I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace  Calling them out when the news came out, telling her side of the story

And if I’m dead to you, why are you at the wake? Continuing to profit off of her work, promote it, pretending they are the bigger people You wear the same jewels that I gave you, As you bury me She WAS big machine. she helped build their fortune. they’d be nothing without her and her work And I can go anywhere I want. Anywhere I want, just not home  She can take her music anywhere but it’s never going to be quite the same as the label that she grew up with 

And when you can’t sleep at night (You hear my stolen lullabies) Stolen lullabies as in the music she wrote and they took….

And you’re tossing out blame, drunk on this pain. Crossing out the good years They had a good run, but when it all came crashing down, the label tried to make her look like the bad guy and they lost miserably

folklore by taylor swift (released july 24, 2020)

the 1: Taylor’s POV. Quotes Me!: “For never leaving well enough alone”

cardigan: a song part of the “love triangle” Taylor described. POV of a girl named Beth.

the last great american dynasty: POV of Rebekah Harkness, former owner of Taylor’s house in RI, at the end it shifts to Taylor’s POV. Rebekah was also known as “Betty”, -> cardigan

exile: Taylor’s POV I think. Interesting is “and i didn’t like the ending” which reminds of the lyric in “if this was a movie”. 

my tears ricochet: Taylor’s POV I think. It gives me treacherous vibes kinda, but the lyrics are literally the opposite. taylor said the song is about an embittered tormentor showing up at the funeral of his fallen object of affection.

mirrorball: Taylor’s POV. she is the mirrorball. she sings “I’m still on that tightrope” which immediately reminded me of “lost your balance on a tightrope” 

seven: child POV. this is the only song in which she sings “folk songs” and sings about braids which reminded me of the album photoshoot.

august: teen POV / POV of the “other” girl part of the “love triangle”. the summer love. this is one of the songs that gave me such debut album vibes.

this is me trying: student / young adult POV. why I’m thinking this is because of “I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere // fell behind all my classmates and I ended up here” and the use of metaphors like alcohol. anyway, more mature. I was thinking, these 3 tracks (seven, august and this is me trying) are actually perfectly fit behind each other on the track list. They are all different timeframes.

illicit affairs: Taylor’s POV. “you showed me colors you know I can’t see with anyone else” -> red / golden / daylight reference. the whole song makes me think of “i loved you in secret”. it actually gave me “the other woman” vibes first, but then i read the lyrics again and i don’t think it’s part of the love triangle, but august is because it fits the “young love” narrative.

invisible string: Taylor’s POV, very clearly <3

mad woman: Taylor’s POV. yeahhh!! tell ‘em….

epiphany: military / doctor’s POV?

betty: part of the love triangle, the guy’s POV.

peace: Taylor’s POV. “I would die for you in secret” she sings again, like in earlier albums “I loved you in secret” // “Remember how I said I’d die for you?”

In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness. Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down. folklore is out now.