Midnights: Confessions in the Dark
Taylor Swift’s Midnights is an album filled with late-night thoughts, self-reflection, and emotional honesty. One of the most popular songs from the album, “Anti-Hero,” is a perfect example of this. Swift says the song is “a guided tour through all the things I tend to hate about myself.” In it, she sings about the dark thoughts that many people have but don’t talk about. Lines like “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me” show how quick she is to blame herself. This kind of self-blame is something many of us feel, especially when we’re alone with our thoughts.
Examining Self-Blame in Swift’s Songwriting
In Taylor Swift and Philosophy, the authors talk about how Swift’s songs don’t always blame others, instead they often focus on what she did wrong. In “High Infidelity,” and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve,” she takes responsibility for mistakes and pain. But this raises a big question: Is it okay to blame ourselves so much? Sometimes, taking the blame shows maturity and honesty. But too much self-blame can be unhealthy, especially for girls and young women who are already blamed a lot by society. The book points out that Swift might be showing her fans it’s normal to carry that blame, which can be harmful if taken too far.
Even though Midnights includes lots of self-blame, it also shows themes such as growth and understanding. In “Midnight Rain,” Swift sings about choosing her own path over staying in a relationship that wasn’t meant to last. She admits it hurt, but also says, “I guess sometimes we all get just what we wanted.” Here she doesn’t blame herself or the other person too harshly, she accepts that sometimes relationships just don't work out. It’s a more mature reflection.
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Another song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” shows how growing up can be lonely and confusing. Swift sings about losing touch with friends while chasing success, but she also learns something important by the end: “So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it.” This shows that even though she doubts herself, she’s starting to understand what really matters.
The final song on the Midnights (3am Edition), “Dear Reader,” takes things even deeper. Swift warns fans not to see her as perfect or as a guide for how to live. She says, “You should find another guiding light / But I shine so bright,” which means that even though she seems confident and successful, she’s still figuring life out too. She’s being honest, she has flaws just like everyone else.
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The book Taylor Swift and Philosophy says that reputations and feelings about ourselves can be shaped by other people. In “Anti-Hero,” Swift even admits that others agree with her negative thoughts: “… at teatime, everybody agrees.” This shows that sometimes the self-blame she feels isn’t just coming from her thoughts, it’s also coming from the way people and society treats her. That can make it even harder to believe in yourself.
Conclusion
In the end, Midnights is an album about being honest with yourself even when it’s hard. Taylor Swift shows what it’s like to feel insecure, to blame yourself, and to grow through it. Her music reminds us that while it’s okay to admit our mistakes, we also need to be kind to ourselves and not let other people’s opinions define who we are.