If you didn’t sit down for 12 minutes to watch the devastating All Too Well short film yet, you clearly live under a rock. This November, Taylor quite literally turned the world “Red” with the rerelease of her 2012 album “Red” (Taylor’s Version). Even the Empire State Building shined bright red lights into the sky to support her. Taylor’s music literally changed the world during the month, putting Swifties through ALL the feels—especially being happy, free, confused and lonely. Oh, and hatred for Jake Gyllenhaal.
Keep reading to find out the top 10 songs you should add to your breakup playlist immediately.
10. Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s version)
“And time is taking its sweet time erasing you. And you’ve got your demons, and darlin’ they all look like me.” – Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s version)
Starting our list of depressing songs, Taylor wrote her song “Sad Beautiful Tragic” to tell the story of a magical yet temporary love affair. The slow song reflects on losing something that once felt beautiful—a perfect option for all you newly single folks. The song’s simplicity makes the words even more special to listeners, as the guitar remains one of the only instruments played in the background. Taylor’s decision to sing in her lower register adds to the sadness of the song, as she she can’t stop reminiscing about the relationship.
9. Treacherous (Taylor’s version)
“All we are is skin and bones, trained to get along. Forever going with the flow, but you’re friction.” – Treacherous (Taylor’s version)
All Swifties know that Taylor Swift creates the most phenomenal bridges and the treacherous bridge demands a raise in volume. You simply can’t resist screaming the lyrics out loud in the car. Did you know that on the Red tour in 2013, Taylor sang this song on a wide rectangular tightrope? Talk about a triple threat—she acts, she sings, and now even tightropes!
“Treacherous is one of my favorite songs off the album (even before Taylor re-released it) because it always puts me in my feels! It’s such a good song to listen to while you’re driving. Of course, the bridge is the best part,” St. John’s University junior Taylor Silvers said.
The song “Treacherous” describes the act of being dragged into a possibly dangerous relationship. Taylor feels that she will never escape the person she’s written about because despite her best intentions to walk away, she “likes” the relationship. Talk about complicated!
8. The Moment I Knew (Taylor’s version)
“What do you do when the one who means the most to you is the one who didn’t show.” – The Moment I Knew (Taylor’s version)
Ever expect someone really special to you to attend an event celebrating you? Like how you want your parents to watch you graduate, or your best friend to buy you a gift for your birthday? This precursor to All Too Well will make you feel like your lover skipped your 21st birthday party all over again.
“The Moment I Knew” sets a visible scene within the listener’s mind—you enter the party, standing there with your red lipstick and party dress while Christmas lights glisten outside. The helplessness of the situation remains tangible, as everyone experiences the feelings in this song at least once in their lifetime.
7. The Last Time (Taylor’s version)
“You find yourself at my door, and just like all those times before you wear your best apology, but I was there to watch you leave.” – The Last Time (Taylor’s version)
This intense and heartbreaking song creates an image of a guy returning to his girlfriend over and over after leaving her again and again. The girl, on the other side of the door, wonders how to turn him away, since she still loves him.
But Ms. Swift didn’t stop there. She invited Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol to join her in singing the song as a duet. And yes, Gary sings only the most depressing song ever, “Chasing Cars.” This gorgeous and symbolic song puts listers in their bag as a result of the stunning harmonies and the song’s melody.
6. I Almost Do (Taylor’s version)
“And I just want to tell you it takes everything in me not to call you. And I wish I could run to you, and I hope you know that every time I don’t, I almost do.” – I Almost Do (Taylor’s version)
Criminally underrated. Many Swifties consider “I Almost Do” as a “twin” to “All too Well,” and heavily relate with this one. If this song doesn’t convince you that Taylor remains the greatest lyricist of all time, we don’t know what will. The acoustic guitar and Taylor’s soft voice add to the ambiance of this one, but the lyrics always bring her music to another level. “Red” features not only some of her best vocals, but the most phenomenal words to accompany the music.
“I Almost Do has one of my favorite choruses off the album. It is so well written and sad, and I was really excited to hear the re-recording of this one. I couldn’t believe how similar it sounded to the original,” St. John’s University sophomore Christena Armento said.
This song depicts the post relationship depression, where you desperately want to hear your ex-partner’s voice again, and yet you simply cannot. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t sit at your window on a rainy night, pretending you live in a movie and cry about the failed relationship. Casual responses to sadness. Another simplistic song, “I Almost Do” provides the proper vibes to any listener in need of a good cry.
5. Better Man (Taylor’s version) (From The Vault)
“But your jealousy, oh I can hear it now talking down to me like I’d always be around. Push my love away, like it was some kind of loaded gun. Oh, you never thought I’d run.” – Better Man (Taylor’s version) (From the Vault)
Sending you your very own virtual box of tissues for this one. She dropped “Better Man” from the vault, meaning that Taylor never before released her studio recording until “Red (Taylor’s Version) came out mid-November. In case you ever find yourself on Jeopardy, you might want to know that Little Big Town actually released Better Man as a single in 2016 after Taylor gave them the song. Both versions remain available on YouTube.
