On August 23rd, after what felt like years of waiting and cryptic Easter eggs, Taylor Swift dropped her highly-anticipated album, Lover. And while nothing will ever top Speak Now or 1989 (Swifties, who’s with me?), the album did not disappoint. With 18 tracks dedicated to growing up, letting go, and her (first ever) private romance, Lover is a far cry from Taylor’s previous music. It’s clear she’s moved on from petty internet feuds, broken hearts, and burnt bridges. She’s weathered the Reputation storm and come out the other end with a new outlook on life and a new approach to her platform, singing openly about social issues she’s never previously touched on before like the LGBTQ+ community, politics and women’s rights.
While the album may sound airy-fairy with upbeat melodies and light-hearted lyrics, Lover is actually an incredibly complex (and catchy!) collection of songs that have powerful meanings behind them. In true Taylor Swift fashion, the album feels like a jigsaw puzzle filled with cryptic clues for us piece together.
So, of course, as a long time Taylor Swift fan, I did just that. For the last two weeks, I’ve gone down the Lover rabbit-hole, working to uncover the hidden messages she’s sprinkled throughout her songs. And something I’ve discovered within my research is just how much Taylor uses her hairstyles and red carpet looks to send these messages, whether we pick up on them or not. She’s a master at carefully crafting her image, using everything from her hair cut to the shade of her blonde to tell a story, one song at a time.
And so I give you the results of my investigation: 18 Taylor Swift hairstyles, each representing a song from Lover and the hidden meanings in the lyrics…
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I Forgot That You Existed
“I Forgot That You Existed” is a bold choice for the kick-off song on the album and is allegedly about Tay getting over ex Calvin Harris. While the breakup was notoriously messy, Taylor never had the chance to address it as Kim and Kanye ‘cancelled’ her a few months later, forcing her to go into hiding.
The obvious Taylor hairstyle for this breakup bop is the messy platinum bob she shocked fans with at the 2016 Met Gala event. This, paired with her dark vampy lip, is exactly the kind of drastic change we all need when going through a breakup.
Cruel Summer
After getting the breakup out of the way, Taylor introduces fans to her new relationship with British actor, Joe Alwyn, via “Cruel Summer.” The song takes us back to the summer they first met, during which they were trying to keep their blossoming romance private. To this day, Taylor still won’t publicly address their relationship.
This mid-length shaggy cut with long piecey bangs is giving us seriously discreet vibes. It takes the attention off her face, helping her remain anonymous (if that’s even possible with Taylor Swift?!).
Lover
“Lover” is the title song of the album and is of course about Joe. In this song she reveals they’ve taken quite a few serious steps in their relationship, like moving in together and planning for marriage. It’s a slow love ballad that has a similar sound to her older country music.
Taylor’s hair left wavy and natural totally embodies what this song is about – after years of dating and sharing her relationships with us, she’s finally in a relationship that’s remained so authentic and unpublicised. She’s found the man she can fully be herself with and she wants to protect that.
The Man
While her songs have occasionally toyed with patriarchial themes, “The Man” is the feminist anthem we didn’t know we needed from our girl Tay. She sings about the double standards and sexism women face, alluding to a number of her personal situations like the sexual assault lawsuit she filed against a DJ in 2017 and her reptuation as a man-eater.
Taylor ditched her typical soft curls and ultra-femme look at the 2015 MTV Music Video Awards, opting for a powerful and unconventional style that totally suits “The Man.” This was also the night she presented the Video Vanguard Award to rival Kanye West, making this look an even bigger power move.
The Archer
“The Archer” is apparently a sequel to her 1989 single, Delicate. It’s a love song with a dark and desperate undertone – she’s terrified of losing the one she loves because of mistakes she’s made in the past. The jury’s out on whether the song’s about Joe or her rumoured ex-girlfriend Karlie Kloss.
We love that Taylor ties songs together from different albums and eras, so this low ponytail tied into a knot is the perfect hairstyle to represent “The Archer,” both sonically and metaphorically.
I Think He Knows
Jumping back to her relationship with Joe, “I Think He Knows,” is an upbeat bop about infatuation with a sleuthy beat. It’s about the beginning of their relationship when it was filled with butterflies and giddy love. She sings about skipping down the street and struggling to hide her infatuation.
Taylor’s long, flirty waves (that she often rocked at the beginning of her career) are giving us the fun, young love vibe that “I Think He Knows” is all about.
Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
Taylor actually explained that “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” uses a hypothetical high school romance as a metaphor for how disillusioned the world is with the state of U.S. politics and the inequality that prevails.
