taylor swift songs about friendship

Love her or hate her (we’re total Swifties who love all things Taylor Swift!!), there’s no denying Taylor Swift knows what it takes to be successful and connect with people. The billionaire singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and advocate has released 243 songs and amassed a huge fan base. She’s made a HUGE impact on music, pop culture, politics, and more. 

Her list of accolades and achievements is ridiculously long. She’s one of the highest-grossing live music artists of all time, is the only artist to win four Grammy’s for Album of the Year, has won more American Music Awards than any other artist, was named TIME’s Person of the Year in 2023, was the first female artist to receive the BRITs Global Icon award… we could go on and on, but you get it. She’s iconic.

Despite her long list of achievements, she’s best known as the woman whose songs we can’t stop singing along to, in part because she doesn’t shy away from personal relationships when it comes to her song lyrics.

For example, in “The Alchemy,” a song from her most recent studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift isn’t exactly subtle with her lyrics. With football references scattered throughout and lines like “trying to be the greatest in the league.. Where’s the trophy? He just comes runnin’ over to me,” it’s pretty easy to figure out who she’s singing about. We’re looking at you, Travis Kelce.

But, while lyrics like these might get the most attention, romantic relationships aren’t the only thing she writes and sings about. Swift has written numerous songs that either directly talk about friendships or can be interpreted that way. Not sure which ones we’re talking about? We’ll make it easy for you. Today we’re sharing a round-up of Taylor Swift songs about friendship.

Taylor Swift Songs About Friendship

8 Taylor Swift Songs About Friendship

Dorothea

Although part of the fictional storyline that makes up Swift’s Evermore album, “Dorothea” is a song that hits close to home for a lot of us. In this song, “Dorothea” is a famous actress. Swift, as the narrator of the story, sings about seeing Dorothea on screen, and wondering if she remembers their time together as kids.

Swift revealed that “Dorothea” is about a “girl who left her small town to chase down Hollywood dreams and what happens when she comes back for the holidays and rediscovers an old flame,” but the lyrics take on a different meaning when you listen to them from a friendship point of view:

Do you ever stop and think about me? When we were younger, down in the park. Honey, making lark of the misery. You got shiny friends since you left town. A tiny screen’s the only place I see you now. And I got nothing but well wishes for ya.”

You don’t need a childhood friend who became famous to relate to this song. Most of us know what it feels like to look back on the memories we made with a friend who isn’t around anymore and wonder if they ever think about us too. 

And if you’re ever tired of being known for who you are, you know you’ll always know me.

One of the beautiful things about friendship is how it can last through time, distance, and more. These lyrics are a reminder that growing apart is common among friends as you grow older, but with a true friend, you can always come back and pick up where you left off. To reflect more on this, you should definitely listen to the episode of Twenty Whatever called Catching up & telling all (Taylor Swift, relationship milestones, & moving!!)

Fifteen

Do you remember what life was like when you were fifteen? If you were like us, you were probably trying to make your way through the ups-and-downs of high school, staying grateful AF for the friends that were by your side every step of the way. Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen,” a track on her Fearless album, paints an incredible picture of friendship and the comfort friends provide when everything else is new or uncertain.

Count to ten, take it in. This is life before you know who you’re gonna be, at fifteen. You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail. And soon enough you’re best friends, laughing at the other girls who think they’re so cool. We’ll be out of here as soon as we can.

Taylor Swift Songs About Friendship

22

What adults forget about friendship is how carefree and fun it’s supposed to be. Taylor Swift captures the easygoing, fun-loving essence of friendship and being young in her song “22.” Fair warning: this catchy pop song from Swift’s Red album will be stuck in your head for days to come.

We’re happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way. It’s miserable and magical. Tonight’s the night when we forget about the deadlines…

Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we’re twenty-two.

Can we bring that back? We all deserve to let loose, forget about everything that’s weighing us down, and just have a crazy good time with our besties in our matching BFF of the year crop tops. 

Bad Blood

Here’s the thing about Taylor Swift: she writes what she knows, and she knows how it feels to be hurt and betrayed by someone whom she thought she could trust. Those sentiments were the inspiration for her badass song “Bad Blood,” the fourth single from her 1989 album. The star-studded music video makes us feel some kind of way, and the lyrics are ones we want to shout at ex-friends who’ve scorned us.

You know it used to be mad love. So take a look what you’ve done, ’cause baby, now we got bad blood. Now we got problems and I don’t think we can solve ’em. You made a really deep cut and baby, now we got bad blood.

Did you have to do this? I was thinking that you could be trusted Did you have to ruin what was shining? Now it’s all rusted. Did you have to hit me where I’m weak? Baby, I couldn’t breathe

If you feel like there might be some bad blood in one of your friendships check out this episode of Almost Adulting on the five signs your friendship is toxic.

Breathe

“Breathe” featuring Colbie Caillat is emotional, to say the least. According to Swift, this song is “about having to say goodbye to somebody, but it never blames anybody. Sometimes that’s the most difficult part. When it’s nobody’s fault… you would think it’s about a relationship and it’s really about losing a friend and having a fallout.”

I see your face in my mind as I drive away, ’cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way. People are people, and sometimes we change our minds. But it’s killing me to see you go after all this time.

For more insight on navigating a fallout with a close friend, listen to BFF Breakups from The Bad Broadcast.

Seven

“Seven” is a touching and nostalgic folk song about the innocence of childhood and the power of friendships. This track from Swift’s Folklore album tells a story from two perspectives: a woman looking back on her childhood memories of a friend, and a 7-year-old who’s too naïve to understand the violence her friend was facing at home until years later. The lyrics reveal how the children would play pretend to escape the terror of reality.

And I’ve been meaning to tell you, I think your house is haunted. Your dad is always mad and that must be why. And I think you should come live with me and we can be pirates. Then you won’t have to cry or hide in the closet. And just like a folk song our love will be passed on.

Taylor Swift Songs About Friendship

No Body, No Crime

Do you have a ride-or-die bestie? Someone you’d do anything for and vice-versa? “No Body, No Crime” is your song. Just, like… don’t take it literally. This song from Swift’s Evermore album tells the story of Estes, a woman who confronts her cheating husband and then goes missing. The narrator blames the husband, who quickly moves on with his mistress, but can’t prove it without a body. So the narrator avenges Estes. 

Good thing my daddy made me get a boating license when I was fifteen. And I’ve cleaned enough houses to know how to cover up a scene. Good thing Este’s sister’s gonna swear she was with me (“She was with me dude”). Good thing his mistress took out a big life insurance policy.

It’s Nice To Have A Friend

“It’s Nice to Have A Friend” is a Taylor Swift song that was written about the evolution of a relationship from friendship to romance, but it can also be interpreted as a story about feel-good friendships that start simply and grow with you as you get older. 

School bell rings, walk me home. Sidewalk chalk covered in snow. Lost my gloves, you give me one. “Wanna hang out?” Yeah, sounds like fun. Video games, you pass me a note. Sleeping in tents. It’s nice to have a friend.

Want those forever-friend vibes? Listen to the episode of We Met at Acme called Making Your Friendships Last Through the Years. 

What Taylor Swift songs do you connect with the most?

Whether it’s about friendships, romantic relationships, or ignoring the haters, Taylor Swift’s song collection is full of relatable titles. So, which ones are your faves?

Can’t get enough of Taylor Swift? Check out these other podcast episodes and chill with other diet-hard Swifties:

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