now.”


Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

You are an expert at “sorry”
And keeping lines blurry
Never impressed by me acing your tests
All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired lifeless eyes
‘Cause you burned them out
But I took your matches before fire could catch me
So don’t look now
I’m shining like fireworks over your sad empty town

“Mean”




“Mean” was released as a single in 2011.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
‘Cause you can’t lead me down that road
And you don’t know what you don’t know

“The Story of Us”




“The Story of Us” was released as a single in 2011.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

I’d tell you I miss you, but I don’t know how
I’ve never heard silence quite this loud

“Never Grow Up”




“Never Grow Up” is the eighth track on “Speak Now.”


Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother’s favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is, someday, gonna be gone

“Enchanted”




“Enchanted” is the ninth track on “Speak Now.”


Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Please don’t be in love with someone else
Please don’t have somebody waiting on you

“Better than Revenge”




“Better than Revenge” is the 10th track on “Speak Now.”


Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

She looks at life like it’s a party and she’s on the list
She looks at me like I’m a trend and she’s so over it
I think her ever-present frown is a little troubling
She thinks I’m psycho ’cause I like to rhyme her name with things

“Innocent”




“Innocent” is the 11th track on “Speak Now.”


Kevin Mazur/Contributor/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Time turns flames to embers
You’ll have new Septembers
Every one of us has messed up, too
Minds change like the weather
I hope you remember
Today is never too late to be brand new

“Haunted”




“Haunted” is the 12th track on “Speak Now.”


Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Oh, holding my breath
Won’t see you again
Something keeps me holding onto nothing

“Last Kiss”




“Last Kiss” is the 13th track on “Speak Now.”


Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

So I’ll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep
And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe
And I’ll keep up with our old friends
Just to ask them how you are
Hope it’s nice where you are
And I hope the sun shines and it’s a beautiful day
And something reminds you, you wish you had stayed
You can plan for a change in the weather and time
But I never planned on you changing your mind

“Long Live”




“Long Live” is the 14th track on “Speak Now.”


Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Album: “Speak Now” (2010)

Best lyrics:

And the cynics were outraged
Screaming, “This is absurd”
‘Cause for a moment, a band of thieves in ripped-up jeans
Got to rule the world

“Ours”




“Ours” is the 15th track on “Speak Now (Deluxe Edition).”


Kevin Mazur/Contributor/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now (Deluxe Edition)” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Don’t you worry your pretty little mind
People throw rocks at things that shine

“Superman”




“Superman” is the 17th track on “Speak Now (Deluxe Edition).”


Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Album: “Speak Now (Deluxe Edition)” (2010)

Best lyrics:

Something in his deep brown eyes has me saying
He’s not all bad like his reputation
And I can’t hear one single word they say
And you’ll leave, got places to be and I’ll be OK

“Electric Touch” (featuring Fall Out Boy)




“Electric Touch” is the 17th track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”


Kevin Kane/FilmMagic

Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

I’ve gotten used to no one calling my phone
I’ve grown accustomed to sleeping alone
Still, I know that all it takes is to get it right
Just one time, just one time

“When Emma Falls in Love”




“When Emma Falls in Love” is the 18th track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”


John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

She’s the kind of book that you can’t put down
Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town

“I Can See You”




“I Can See You” is the 19th track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

You won’t believe half the things I see inside my head
Wait ’til you see half the things that haven’t happened yet

“Castles Crumbling” (featuring Hayley Williams)




“Castles Crumbling” is the 20th track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”


Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage

Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

Power went to my head and I couldn’t stop
Ones I loved tried to help, so I ran them off
And here I sit alone behind walls of regret
Falling down like promises that I never kept

“Foolish One”




“Foolish One” is the 21st track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”


Ethan Miller/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

‘Cause you got her on your arm and me in the wings
I’ll get your longing glances, but she’ll get your ring
And you will say you had the best of intentions
And maybe I will finally learn my lesson

“Timeless”




“Timeless” is the 22nd track on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”


Octavio Jones/TAS23/Getty Images for for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)

Best lyrics:

That’s when I came upon a book covered in cobwebs
Story of a romance torn apart by fate
Hundreds of years ago, they fell in love, like we did
And I’d die for you in the same way, if I first saw your face
In the 1500s off in a foreign land
And I was forced to marry another man
You still would’ve been mine

“Eyes Open”




“Eyes Open” was released as a single from “The Hunger Games” soundtrack.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond” (2012)

Best lyrics:

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard
Every lesson forms a new scar
They never thought you’d make it this far

“State of Grace”




“State of Grace” is the first track on “Red.”


