Hi all!

Today I am sharing my ten favourite Taylor Swift bridges! This stunning songwriter is known for her epic, emotionally cathartic bridges. I love when they are so long and wordy, I lose my breath halfway through singing them. It wasn’t easy narrowing down my list, but I managed to pick those I deem the best of the best. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Note: I did not include Champagne Problems or Death by a Thousand Cuts. They are excellent bridges, just not my personal favourites. Sorry!

1.) Is It Over Now? 

In first place, we have Is It Over Now? from 1989 Taylor’s Version. In this song, Taylor gives us a lot more insight into the breakdown and aftermath of her relationship with Harry Styles. She references their snowmobile accident, the infamous blue dress photograph (taken on a boat the day it ended), his love affairs with similar looking women and her own rebounds in the process. This vault track is one of the best things to ever happen to me. It went number 1 on the charts for a reason. Not only is the bridge vastly superior, it’s repeated twice.She changes the melody the second time, making it sound even better than the first. It even inspired a viral wave of TikTok dances. I have a religious experience every single listen.

And did you think I didn’t see you?
There were flashin’ lights
At least I had the decency
To keep my nights out of sight
Only rumors ’bout my hips and thighs
And my whispered sighs
Oh, Lord, I think about jumpin’
Off of very tall somethings
Just to see you come runnin’
And say the one thing I’ve been wanting, but no

2.) All Too Well (10)

In second place, I have to give it to All Too Well 10. Let’s be real, it’s the best song she’s ever written. It’s also the only track to receive an epic short-film adaptation. There had always been rumours that a ten-minute version existed, but it wasn’t until Red Taylor’s Version was announced, that fans realised their prayers had been answered. It gave us so much more context into Taylor’s heartache, after ending things with Jake Gyllenhaal. It literally tells the story of their relationship from beginning to end. If you don’t scream the infamous bridge in your car, are you even doing life correctly?

Well maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much
But maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up
Runnin’ scared, I was there
I remember it 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 lyin’ here
‘Cause I remember it all, all, all

3.) Dear Reader 

In third place, we have Dear Reader from Midnights. Highly underrated! Taylor shares some wisdom she has learned over the years but also urges listeners not to take her advice. She wants her fans to “find another guiding light.” The winding bridge takes me to another planet. At the time, it felt quite cryptic. However, in the light of The Tortured Poets Department, things are much clearer now. It’s so deeply vulnerable, revealing exactly where she was during a very difficult period in her life.

So I wander through these nights
I prefer hiding in plain sight
My fourth drink in my hand
These desperate prayers of a cursed man
Spilling out to you for free
But darling, darling, please
You wouldn’t take my word for it if you knew who was talking
If you knew where I was walking
To a house, not a home, all alone ’cause nobody’s there
Where I pace in my pen and my friends’ found friends who care
No one sees when you lose when you’re playing solitaire

4.) The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived 

In fourth place, we have one of her newest masterpieces: The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived from The Tortured Poets Department. This is when the song really takes off. There is a reason she added it to The Era’s Tour setlist, with her purposeful march to the drumbeats. It’s no secret who this one is about. I know a certain tortured poet/lead singer who wears a Jehovah’s Witness suit. In this track, Taylor feels used and betrayed, believing Matty Healy only wanted to be with her to gain intel, or as a muse for his art. It is an anthem for anybody that has been ghosted before.

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?
Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?
Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?
In fifty years, will all this be declassified?
And you’ll confess why you did it and I’ll say, “Good riddance”
‘Cause it wasn’t sexy once it wasn’t forbidden
I would’ve died for your sins, instead, I just died inside
And you deserve prison, but you won’t get time
You’ll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars
You crashed my party and your rental car
You said normal girls were boring
But you were gone by the morning
You kicked out the stage lights, but you’re still performing

5.) You’re On Your Own Kid

It’s no surprise You’re On Your Own Kid from Midnights made my top 5. Listeners are transported back to Nashville, with Taylor reminiscing on her days as an emerging country singer. She then dips into the 1989 realm, confessing she hosted parties and starved her body, to the present, where she accepts she’s been on her own her entire life, but it’s okay, because she can face anything. She’s made peace with everything she’s been through and is comforted by her own strength. It’s a full circle moment.

