The winter season brings a moment of stillness and the invitation for reflection amongst the heartfelt emotions that arise with the transition to the holiday period – and no one captures the essence of these feelings quite like Taylor Swift. Heather Wallis reccomends some of her tracks that are perfect for frosty mornings or cosy evenings by the fire.
1. "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" (2021)
Swift’s powerful storytelling and vivid imagery captures the autumnal romance of "All Too Well", which was masterfully reinvented into a ten-minute ballad for the release of Red (Taylor’s Version). Swift reflects on the bittersweet memory of falling in love, drawing in on the “autumn leaves falling like pieces into place” as a metaphor for the “long-gone” blissful memories from the beginning of the relationship. These nostalgic lyrics perfectly evoke the ending of the autumn season, capturing its lingering warmth and the bittersweetness of change in the lead-up to the transition into the reflective winter season.
2. "Back to December: (2010)
The reflective quality of winter is encapsulated in Swift’s regretful tone in "Back to December". The song expresses a state of reminiscence of old memories and the coldness of winter in the lyrics: “then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind”, which convey an eeriness to the changing of the seasons. Swift reflects on both the positive and negative moments within a previous relationship that embody the juxtaposition between the warmth and cold in the transition to winter. Despite winter’s coldness, Swift expresses her longing to go “back to December all the time” to change the ending of the romance that she reflects upon.
3. "Evermore" (Feat. Bon Iver) (2020)
Swift’s track "Evermore" expresses a deep reflection made up of haunting harmonies and themes of hardships, evoking the quiet, introspective stillness of winter through the emotional depth and imagery that is created within the lyrics. The folk-inspired instrumentation draws on the bewildering state that can be connected to the year reaching its close through the lyrics: “Hey December, guess I’m feeling unmoored” combined with the feeling of being “barefoot in the wildest winter”, addressing the emotional pain and struggle of these hardships, whilst simultaneously highlighting the beauty of the season through the song’s winter imagery that openly embraces the time of year.
4. "Forever Winter" (2021)
"Forever Winter" creates the imagery of a perpetual sense of coldness to symbolise an ongoing state of grief. The lyrics convey a mental battle and the narrator’s desperate urge to alleviate the emotional pain that is being experienced, portraying the duality of winter as a season that is both beautiful and isolating, which sustains the reflective tone that can be felt across Swift’s array of music. The sombre lyrics are juxtaposed by the upbeat tempo which builds on the song’s bittersweet tone, encapsulating a winter that lingers beyond the season.
5. "Champagne Problems" (2020)
The demise of a romantic relationship is detailed within "Champagne Problems" – another bittersweet ballad that resembles a cold winter evening. The song explores heartbreak and missed opportunities, emphasised by its title that juxtaposes the concept of luxury and celebration with the emotional devastation of a rejected proposal. The lyrics reflect the narrator’s sense of the year drawing to a close and the anticipation of their friends' winter tradition to “deck the halls that we once walked through”, capturing the dualities of closure and the new beginnings awaiting.
6. "Tis’ the Damn Season" (2020)
"Tis the Damn Season" symbolises the nostalgic feeling of returning home and revisiting a past relationship, providing a sense of warmth, comfort and familiarity. Swift masterfully weaves vivid imagery into her lyrics: "sleep in half the day just for old times' sake", evoking the cosiness of winter and the ache of unresolved feelings. The gentle, melancholic melody creates a reflective atmosphere of both conflicting emotions and a sense of fleeting comfort that is found in returning home to a place of familiarity and revisiting cherished memories.
7. "Christmas Tree Farm" (2019)
‘Christmas Tree Farm’ encapsulates the magic of the holiday season and the nostalgia of Swift’s fond memories from her childhood. The song brings a joyful blend of festive imagery and a heartfelt tone that creates a sentimental reflection. The magical line in the song: “In my heart is a Christmas tree farm where the people would come to dance under sparkles and lights” paints the picture of an idyllic Christmas scene, which creates an optimistic sense of joy and community in the celebration of the festivities of Christmas. The festive spirit of the song is enhanced by its cheerful melody that builds on the wonder and excitement of the winter season and the enchantment of Christmas through the embracing of love and holiday traditions.
8. "Lover" (2019)
Love and intimacy are celebrated during the festive season through Swift’s timeless song, "Lover". The waltz-like rhythm and romantic lyrics evoke a passionate romance and a sense of home comforts that brings warmth to the cold season. Swift’s lyrics portray a state of entrancement and a longing to remain in the moment in the suggestion to “leave the Christmas lights up ‘til January” and the desire to “be this close forever and ever”, evoking a sense of permanence through the feeling of magic and serenity that is created. The soft and nostalgic instrumentation of the song combined with its heartfelt lyrics presents a declaration of devotion to the relationship and the blissful feeling of finding a partner who feels like home.
9. "New Year’s Day" (2017)
"New Year’s Day" is a stripped-down ballad with a gentle piano melody that captures the desperation to “hold on to the memories” of a romantic love and the fear of losing a deep connection. The song contrasts the excitement of New Year’s Day with an unglamorous side to love in the lyrics: “I want your midnights but I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day” expressing the commitment of a relationship that encounters an array of emotions beyond the fleeting excitement of the new year. The song ultimately reveals the unspoken gestures of love through the hardships as well as the moments of celebration.
10. "Begin Again" (2012)
Heartbreak’s antidote is delivered in the soft optimism of "Begin Again", which fuels a renewed perspective on romance, capturing the spirit of a fresh start that feels perfectly in tune with the approach of the new year. The song expresses the pain of past relationships and the belief that “all love ever does is break and burn and end” which is optimistically contrasted by a sense of renewal and hope in the song’s message that it is never too late to restart. This encouraging message is captured in the lyrics: “on a Wednesday in a café I watched it begin again”, providing the hopeful realisation that love can be found again.
Throughout her albums across the eras, Swift encapsulates the beauty and reflective quality of winter through song, blending nostalgia, comfort and introspection in a way that resonates deeply with the season. Her music invites us to embrace love in every form, including moments of heartbreak and self-reflection as naturally as we do the changing of the seasons and colder days. Swift’s indulgence of heartfelt emotion provides the perfect soundtrack for both calm reflections and festive celebrations full of nostalgia and blissful memories.