Hi all!

Welcome to a new segment on my blog! Each month, I will rank Taylor Swift’s track #1’s, #2,’s, #3’s etc – finishing with track #12’s in December. However, once TS13 is released, I will do a dedicated post ranking her track #13’s and so on. A quick disclaimer, I am going to be including The Anthology, as it is a full album. I will not be including vault tracks. If you wish to see my vault rankings for Fearless, Speak Now, Red & 1989 TV, click here.

Today I will be tackling Taylor’s infamous track #5’s. I had ranked them once before but since deleted that post. Changes have been made. It’s okay if you disagree. It’s just my opinion. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) Delicate 

In first place, we have Delicate from Reputation. Not only is it my favourite song off that album, it’s in my top 5 Taylor Swift songs of all time. I’m always in the mood for it. It may not seem like a typical track #5 but make no mistake, it’s very vulnerable. At the height of her downfall, Taylor didn’t trust anyone. As she began to fall for ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, she realised how fragile those early stages of a relationship are – especially with the media eating her alive. If he was sticking around, surely he liked her for her. We all know what it feels like to be at the beginning of a romance; scared that anything we say or do might compromise it. She captured that concept perfectly. 

Favourite lyric: “Long night, with your hands up in my hair.“

2.) All Too Well

Putting All Too Well anywhere but first may seem like a crime, but hear me out. If this was the 10 minute version, it would be #1 no question. However, I don’t love the original quite as much. Don’t get me wrong, it’s phenonemal. A real highlight of her career. I just prefer – and only listen to – ATW10. She elevated it to the highest degree and now I can’t go back. This song is the epitome of a track #5. It is extremely vulnerable and heartbreaking; written from the deepest recesses of her pain. It’s also super relatable. A relationship that ends so suddenly, after burning red, can leave you feeling gaslit. You were there, witness to that love. How could it be over? When I picture perfect songwriting, I see All Too Well. 

Favourite lyric: “You told me ’bout your past thinking your future was me.“

3.) Dear John 

In third place, I have Dear John from Speak Now. This is my favourite song off that album. Some say it’s better than All Too Well and I don’t disagree. I love how the production intentionally mimics a John Mayer sound. Taylor wrote it after they broke up; realising that 19 was too young to be messed with. She continued this fathoming in her 30’s, with Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve from Midnights. Only in hindsight could see just how manipulated she was in that relationship. The track is scathing, vulnerable and full of exhaustion. She’s tired from acing his tests and mind games. I love screaming this one (especially the bridge) in the car. 

Favourite lyric: “And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand.“

4.) All You Had To Do Was Stay 

In fourth place, I have All You Had To Do Was Stay from 1989. It has always been my number one from the standard album. Every single lyric applies to a former relationship I was in. It helped me heal and process those feelings. Is it the most quintessential track #5 to ever exist? Not really. However, this ranking is based on how much I love the song, not whether it fits that criteria. Trust me, if you heard an acoustic version on the piano, you would see how sad it actually is. 

Favourite lyric: “Let me remind you, this was what you wanted.“

5.) You’re On Your Own Kid 

My top five had to include You’re On Your Own Kid from Midnights. This song moves through her entire musical timeline. We are transported back to Nashville; with Taylor reminiscing on her days as an emerging country singer. She dips into the 1989 realm, confessing she hosted parties and starved her body, to the present, accepting 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; comforted by her own strength. How she continues to do outdo herself, I’ll never know.

Favourite lyric: “I looked around in a blood-soaked gown and saw something they can’t take away.”

6.) My Tears Ricochet 

My Tears Ricochet from Folklore is such a powerful track #5. Unfortunately, the lyrics hit a little too close to home for me. Whenever I listen to it, I feel immense pain; likening it to a personal situation in my own life. For that reason, I am not pressing play as much as I used to. For Taylor, this song is about her master recordings being sold out from under her. The man she trusted the most (former manager, Scott Borchetta), betrayed her in the worst way possible. The production really captures that funeral setting. Very haunting and melancholic.

Favourite lyric: “And I still talk to you, when I’m screaming at the sky.“

7.) So Long, London 

So Long, London from The Tortured Poet’s Department is an incredible track #5. The production is perfection. I love how the opening notes sound like a church choir. There is no doubt it is entirely about Joe Alwyn. Note the many ‘death’ and ‘sick’ references, similar to the ones in You’re Losing Me. It details the breakdown of their relationship and how it simply died after months of neglect. By the end, Taylor has accepted they will both find someone, someday. She certainly did! I commend her level of maturity.

Favourite lyric: “So how much sad, did you think I had. Did you think I had in me?“

8.) White Horse 

White Horse from Fearless used to be one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs of all time. It’s still up there, just not as high. I now prefer to listen to Hey Stephen and The Other Side Of The Door. Having said that, it’s absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. It touches on the destruction of an innocent fantasy; believing the love interest to be a prince that will never hurt you, when in actuality, he’s anything but. Taylor had to learn some things the hard way. I can definitely relate. 

Favourite lyric: “This ain’t Hollywood, this is a small town.“

9.) How Did It End?

How Did It End from The Anthology  continues to grow for me. Ask me in a year and it will probably be ranked higher. It has such a relatable concept. Not only do you have to contend with the pain of losing someone, you also have to constantly relive it, every single time somebody enquires as to what happened. Taylor admits by the end that even she is unsure how to answer that question. Things fall apart sometimes, without rhyme or reason. The vocals at the beginning are my favourite part.

Favourite lyric: “We hereby conduct this postmortem.“

10.) Tolerate It 

It pains me to put Tolerate It from Evermore this low but it has dropped for me over time. This song will break you, whether you can relate to it or not. Upon release, Taylor revealed it was based on the classic novel: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. However, in hindsight, it would appear to be less fictional and more rooted in reality. How lonely she must’ve felt in that relationship. I’m thrilled I got to see the table performance on The Era’s Tour before she changed the setlist. 

Favourite lyric: “Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life.“

11.) Cold As You 

As soon as Debut TV is released, I can promise Cold As You will climb up my ranking. I just know her mature vocals will only increase the already existing appreciation I have for it. To have written such a vulnerable number that young is so impressive. Her songwriting prowess has been there since the beginning. I cannot wait for the newer fans to fathom. Not long now! 

Favourite lyric: “And you come away with a great little story. Of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you.“

12.) Eldest Daughter 

In second last place, I have Eldest Daughter from The Life of a Showgirl. Some songs grow on you, others drop in your ranking. Sadly, this is one of them. It’s about the ‘cautious discretion’ an eldest child learns over the years. My issue with it lies in some of the writing. I actually prefer the clean version. I really don’t like “so we all dressed up as wolves and we looked fire.” I think there were other, more effective words she could’ve used. Also, ‘bad b*#ch’, ‘savage’, ‘punk’, ‘trolling’ and ‘memes’ takes me out a little bit. Ruin The Friendship feels more like a track #5 than this one does. 

Favourite lyric: “We lie back. A beautiful, beautiful time-lapse. Ferris wheels, kisses, and lilacs.“

13.) The Archer 

My least favourite track #5 is The Archer from Lover. I have never cared for this song. In my opinion, it’s always felt a little forced. The production does nothing for me either. Furthermore, the Humpty Dumpty lyrics take me out of the more serious message she’s trying to convey. I don’t see myself ever fathoming this one – sorry! 

Favourite lyric: “Cause all of my enemies started out friends.“

Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank Taylor’s Track #5’s?

Peace & Love xoxo