“This song really touched my soul. Taylor really did a wonderful job with this album, and it was so cool to hear all her new songs from the vault. Better man is one of my favorites—the acoustics are fantastic,” St. John’s University junior Christina Brusgard said.
However, many Swifties agree that the song Taylor’s voice fits the song perfectly and fulfilled destiny when re-recorded for Red (Taylor’s Version). They also agree that the song will remain one of the most heartbreaking anthems of all time. The song describes a recent break up, and the speaker expresses her sadness by wishing that her ex acted as a “better man.”
4. Forever Winter (Taylor’s version) (From The Vault)
“I call, just checking up on him. He’s up, 5am wasted. Long gone, not even listening. My voice comes out screaming. All this time I didn’t know you were breaking down.” – Forever Winter (Taylor’s version) (From the Vault)
You might think that a song entitled “Forever Winter” discusses building a snowman, like Anna and Elsa. Our sincerest apologies to break this to you, but unfortunately you will experience more sadness during this song than when the parents die in Frozen. “Forever Winter” describes the story of a relationship between a man and a woman, where the man’s mental health slowly deteriorates as time goes on.
She constantly calls him, trying to reassure him that if he dies the seasons wouldn’t change, and a “forever winter” would fall upon the earth. This song particularly destroyed members of Gen-Z, as many of us possess mental health issues or know friends who suffer from depression, anxiety and more. Taylor perfectly depicts the other side of the battle—the concerned friend or family member who desperately tries to help but feels helpless all the same. Don’t say we didn’t warn you about this one.
3. Nothing New (Taylor’s version) (From The Vault)
“How long will it be cute? All this crying in my room, when you can’t blame it on my youth and roll your eyes with affection.” – Nothing New (Taylor’s version) (From the Vault)
“Nothing New” literally feels like growing up. If any song makes you aware of the passage of time, aside from Stevie Nick’s “Landslide,” Taylor and Phoebe Bridgers made sure “Nothing New” creates that same feeling.
After a person passes their teenage years and get older, they don’t receive as much sympathy as they used to. They phase out, and become “nothing new,” just going through the motions. Taylor expresses her concern of being forgotten when she loses her youth, making this another extremely relatable song for Gen-Z’ers since the older half of our generation is in their late teens and early twenties. Many Swifties relate the bridge on “Nothing New” to Hollywood’s up and coming star Olivia Rodrigo, since she loves Taylor Swift and tries to produce similar music. We think Taylor’s song aged pretty well.
2. Ronan (Taylor’s version)
“And what if I kept the hand-me-downs you won’t grow into? And what if I really thought some miracle would see us through? What if the miracle was even getting one moment with you?” – Ronan (Taylor’s Version)
WARNING: This song will destroy your life. There’s no way around it.
“Ronan” surrounds the story of the 4-year-old boy Ronan Thompson who died from cancer. Taylor wrote the heart wrenching song to pay tribute to him and to spread awareness about pediatric cancer. Written through the perspective of his mom, the song describes his last moments and her “blind hope” that a miracle can somehow save him.
“This song makes me cry every time I listen to it. I get so emotional hearing stories like Ronan’s and Taylor’s lyrics make it all the more heartbreaking. Taylor’s music has this way of making you feel something—even when you’re least expecting it,” Stevens Institute of Technology sophomore Gianna Callegari said.
The YouTube video accompanying the song displays a slideshow with pictures of Ronan, with his humongous blue eyes and adorable little smile, as if Taylor didn’t already get you crying with the song alone. Ronan inspired listeners everywhere to donate to the Ronan Thompson Foundation and even pursue careers in the medical field. We love a song that does goodness in the world.
1. All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor’s version) (From The Vault)
“And I was never good at telling jokes, but the punchline goes ‘I get older but your lovers stay my age.’” – All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor’s version) (From the Vault)
You guessed correctly—of course, the 10 minute version of “All too Well” receives the crown for saddest song of the century. And if you decide to listen to the sad girl version or to watch the short film, prepare accordingly for an extra session of therapy this week. This song does damage. This 10 minute and 20 second anthem will become our generation’s Bohemian Rhapsody soon enough. Swifties already caroled the song around the streets of New York—but prepare for much worse. The concert will feature scream-singing like you never heard!
“Personally, I love All Too Well (the 10 minute version, of course) because I love how it is a full story from beginning to end. It is extremely fun to scream with friends in the car, and is so full of emotion. The short film really added to the beauty of the song—I think everyone should watch it at least once in their lifetime,” The College of New Jersey sophomore Jenna Saldi said.
If you didn’t already listen to this 10-minute masterpiece, the song paints a picture of a breakup from a toxic relationship. Her ex often gaslighted her and manipulated her and immediately after tried to apologize and make things right. Pieces of their complicated relationship remain embedded within each stunning written lyric and every listener associates a person in their own lives with the lines of the song. The song now classifies as a universal experience, where individuals get the chance to mercilessly scream and yell about the toxic people in their lives.
