every single Taylor Swift song ranked
while trying to stay awake to hear the 10 minute version of all too well as soon as it dropped, i went into an adhd trance and this was the result. every single Taylor Swift song ranked from hate to all time fav. this was inspired by rob seffield’s rankings that you can read here. I did not have time or, frankly, motivation to write little blurbs on each song like rob, but I did put my favorite lines for each of them.
*special thanks to Chloé Burton for all your help <3
I want to note this is my ~personal~ ranking and some choices may be controversial. even I was surprised by how low on the list a few of them were but I worked very hard on this and that is simply where things fell. a lot of nostalgia also played into many choices so keep that in mind :)
(you may notice the song “Ronan” is not on here; that is because I cannot listen to it without full sobbing and I did not want to put myself through that enough to figure out where it lands on the list for me. I also forgot to add “run.” I will work that in after the next TV is released)
without further ado, here we go…
164. Look what you made me do
I got a list of names, and yours is in red, underlined
163. Bad blood
band-aids don’t fix bullet holes
162. Girl at home
you're the kind of man who makes me sad
161. 154. Superstar
so dim that spotlight, tell me things like
'I can't take my eyes off of you'
160. If this was a movie
i was playing back a thousand memories, baby
thinking 'bout everything we've been through
maybe I've been going back too much lately
when time stood still and I had you
159. Bye bye baby
'cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me
158. Mr perfectly fine
hello mr. ‘casually cruel’
157. You’re not sorry
could've loved you all my life
if you hadn't left me waiting in the cold
156. Stay stay stay
i’d like to hang out with you for my whole life
155. Me
living in winter, I am your summer
154. Superman
hes got his mothers eyes, his fathers ambition
153. Invisible
you can't see me wantin' you the way you want her
152. Never grow up
Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
151. Mean
washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
but all you are is mean
150. Sad beautiful tragic
and you've got your demons
and darlin' they all look like me
149. That’s when
laughin' when I was cryin
148. Tell me why
I'm sick and tired of your reasons
I got no one to believe in
147. Should’ve said no
It's strange to think the songs we used to sing
The smiles, the flowers, everything is gone
146. A perfectly good heart
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
145. Don’t you
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Don't you say you've missed me if you don't want me again
144. Tied together with a smile
you’re tied together with a smile but you’re coming undone
143. The outside
I tried to take the road less traveled by
But nothing seems to work the first few times
142. Cold as you
oh, what a shame
what a rainy ending given to a perfect day
141. The lucky one
so overnight, you look like a '60s queen
140. The man
and it's all good if you're bad
and it's okay if you're mad
139. Betty
I'm only 17, I don't know anything
but I know I miss you
138. Forever winter
his laugh is a symphony, when the lights go out, it's hard to breathe
137. Speak now
Wearing a gown shaped like a pastry
136. You need to calm down
sunshine on the street at the parade
but you would rather be in the dark age
135. It’s nice to have a friend
Call my bluff, call you "babe"
134. This is why we can’t have nice things
feeling so Gatsby for that whole year
133. Mad woman
now I breathe flames each time I talk
my cannons all firin' at your yacht
132. I knew you were trouble
and I heard you moved on from whispers on the street
a new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be
131. Love story
this love is difficult, but it's real
130. I forgot that you existed
lived in the shade you were throwin'
'til all of my sunshine was gone, gone, gone
129. The moment I knew
and it was like slow motion
standing there in my party dress
in red lipstick
with no one to impress
128. Soon you’ll get better
the buttons of my coat were tangled in my hair
in doctor's-office-lighting, I didn't tell you I was scared
127. Back to December
it turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you
126. Ready for it
wonder how many girls he had loved and left haunted
but if he's a ghost, then I can be a phantom
125. Babe
we're a wreck, you're the wrecking ball
(special mention to “what about your promises, promises”)
124. No body no crime
este wasn't there
tuesday night at Olive Garden, at her job, or anywhere
123. Starlight
don't you see the starlight, starlight
don't you dream impossible things
(special mention to “we were 17 and crazy running wild, wild” because I turned 17 a year after this came out and that line was everything to me)
122. Shake it off
hey, hey, hey
just think while you've been gettin' down and out about the liars
and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world
you could've been gettin' down
to this sick beat
my ex man brought his new girlfriend
she's like, "Oh my God!"