Christie Goodwin/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics: 

This is a state of grace
This is the worthwhile fight
Love is a ruthless game, unless you play it good and right

“Red”




“Red” is the second track on “Red.”


Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin
Ending so suddenly

“I Almost Do”




“I Almost Do” is the seventh track on “Red.”


Chris McGrath/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

I bet you think I either moved on or hate you
‘Cause each time you reach out, there’s no reply
I bet it never, ever occurred to you
That I can’t say hello to you and risk another goodbye

“Stay Stay Stay”




“Stay Stay Stay” is the ninth track on “Red.”


Dave Hogan/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

You took the time to memorize me
My fears, my hopes, and dreams
I just like hanging out with you all the time
All those times that you didn’t leave, it’s been occurring to me
I’d like to hang out with you for my whole life

“Holy Ground”




“Holy Ground” is the 11th track on “Red.”


John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

Took off faster than a green light, go
Hey, you skip the conversation when you already know
I left a note on the door with a joke we’d made
And that was the first day

“Sad Beautiful Tragic”




“Sad Beautiful Tragic” is the 12th track on “Red.”


Nicky Loh/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

In dreams, I meet you in warm conversation
We both wake in lonely beds, different cities
And time is taking its sweet time erasing you
And you’ve got your demons, and darling, they all look like me

“The Lucky One”




“The Lucky One” is the 13th track on “Red.”


Christopher Polk/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

And they tell you that you’re lucky, but you’re just so confused
‘Cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used
And all the young things line up to take your place

“Starlight”




“Starlight” is the 15th track on “Red.”


Dave Hogan/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics: 

I said, “Oh, my, what a marvelous tune”
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved

“Begin Again”




“Begin Again” was released as a single in 2012.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Red” (2012)

Best lyrics:

I’ve been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday, in a café, I watched it begin again

“The Moment I Knew”




“The Moment I Knew” is the 17th track on “Red (Deluxe Edition).”


Christopher Polk/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Album: “Red (Deluxe Edition)” (2012)

Best lyrics: 

What do you say when tears are streaming down your face in front of everyone you know?
And what do you do when the one who means the most to you is the one who didn’t show?

“Girl at Home”




“Girl at Home” is the 19th track on “Red (Deluxe Edition).”


Kevin Mazur/TAS/WireImage

Album: “Red (Deluxe Edition)” (2012)

Best lyrics: 

And it would be a fine proposition
If I was a stupid girl
But, honey, I am no one’s exception
This, I have previously learned

“Better Man”




“Better Man” is the 22nd track on “Red (Taylor’s Version).”


John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Red (Taylor’s Version)” (2021)

Best lyrics:

But your jealousy, oh I can hear it now
Talking down to me like I’d always be around
Push my love away like it was some kind of loaded gun
Oh, you never thought I’d run

“Nothing New” (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)




“Nothing New” is the 23rd track on “Red (Taylor’s Version).”


Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Red (Taylor’s Version)” (2021)

Best lyrics:

I know someday I’m gonna meet her, it’s a fever dream
The kind of radiance you only have at 17
She’ll know the way and then she’ll say she got the map from me
I’ll say I’m happy for her, then I’ll cry myself to sleep

“This Love”




“This Love” is the 11th track on “1989.”


Chen He/Visual China Group via Getty Images

Album: “1989” (2014)

Best lyrics:

Clear blue water
High tide came and brought you in
And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will

“Lover”




“Lover” was released as a single in 2019.

Taylor Swift/YouTube


Album: “Lover” (2019)

Best lyrics:

My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue
All’s well that ends well to end up with you

“Cornelia Street”




“Cornelia Street” is the ninth track on “Lover.”


