Fearless

Album Notes

All artistic work exists in the context of the broader culture. In this album, Swift remixes familiar cultural tropes to advance her very particular personal agenda. When it's successful, it has the effect of implying that the whole sweep of human history and culture necessarily culminates in Swift's own emotional response to a teenage breakup. 

Fearless

Lyrics (Here)


'Cause I don't know how it gets better than this 

You take my hand and drag me head first, fearless 

And I don't know why but with you I'd dance 

In a storm in my best dress, fearless


Related Readings:

 


Commentary: 

 



Fifteen

Lyrics (Here)

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you You're gonna believe them 

And when you're fifteen, feelin' like there's nothin' to figure out 

Well, count to ten, take it in This is life before you know who you're gonna be At fifteen


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


Love Story

Lyrics (Here)

Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone I love you and that's all I really know 

I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress It's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes'"


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


Hey Stephen

Lyrics (Here)

Hey Stephen, I could give you fifty reasons Why I should be the one you choose 

All those other girls, well, they're beautiful But would they write a song for you?


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


White Horse

Lyrics (Here)

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale 

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet, lead her up the stairwell 

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town 

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down


Related Readings:

Mills, Charles W. "“Ideal theory” as ideology." Hypatia 20, no. 3 (2005): 165-183. (link)


Commentary: 


You Belong with Me 

Lyrics (Here)

she'll never know your story like I do


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


Breathe

Lyrics (Here)

People are people and sometimes we change our minds


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


Tell Me Why

Lyrics (Here)

I took a chance, I took a shot And you might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


You’re Not Sorry

Lyrics (Here)

So you don't have to call anymore I won't pick up the phone


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 


The Way I Loved You 

Lyrics (Here)

He respects my space And never makes me wait 

And he calls exactly when he says he will 

He's close to my mother Talks business with my father 

He's charming and endearing 

And I'm comfortable


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

This song is about The Notebook, right?


Forever & Always

Lyrics (Here)

Was I out of line? 

Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide 

Like a scared little boy?


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here


The Best Day

Lyrics (Here)

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger 

God smiles on my little brother, inside and out 

He's better than I am 

I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run 

And I had the best days with you


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Change

Lyrics (Here)

Because these things will change 

Can you feel it now? 

These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down 

This revolution, the time will come 

For us to finally win 

And we’ll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Beautiful Eyes

Lyrics (Here)

I wake up, I'm alive In only a little while, I'll cry 

'Cause you're my lullaby So baby, come hold me tight


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Mr. Perfectly Fine

Lyrics (Here)

Oh, he's so smug, Mr. "Always wins" 

So far above me in every sense


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



We Were Happy

Lyrics (Here)

No one could touch the way we laughed in the dark 

Talking 'bout your daddy's farm 

And you were gonna marry me 

And we were happy


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Jump Then Fall 

Lyrics (Here)

Every time you smile, I smile 

And every time you shine, I shine


Related Readings:

Ebels-Duggan, Kyla. "Against beneficence: A normative account of love." Ethics 119, no. 1 (2008): 142-170." (link)


Commentary: 

here



Untouchable

Lyrics (Here)

I'm reaching out and I just can't tell you why


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Come in with the Rain

Lyrics (Here)

Talk to the wind, talk to the sky 

Talk to the man with the reasons why 

And let me know what you find


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Superstar

Lyrics (Here)

You played in bars, you play guitar I'm invisible and everyone knows who you are 

And you'll never see, you sing me to sleep Every night from the radio


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



The Other Side of the Door

Lyrics (Here)

Me and my stupid pride are sittin' here alone 

Goin' through the photographs, starin' at the phone


Related Readings:

here" (link)


Commentary: 

here



Discussion Questions