I'm just gonna shake
and to the fella over there with the hella good hair
won't you come on over baby?
we can shake, shake, shake (Yeah)
121. The other side of the door
with your face and the beautiful eyes
and the conversation with the little white lies
120. Come in with the rain
Talk to the wind, talk to the sky
Talk to the man with the reasons why
And let me know what you find
119. We were happy
no one could touch the way we laughed in the dark
talkin' 'bout your daddy's farm we were gonna buy someday
118. How you get the girl
remind her how it used to be, be
yeah, with pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks, cheeks
117. We are never ever getting back together
ah, so he calls me up and he's like, "I still love you"
and I'm like, I'm just, I mean this is exhausting, you know?
like we are never getting back together, like, ever
116. I did something bad
they're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one
so light me up
115. London boy
show me a gray sky, a rainy cab ride
babe, don't threaten me with a good time
114. Picture to burn
so watch me strike a match on all my wasted time
as far as I'm concerned, you're just another picture to burn
113. Right where you left me
friends break up, friends get married
strangers get born, strangers get buried
trends change, rumors fly through new skies
but I'm right where you left me
112. The lakes
what should be over burrowed under my skin
in heart-stopping waves of hurt
111. A place in this world
got the radio on, my old blue jeans
and I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve
110. The best day
I hug your legs
and fall asleep on the way home
109. The last great american dynasty
I had a marvelous time ruinin' everything
108. Illicit affairs
you showed me colors
You know I can't see with anyone else
107. Dorthea
and if you're ever tired of being known
for who you know
you know, you'll always know me
106. 22
we're happy, free, confused and lonely in the best way
it's miserable and magical, oh yeah
105. Wonderland
didn't they tell us don't rush into things?
didn't you flash your green eyes at me?
104. The way I loved you
it's a roller coaster kinda rush
and I never knew I could feel that much
and that's the way I loved you
103. Endgame
I bury hatchets but I keep maps of where I put 'em
102. Today was a fairytale
today was a fairytale
I wore a dress
you wore a dark gray t-shirt
101. Untouchable
untouchable, burning brighter than the sun
and when you're close, I feel like coming undone
100. Change
tonight we'll stand, get off our knees
fight for what we've worked for all these years
99. Miss Americana and the heart break prince
and I don't want you to (go)
I don't really wanna (fight)
'cause nobody's gonna (win)
98. King of my Heart
is the end of all the endings?
my broken bones are mending
97. Forever and always
did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide
like a scared little boy
96. Dancing with our hands tied
my, my love had been frozen
deep blue, but you painted me golden
95. Closure
I'm fine with my spite
and my tears
and my beers and my candles
94. Paper rings
I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
93. 15
in your life you'll do things
greater than dating the boy on the football team
but I didn't know it at fifteen
92. The 1
we never painted by the numbers, baby
but we were making it count
91. This is me trying
and it's hard to be at a party when I feel like an open wound
it's hard to be anywhere these days when all I want is you
you're a flashback in a film reel on the one screen in my town
90. Long story short
if the shoe fits, walk in it 'til your high heels break
89. Gorgeous
you're so gorgeous
I can't say anything to your face
88. The last time
this is the last time I'm asking you this
put my name at the top of your list
87. Haunted
(I didn’t include acoustic versions on this list but the acoustic version of this song is a downright masterpiece)
you and I walk a fragile line
I have known it all this time
but I never thought I'd live to see it break
86. Marjorie
never be so kind, you forget to be clever
never be so clever, you forget to be kind
85. Mirrorball
I've never been a natural
all I do is try, try, try
84. Red
memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words
to your old favorite song
83. Innocent
your string of lights is still bright to me
oh, who you are is not where you've been
you're still an innocent
82. You all over me
but no amount of freedom gets you clean
I've still got you all over me
81. It’s time to go
that old familiar body ache
the snaps from the same little breaks in your soul
you know when it's time to go
80. I’m only me when I’m with you
I'm only up when you're not down
don't wanna fly if you're still on the ground
79. Our song
he's got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel
the other on my heart
78. Stay Beautiful
and when you find everything you've looked for
I hope your love leads you back to my door
oh, but if it don't, stay beautiful
77. You belong with me
walking the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
hey, isn't this easy?
76. All you had to do was stay
people like you always want back the love they pushed aside
but people like me are gone forever when you say goodbye
75. Tim McGraw
when you think happiness
I hope you think that little black dress
think of my head on your chest
and my old faded blue jeans
74. I wish you would
we're a crooked love
in a straight line down
73. I know places
we're a crooked love
in a straight line down
72. Jump then fall
well, I like the way your hair falls in your face
you got the keys to me
I love each freckle on your face, oh
I've never been so wrapped up, honey
I like the way you're everything I ever wanted
71. Ours
so don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
70. Welcome to New York
Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats
69. Afterglow
this ultraviolet morning light below
tells me this love is worth the fight
68. Hey Stephen
I can't help it if you look like an angel
can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
67. I bet you think about me
you realized I'm harder to forget than I was to leave
66. Willow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
wreck my plans
that's my man
65. The archer
who could ever leave me, darling?
but who could stay?