Taylor’s platinum disheveled bob and black accessories are very different from her more typical clean-cut look. It has a rebellious feel to it, similar to the message she’s trying to send in “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince.”
Paper Rings
“Paper Rings” is a fast-paced upbeat track about marrying the love of her life (presumably Joe). She sings about being so happy in love that she would marry him in dirty jeans with paper rings. It’s a celebration of love and she’s letting us know this relationship is the real deal.
This loose updo paired with a delicate diamond headband is a very *bridal* look. It’s symbolic of the song and makes us want to elope with paper rings and the love of our life, too.
Cornelia Street
Cornelia Street is a street in Greenwich Village NYC where Taylor was living when she met Joe. The song is about falling in love and the events that took place during the early days of their relationship that were pivotal in making it work.
“Cornelia Street” sounds like a breath of fresh air. It’s a laid back love song with a very pretty high-pitched melody. Taylor’s long, relaxed waves channel the optimism that the song possesses.
Death By A Thousand Cuts
Taylor’s inspiration for “Death By A Thousand Cuts” was actually a Netflix film called Someone Great. The film is about a woman who leaves a long-term relationship before making a huge cross-country move.
Despite the story behind it, the song itself is actually very uplifting and positive. The melody is very similar to Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” which is also about making big life changes and hopeful new beginnings. This short chop is the perfect fresh start when embarking on a new adventure.
London Boy
“London Boy,” again is about Joe. It’s all about their life together in London, where the two are rumoured to share a flat. Taylor sings about blending in with his life – going to his favourite pubs, hanging out with his friends, and just really enjoying their low-key life together.
Taylor’s laid back ‘do half-hidden under her fedora hat is a fun and casual style that gives us serious running-errands-around-London feels.
Soon You’ll Get Better
Taylor’s most vulnerable song on the album, “Soon You’ll Get Better” is a ballad dedicated to her mum’s cancer journey. While her mum has been battling cancer for years, this is the first time Taylor has openly addressed it in her music. She said it was a family decision to include the song on the album.
She sings about what it’s like to have to put on a brave face for her mum and be the strong one as her daughter. It’s such a beautiful song about the love she has for her mother, so of course Taylor’s classic hairstyle that she wore for years as a young girl is the perfect choice for this.
False God
“False God” is a song about Joe and some of the harder times in their relationship. She references their fights, his temper, and their clashing egos. It’s also very risky with lots of sexual innuendos and religious imagery.
Taylor’s long straight locks, smokey eye and bright red lip is a sexy, powerful look that channels the dark and sensual themes in “False God.”
You Need To Calm Down
Taylor released “You Need To Calm Down” as her second single during Pride Month. The song calls out haters and specifically targets homophobia and LGBTQ+ rights. This is the first time Taylor has inserted herself into this conversation and showed support for the LGBTQ+ community through her music.
Taylor co-wrote this song with her best friend, Broadway star and drag queen, Todrick Hall. Taylor’s current hairstyle, a chic lob with a brow-grazing fringe, is the perfect modern style with a feminine twist that suits this progressive yet personal tune.
Afterglow
“Afterglow” is an apology ballad where Taylor sings about swallowing her pride and taking responsibility for a fight or mistake that seems to have ended a relationship. As someone who rose to fame by singing about how others have wronged her, “Afterglow” is a side of Taylor we haven’t really seen.
This elegant swept-back chignon is a mature and elegant style that’s well suited to a song about growing up and owning one’s mistakes.
Me!
“Me!” was the first single off the album. It’s an upbeat lighthearted song about Taylor embracing herself and loving who she has become. It’s in stark contrast to Reputation and again, solidifies how she’s moved on from petty drama and won’t apologise for who she is.
The obvious choice for “Me!” is this unstyled-style that Taylor wore to last week’s MTV VMAs where she performed her title track Lover for the first time and won Video Of The Year, proving that she’s doing it her way and she’s still on top.
It’s Nice To Have A Friend
There’s been lots of speculation surrounding the meaning behind “It’s Nice To Have A Friend.” Some believe it’s about a high school crush, some believe it’s about her and Joe starting off as friends, and some believe it’s about her rumoured romantic relationship with ex-best friend Karlie Kloss.
This teased half-up half-down look with long bangs and a smokey eye is an unusual look for Taylor, that’s equal parts dramatic and mysterious. That’s why her hair is so big – it’s full of secrets!
Daylight
Finally, Taylor rounds the album off with “Daylight,” a dreamy love song about finding her way through the darkness and stepping into the light. The song is about change, redemption, and finding true love with Joe.
This whimsical pulled back style with loose braids and colourful makeup is the perfect style for this airy yet complex love song.
