Taylor's New Tune

Since her relatively rapid rise to fame began Taylor Swift has penned plenty of love songs about boyfriends, friends and even some strangers. She has also, however, been the inspiration behind more than one song herself.

After her very public breakup with Joe Jonas in 2008 and the release of her song about the failed relationship (Forever and Always), Joe quickly responded with Jonas brothers song Much Better.

Taylor also released the song Hey Stephen in 2008, written about Stephen Barker Liles of Love and Theft. He had also written a song about Swift called Try and Make it Anyway that was not included on the duo's second album but the band has performed it live.

YouTube star Tyler Ward recorded a song about his love for Tay titled Tyler Swift declaring his love for our favorite country crooner.

Adam Young of Owl City re-recorded Swift's own song Enchanted, with some lyrical modifications, and released on Valentine's day 2011.

Parachute singer Will Anderson released the song White Dress on the band's 2011 album (also including a song called Forever and Always, coincidence?) saying it was written for a "good friend" who was also a "famous singer" after it had been speculated that the two were dating.

There has also been rumors that John Mayer may have responded to Dear John on his latest album in a song called Shadow Days (it also includes a song called Speak For Me, a bit reminiscent of Tay's title for Speak Now.)

Most recently Swift has inspired The Ready Set to write the song For The Better inspired by Tay's tumultuous love life. Including a plethora of references to Taylor's most recent exploits referencing everything from little interruptions (Kanye) to recent heartbreak (Harry.)
Listen to it here

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Jonas Brothers' "Much Better" Lyrics

I get a rep for breakin' hearts
Now I'm done with superstars*
And all the tears on her guitar
I'm not bitter 
But now I see
Everything I'd ever need
Is the girl in front of me
She's much better

You
I wanna fly with
You
Tear up the sky with
You
You're much better
You
I wanna fight with 
You
Make up tonight with
You 
You're much better

Now I've got some enemies
And they're all friends suddenly
BFF's eternally
But I'm not bitter
I believe that the road that people lead
Helps you find the one you need 
You're much better
Yeah

You
I wanna fly with
You
Tear up the sky with
You
You're much better
You're much better, girl
You
I wanna fight with 
You
Make up tonight with
You 
You're much better
Ooh, Yeah

You
I wanna fly with
You
Tear up the sky with you
You
Oh, you're much better
You
I wanna fight with you
You
Make up tonight with you
You 
Oh-oh, you're much better
You're much better, girl

Ooh-ooh-hoo (You)
You
You
I wanna fight with you
You
Oh-oh-oh (You're much better)
You're much better, girl
Oh

You
You
You
You're much better
You
You
You
You're much better

*In concert he sings "country stars"

I Knew You Were Trouble (Red)

Hidden Message: When You Saw Me Dancing

One of Taylor's favorites off her latest album Red, the track I Knew You Were Trouble features Swift's first ever dubstep inspired breakdown. There has been a lot of speculation over which of Swift's ex's is the subject of the latest breakup anthem but the majority seem to have settled on John Mayer. The lyrics  do seem to allude to those of Swift's other song about Mayer, Dear John. (And I'll look back and regret how I ignored when they said run as fast as you can.) Swift explained the song is about "kind of being frustrated with yourself because you have your heart broken and you knew when you first saw that person you saw all these red flags and you just went for it anyway." Sounds a lot like her controversial relationship with Mayer. The lyrics,  A new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be/ And now I see, now I see, now I see/ He was long gone when he met me/ And I realize the joke is on me, also seem to allude to the musician who has a notorious playboy rep. 

* We also consider Joe Jonas a potential subject due to the opening line, Once upon a time, a phrase which Swift also used in Forever and Always. She also states that the perpetrator was "a few mistakes ago" which could open up the time frame to include a relationship even as far back as Joe.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Joe Jonas

July - September 2008 (Forever & Always, Jump Then Fall, Today Was A Fairytale, Better Than Revenge, Last Kiss)

Joe of the Jonas Brothers dated Taylor during the summer of 2008. After breaking up with her over an infamous 27-second phone call, she penned Forever & Always, a last minute addition to her album Fearless. In response, Joe wrote the song Much Better, which compares Taylor to his newer and "better" then-girlfriend Camilla Belle. In Speak Now, Taylor angrily addresses her in Better Than Revenge and desperately remembers Joe in Last Kiss. Although Today Was A Fairytale was written during the summer of 2008, she did not release the song until the soundtrack for her film Valentine's Day came out. It is also assumed that Jump Then Fall (from the Fearless platinum edition) refers to him as well.

Sources: 1, 2

Better Than Revenge (Speak Now)

Hidden Message: You Thought I Would Forget

Taylor doesn’t write much about her female interactions, with the sweet exception of her and best friend Abigail’s coming-of-age tale Fifteen; however, Better Than Revenge defies this habit and is not-so-nicely directed at fellow Hollywood starlet Camilla Belle. The pointed chorus chimes she's an actress/ better known for the things she does on the mattress. Swift hauntingly concludes with, You might have him, but haven't you heard?/ You might have him, but I always get the last word. This fiery anthem expresses Swift’s emotions loud and clear and will undoubtedly force nasty girls to think twice before messing with her or her man. By the time Speak Now came out, Belle’s relationship with Tay’s beloved ex Joe Jonas had already run its course. That guy certainly gets around.

Sources: 1, 2

Last Kiss (Speak Now)

Hidden Message: Forever and Always

Last Kiss is Swift’s heartbreaking response to her break-up with Joe Jonas. The hidden message in the lyric booklet spells out Forever and Always, referring to Swift’s previous song about Jonas from the album Fearless. Her lyric, "I ran off the plane that July 9th,” corresponds with the date Swift flew to and attended a Jonas Brother’s concert back in 2008. “The sadness of losing this person, losing all the memories, and the hopes you had for the future. There are times when you have this moment of truth where you just admit to yourself that you miss all these things. When I was in one of those moments I wrote this song.”

Sources: 1

Love Story (Fearless)

Hidden Message: Some Will Find This

Love Story, the first single from Taylor Swift’s second album Fearless, is best explained by the songwriter herself: “At the time I was talking to a guy that my friends and family weren't a big fan of. Usually my friends and family like the guy I'm dating, but they just didn't like this one. For the first time I could relate to the Romeo and Juliet story where the only people who wanted them to be together were them. That was how the song started, and I'm really excited about how far it's gone,” Swift exclaims. “My parents are never going to forbid me to see anyone. It was more my friends – they just didn't understand why I liked this guy. They were like, 'There's something off about him' and, well, they may have been right!" The song retells the Shakespearian story, while of course including Swift’s own experiences and desires. Swift says the last verse describing a perfect proposal and happy ending is purely fiction and only what she dreamed would happen for her two favorite characters, Romeo and Juliet. It was her way of giving them the ending they deserved. Unfortunately for us, her real-life suitor remains a mystery; however, Swift says the song was the last written before the late addition Forever and Always, leading us to believe that this ‘Romeo’ may possibly have been inspired by Joe Jonas!  Another possible candidate is musician Martin Johnson who Swift received pressure to split with because of his bad boy image.

Sources: 1, 2

Forever & Always (Fearless)

Hidden Message: If You Play These Games Were Both Going To Lose

 Forever and Always was the last-minute emergency addition to the Fearless album. It has been very publicly linked to Swift’s relationship with Joe Jonas and their infamous 27-second break up. She describes watching the person she loves slip away, all the while not knowing why. “In this case the guy ended up breaking up with me for another girl. Guess I know why he was fading…”

Sources: 1, 2