64. Seven
your braids like a pattern
love you to the moon and to Saturn
63. Call it what you want
I'm laughing with my lover, making forts under covers
trust him like a brother, yeah, you know I did one thing right
starry eyes sparkin' up my darkest night
62. Dress
and I woke up just in time
now I wake up by your side
61. Coney Island
'cause we were like the mall before the Internet
it was the one place to be
60. Cardigan
but I knew you
dancin' in your Levi's
drunk under a streetlight
59. Come Back… be here
this is when the feeling sinks in
I don't wanna miss you like this
come back, be here
58. Treacherous
nothing safe is worth the drive
and I would follow you, follow you home
57. I think he knows
I am an architect, I'm drawing up the plans
he's so obsessed with me, and boy I understand
56. Hoax
my only one
my kingdom come undone
55. Everything has changed
all I know is we said, "Hello"
your eyes look like comin' home
54. Mine
you made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
53. I almost do
in my dreams you're touching my face
and asking me if I wanna try again with you
and I almost do
52. Breathe
you're the only thing I know like the back of my hand,
51. The story of us
I'd tell you I miss you, but I don't know how
I never heard silence quite this loud
50. Better man
I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man
49. Invisible string
gold was the color of the leaves
when I showed you around Centennial Park
hell was the journey but it brought me heaven
48. Sparks fly
you're the kind of reckless that should send me running
but I kinda know that I won't get far
47. Out of the woods
the rest of the world was black and white
but we were in screaming color
46. Begin again
you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
45. Death by a thousand cuts
if the story's over
why am I still writing pages?
44. So it goes
you did a number on me
but honestly, baby, who's counting?
who's counting?
(one, two, three)
43. Exile
you're not my homeland anymore
so what am I defending now?
you were my town
now I'm in exile, seein' you out
42. Delicate
is it cool that I said all that?
is it chill that you're in my head?
'cause I know that it's delicate
41. Tolerate it
I know my love should be celebrated
but you tolerate it
40. Don’t blame me
lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I'd be usin' for the rest of my life
39. Gold rush
I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush
everybody wants you
but I don't like a gold rush
38. Cornelia Street
and baby, I get mystified by how this city screams your name
37. Teardrops on my guitar
he's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
he's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
36. Epiphany
only 20 minutes to sleep
but you dream of some epiphany
35. This love
this love left a permanent mark
this love is glowing in the dark
34. Mary’s song
take me back to the creek beds we turned up
two A.M. riding in your truck and all I need is you next to me
33. Better than revenge
but no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity
32. fearless
you take my hand and drag me head first
fearless
31. Daylight
I once believed love would be burning red
but it's golden
like daylight
30. Enchanted
this night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home
29. Message in a bottle
but time moves faster
replaying your laughter
28. Long live
long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
27. False god
and I can't talk to you when you're like this
staring out the window like I'm not your favorite town
I'm New York City
26. Lover
my heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue
all's well that ends well to end up with you
25. New year’s day
i'll be there if you're the toast of the town, babe
or if you strike out and you're crawling home
24. White horse
my mistake, I didn't know to be in love
you had to fight to have the upper hand
23. Cowboy like me
you're a bandit like me
eyes full of stars
22. Wildest dreams
he's so tall and handsome as hell
he's so bad but he does it so well
21. You are in love
‘cause you can hear in the silence
you can feel it on the way home
you can see it with the lights out
you are in love, true love
20. Ivy
oh, I can't
stop you putting roots in my dreamland
19. Peace
and you know that I'd swing with you for the fences
sit with you in the trenches
18. State of grace
this is a state of grace
this is the worthwhile fight
love is a ruthless game
unless you play it good and right
17. Getaway car
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
we never had a shotgun shot in the dark
16. Holy ground
spinning like a girl in a brand new dress
we had this big wide city all to ourselves
15. New romantics
heartbreak is the national anthem
we sing it proudly
we are too busy dancing
to get knocked off our feet
baby, we're the new romantics
the best people in life are free
14. My tears ricochet
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
and you're the hero flying around, saving face
and if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?
13. Happiness
there'll be happiness after you
but there was happiness because of you
12. Nothing New
it's like I can feel time moving
how can a person know everything
at eighteen, but nothin' at twenty-two?
11. Champaign problems
you booked the night train for a reason
so you could sit there in this hurt
10. Clean
the drought was the very worst
when the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst
9. Evermore
and I was catching my breath
barefoot in the wildest winter
catching my death
8. Dear John
and I lived in your chess game,
but you changed the rules every day
7. Cruel summer
"I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?
he looks up grinning like a devil
(the whole bridge of this song is just….. *chef’s kiss*)
6. Tis the damn season
we could call it even
you could call me babe for the weekend
'tis the damn season, write this down
5. Blank space
oh, my God, look at that face
you look like my next mistake
love's a game, wanna play? AY
4. Style
you got that James Dean daydream look in your eye
and I got that red lip classic thing that you like
3. Last kiss
all that I know is I don't know
how to be something you miss
I never thought we'd have a last kiss
2. August
to live for the hope of it all
cancel plans just in case you'd call
and say, "meet me behind the mall"
All too well
and you call me up again just to break me like a promise
so casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
'cause I remember it all, all, all
too well
1.2 All too well (10 minute version)
you kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath
and did the twin flame bruise paint you blue?
just between us, did the love affair maim you, too?