Dave Hogan/ABA/Getty Images

Album: “Lover” (2019)

Best lyrics:

I get mystified by how this city screams your name
And baby, I’m so terrified of if you ever walk away
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again

“Daylight”




“Daylight” is the 18th track on “Lover.”


Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Album: “Lover” (2019)

Best lyrics:

I can still see it all in my mind
All of you, all of me, intertwined
I once believed love would be black and white
But it’s golden
And I can still see it all in my head
Back and forth from New York, sneaking in your bed
I once believed love would be burning red
But it’s golden

“Christmas Tree Farm”




“Christmas Tree Farm” was released as a single in 2019.


Theo Wargo/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Album: N/A

Best lyrics:

Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too

“My Tears Ricochet”




“My Tears Ricochet” is the fifth track on “Folklore.”


Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Folklore” (2020)

Best lyrics:

I can go anywhere I want
Anywhere I want, just not home
And you can aim for my heart, go for blood
But you would still miss me in your bones
And I still talk to you, when I’m screaming at the sky
And when you can’t sleep at night, you hear my stolen lullabies

“No Body, No Crime” (featuring HAIM)




“No Body, No Crime” is the sixth track on “Evermore.”


John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Evermore” (2020)

Best lyrics:

Good thing my daddy made me get a boating license when I was 15
And I’ve cleaned enough houses to know how to cover up a scene
Good thing Este’s sister’s gonna swear she was with me
Good thing his mistress took out a big life insurance policy

“Vigilante Shit”




“Vigilante Shit” is the eighth track on “Midnights.”


Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “Midnights” (2022)

Best lyrics:

Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife
And she looks so pretty
Driving in your Benz
Lately, she’s been dressing for revenge

“Bigger Than the Whole Sky”




“Bigger Than the Whole Sky” is the 15th track on “Midnights (3am Edition).”


Beth Garrabrant

Album: “Midnights (3am Edition)” (2022)

Best lyrics:

No words appear before me in the aftermath
Salt streams out my eyes and into my ears
Every single thing I touch becomes sick with sadness
‘Cause it’s all over now, all out to sea

“My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys”




“My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” is the third track on “The Tortured Poets Department.”


Beth Garrabrant

Album: “The Tortured Poets Department” (2024)

Best lyrics:

There was a litany of reasons why
We could’ve played for keeps this time
I know I’m just repeating myself
Put me back on my shelf
But first, pull the string
And I’ll tell you that he runs
Because he loves me

“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”




“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” is the 10th track on “The Tortured Poets Department.”


Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “The Tortured Poets Department” (2024)

Best lyrics:

I wanna snarl and show you just how disturbed this has made me
You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me
So all you kids can sneak into my house with all the cobwebs
I’m always drunk on my own tears, isn’t that what they all said?
That I’ll sue you if you step on my lawn
That I’m fearsome and I’m wretched and I’m wrong
Put narcotics into all of my songs
And that’s why you’re still singing along

“The Black Dog”




“The Black Dog” is the 17th track on “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.”


Beth Garrabrant

Album: “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” (2024)

Best lyrics:

Six weeks of breathing clean air, I still miss the smoke
Were you making fun of me with some esoteric joke?
Now I wanna sell my house, and set fire to all my clothes
And hire a priest to come and exorcise my demons
Even if I die screaming
And I hope you hear it

“Peter”




“Peter” is the 28th track on “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.”


Beth Garrabrant

Album: “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” (2024)

Best lyrics: 

You said you’d come and get me, but you were 25
And the shelf life of those fantasies has expired
Lost to the ‘Lost Boys’ chapter of your life
Forgive me, Peter, please know that I tried
To hold on to the days when you were mine
But the woman who sits by the window
Has turned out the light

“The Manuscript”




“The Manuscript” is the 31st track on “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.”


Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Album: “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” (2024)

Best lyrics:

Then the actors were hitting their marks
And the slow dance was alight with the sparks
And the tears fell in synchronicity with the score
And at last, she knew what the agony had been for
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