From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this
I hosted parties and starved my body
Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss
The jokes weren’t funny, I took the money
My friends from home don’t know what to say
I looked around in a blood-soaked gown
And I saw something they can’t take away
‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned
Everything you lose is a step you take
So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it
You’ve got no reason to be afraid

6.) You’re Losing Me  

We all remember where we were when we first heard “and I wouldn’t marry me either.” You’re Losing Me was the missing link to the mystery that was Midnights. It revealed so much about her past relationship with Joe Alwyn. The pain, desperation and utter exhaustion in her voice is evident throughout the song, but especially in the bridge. It’s a last-ditch attempt to save a dying partnership. I still cannot believe it was my surprise song at The Era’s Tour in Melbourne. I almost had a heart-attack!

How long could we be a sad song
‘Til we were too far gone to bring back to life?
I gave you all my best me’s, my endless empathy
And all I did was bleed as I tried to be the bravest soldier
Fighting in only your army, frontlines, don’t you ignore me
I’m the best thing at this party (You’re losin’ me)
And I wouldn’t marry me either
A pathological people pleaser
Who only wanted you to see her
And I’m fadin’, thinkin’
“Do something, babe, say something” (Say something)
“Lose something, babe, risk something” (You’re losin’ me)
“Choose something, babe, I got nothing” (I got nothing)
“To believe, unless you’re choosin’ me”

7.) Cruel Summer 

I don’t think I could truly call myself a Swiftie if the Cruel Summer bridge from Lover wasn’t on this list. It kicks off The Era’s Tour as the first bridge of the evening. This song expresses Taylor’s deepest fears over not wanting a casual relationship anymore. It’s deeply relatable. Her wordy stream of consciousness reminds us that our favourite mega-star is a human too. She wants what we all want. Everlasting love. It wasn’t meant to be with Joe, but thanks to him, we have one of the most iconic songs in history.

I’m drunk in the back of the car
And I cried like a baby comin’ home from the bar (Oh)
Said, “I’m fine,” but it wasn’t true
I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you
And I snuck in through the garden gate
Every night that summer just to seal my fate (Oh)
And I scream, “For whatever it’s worth
I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?”
He looks up, grinnin’ like a devil

8.) Out Of The Woods

Out Of The Woods has a flawless bridge! It’s full of mixed metaphors. On the one hand, Taylor is singing about a very real snowmobile accident her and ex-boyfriend, Harry Styles, lived through. One the other, she is repeatedly asking the question “are we out of the woods?” She needs to know if they are going to survive the turmoil that is their relationship. The production on the 1989 Taylor’s Version is next level. I love Jack Antonoff’s backing vocals and chaotic synthy sounds. Listening to the track feels like going on a tumultuous journey…as was intended.

Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?
Twenty stitches in the hospital room
When you started crying, baby, I did too
But when the sun came up, I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat?
I walked out, I said, “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up, you were looking at me
You were looking at me, oh
You were looking at me
(Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?)
(Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?)
I remember
(Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?)
(Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good)
Oh, I remember

9.) The Last Great American Dynasty

The Last Great American Dynasty from Folklore has the shortest bridge on this list, but boy does it pack a gut-punch. It’s rare for a song to have a twist reveal and yet, this one does. This track tells the story of Rebekah Harkness, an infamous socialite who used to live in a mansion on Rhode Island. It isn’t until we hit the bridge, that we realise why Taylor has decided to tell us about her life in the first place. Not only does she relate to Rebekah, she ended up buying the exact same home she once lived in. They were both regarded as loud and destructive women by those around them. It’s so genius. I’m glad I got to see The Era’s Tour performance before it was taken off the setlist.

They say she was seen on occasion
Pacing the rocks, staring out at the midnight sea
And in a feud with her neighbor
She stole his dog and dyed it key lime green
Fifty years is a long time
Holiday House sat quietly on that beach
Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits
And then it was bought by me

10.) Dear John

Last, but certainly not least, we have the bridge from Dear John off Speak Now Taylor’s Version. Similar to Style, Taylor is not discreet in the title about who this song refers to. I love how empowering the lyrics are. She was able to pick up on John Mayer’s destructive patterns, before he could burn her too badly. Taylor calls out this sad pathetic man, knowing he is empty and likely to end up alone. This is a personal favourite of mine to scream in the car.

You are an expert at “sorry” and keepin’ lines blurry
Never impressed by me acing your tests
All the girls that you 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

 Thank you so much for reading! What are your favourite Taylor Swift bridges? 

Peace & Love xoxo