Reflections of the past as seen in folklore and evermore.
Exploring themes of nostalgia, resilience, and betrayal in Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore.
Taylor Swift has faced scrutiny throughout the entirety of her career. Despite her record-breaking success, sold-out stadium tours, and critically acclaimed albums, many still struggle to appreciate Swift’s songwriting prowess. Why is this? The media has pigeonholed Swift’s songwriting, reducing it to narratives about her “ex-boyfriends,” portraying her as an artist lacking depth. Although Swift cleverly mocks the media's portrayals of her as a “serial dater” and “femme fatale" through pop classics like “Blank Space,” it remains demeaning to confine Swift’s talent to these misogynistic labels.
During the pandemic, Swift seemed to rise to the challenge of her skeptics, releasing two of her most finely crafted works. With her alternative albums folklore and evermore, Swift not only ventured into realms of fantasy and imagination previously unexplored by both listeners and herself, but she also dove into hard hitting themes that reflect the human experience with emotional intensity. Specifically, I’ll focus on the songs “this is me trying,” “my tears ricochet,” “dorothea,” and “tolerate it.” These songs exemplify the theme of looking on to the past and reveling in what “once was,” for the better or for worse. Do we let the past hurt us or try to move on? Do we cling on to or forsake memories of the good’ ole days with lost friends or failing relationships? Ultimately, where songs on folklore are motivated by loss to seek retribution and change, evermore’s tracks are passive, quietly nostalgic, and brooding without action.
Music helps listeners connect with and validate their sadness, grief, and loneliness. In this way, songs with slower tempos and evocative lyrics like those heard in folklore serve as emotional release. In particular, “my tears ricochet” and “this is me trying” delve into the realm of loss and the subsequent struggle to actively rebuild a life that is now long gone.
In “my tears ricochet,” Swift crafts a tale of the haunting aftermath that comes with the betrayal of a close friend. Throughout the song, we learn that the narrator has died and is watching her friend as they live on. The dead highlights the hypocrisy of her friend at the funeral, but also emphasizes their cherished memories. Lines like “You wear the same jewels that I gave you/As you bury me” suggest that even in the metaphorical “death” of their relationship, the remain attatched. The initial fall out of betrayal may be sadness, reflected in the song’s slow tempo and vocal longing, but folklore’s concern is with active uptake.
A breach of trust also comes with a craving for vengeance. In the bridge of “my tears ricochet,” Swift sings “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).” The dead’s presence will linger on in their friend’s dreams, haunting them. Not letting this betrayal destroy the narrator, she turns that anguish into motivation, making her friend feel her hurt. Swift’s voice in this song is especially telling of the emotional turmoil. The song is backed by haunting vocals, mirroring the lyrics’ lingering resentment. The most poignant part of the song’s production is at the bridge when Swift screams out the word “lullabies,” releasing her frustration for the crumbled relationship. “My tears ricochet” is full of rage and anger, but at its core, it’s a story of grief and sadness. Losing a friend is not only a betrayal, but the loss of all of the good memories once shared. Folklore issues a response to such betrayal: an eternal haunting.
Similarly, “this is me trying” explores the aftermath of one’s mistakes and their relentless effort to make amends. Swift delves into the self-directed anger that accompanies personal struggles and isolation. Lyrics throughout the song contextualize the narrator’s mental state, acknowledging their regrets: burnout, alcoholism, and even suicidal contemplation. Despite this, they make continuous efforts to mend the mistakes of their past and break the cycle of failure, as evident by the repetitive nature of the titular lines “this is me trying.” The desperation and anger in Swift’s vocals emmulate the feeling of struggle that comes from life’s challenges and consequently proving that you have the strength to recover.
The songs in evermore also approach this theme of dealing with the past, but instead, the narrators of these songs seem to be more passive in their actions. There’s no sense of trying to move on, but instead the simple acknowledgment of what once was, as if stuck in the memory of their friend/partner.
“Dorothea” reflects on the challenges of maintaining connections over long distances and the nostalgic longing for simpler times. The protagonist reminisces about their youth spent with a childhood friend, Dorothea, who seems to be living a successful life. Dorothea’s “a queen selling dreams, selling makeup, and magazines” with “shiny new friends” that all adore her. She’s moved on from the small-town life she shared with the main character, but lyrics like “Hey Dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me?” imply that the protagonist still deeply cares and wonders about Dorothea.
But the dynamic isn’t tragic. If anything, Swift sings the lyrics in a calming manner, as if remembering the good ol’ times. We even hear her laugh as the song finishes. The production of the song is also fairly simple and calm, solely featuring piano, soft drums, and the gentle strumming of a guitar.
"Dorothea" captures the bittersweet emotions that accompany the passage of time and the inevitable changes that occur in relationships. This song offers a mature perspective on lost connection, articulating that one can miss the simplicity and warmth of a bond while also feeling happy for a friend. The song is melodic, tranquil, and a poignant reminder that while friends may drift apart, their presence still lives on in our shared memories.
On a more solemn note, “tolerate it” addresses the painful reality of feeling unappreciated in a relationship and the resulting stagnation. The narrator is highly observant and attentive to their partner, greeting them with a “battle hero’s welcome.” Their partner, however, fails to acknowledge the protagonist’s care, merely “tolerating” their efforts. Through this dynamic, Swift captures the heartache of unreciprocated love and emphasizes the difficulty of moving on from such relationships. The production on "tolerate it" enhances the song's themes of disillusionment and unreciprocated love, drawing the listener into the emotional journey of the lyrics. The simple keys of the piano and the mournful tones of the stringed instruments beautifully evoke a sense of melancholy and vulnerability. Throughout the song, Swift's tone is sad and defeated, the “I’s” before the chorus mimicking a sigh or wail, reflecting the main character’s damaged emotional state and inability to ultimately decide to leave or stay in the relationship.
Through masterful storytelling and introspective lyricism, Swift delves into the nuances of human emotions, inviting listeners to reflect on their own past memories of growth, betrayal, and resilience. Despite lingering misconceptions portraying Swift as solely focused on breakup narratives, albums like folklore and evermore tackle such arguments through emotional storytelling and intentional production.
edited by Nicole Millan Ortiz.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.