“Because these things will change | Can you feel it now? | These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down | It's a revolution, the time will come | For us to finally win | And we'll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah.”
This past week I, like many Americans, have been dealing with feelings of sadness, fear, and confusion (an exact list that has been acknowledged by a text from the Harris-Walz campaign). I am deeply shaken by the non-existent standards of decency that apply to the presidency, and reflecting on how once again, a woman who is in every sense of the word more qualified being passed over for a man — and a clearly uninformed abuser and felon at that. I’m wondering if I should have done more, as I’m sure many people are, if life in general weren’t keeping us busy. There’s a long and difficult road ahead, and we are searching for ways to express our worries and stand together more than ever.
In the weeks leading up to the election, I took to making a lot of politically themed Swiftie friendship bracelets. Taylor Swift’s fandom has transcended all definitions, with stories about people sharing “Swifty Voter” and “Get Out The Vote” friendship bracelets cropping up in recent months. In summary, we utilized the fandom’s traditions to further vital causes and implore people to help. Taylor wasn’t absent from this critical moment either, endorsing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz via her Instagram minutes after the conclusion of the first debate.
Now, you may be turning to something as simple as a book or movie for some comfort. We shouldn’t let escapism take over our lives when there is work to do — among other things, Americans can (and should) familiarize themselves with this guide to Project 2025, read the ACLU’s articles and guides, attend the People's March on January 18, 2025 (and other events organized by Women’s March), revisit the Planned Parenthood website, and check out the Campaign for Southern Equality. Meanwhile, Swifties are still bound together by a love for the music and the common life experiences we make sense of through that music, which will allow us to continue to support each other as part of an amazingly massive and powerful community. And if you just need something cute and fun to lift your spirits (and maybe inspire other people to help out, remain positive, and lean on each other), here are some bracelet ideas with a few important lessons to internalize right now.
You Need To Calm Down
“You Need to Calm Down” from Lover Era
According to the Miss Americana documentary, Taylor decided to start involving herself in politics between Reputation and Lover, against the advice of her PR team. Soon after she released the controversial single “You Need to Calm Down.” The song is still a sassy approach to attackers, and a reminder to not blow things out of proportion. I’m trying to calm down, Taylor. But a lot of people in this mess need to realize it’s not all about them.
WYAYTAYKN (When you are young they assume you know nothing)
“Cardigan” from Folklore Era
I think “cardigan” is my all-time favorite Taylor Swift song, maybe an interesting choice given my general disinterest in romance. However, “cardigan” is not just about one-third of Taylor’s fictional teenage love triangle, but the culture of dissent Betty and James share as they fall in and out of love. The song repeats the phrase “when you are young, they assume you know nothing,” at one point preceded by the poignant lyrics “sequin smile, black lipstick, sensual politics.” It is about the politics of love and youth culture. WYAYTAYKN, taken out of context, is a reminder of how underestimated young people are.
Fighting Dragons
“Long Live” from Speak Now Era
“Long Live” is the ultimate graduation song, evoking an image of an underdog band going their separate ways after high school. However, I’ve also begun to think of it in the context of any group of people coming together for one life-changing adventure, and not just for them. I really wanted the Red, White & Royal Blue movie to use it (given how much Taylor's music comes up in this book fandom), leaning into the book’s themes of Alex, Henry, and their cohort making history and changing the world for the better by simply being themselves. Whatever your dragons may be, I hope you have the time of your life fighting them with amazing people.
Miss/Mr/Mx Americana
“Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” from Lover Era
Lift “Miss Americana” out of context for a little patriotic spirit. The song itself invokes Americana related to the high school experience, presenting a dreamy, melancholic vision of prom nights and football games. This song doesn’t present the most comforting image of high school: “American glory faded before me / Now I'm feeling hopeless, ripped up my prom dress / Running through rose thorns, I saw the scoreboard / And ran for my life […] The whole school is rolling fake dice / You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes […] We're so sad, we paint the town blue / Voted most likely to run away with you.” Accurate, but my opinions on our education system is a subject for another day. Taylor still identifies herself as “Miss Americana” and sings about triumphing someday.
Never Wield Such Power
“Majorie” from Evermore Era
For those of you who don’t know, “marjorie” is Taylor’s ballad written in honor of her grandmother, opera singer Marjorie Finlay. This song is mostly about how passed family members stay with us and their nuanced bits of advice: “Never be so kind, you forget to be clever / Never be so clever, you forget to be kind […] Never be so polite, you forget your power / Never wield such power, you forget to be polite.” I like “never wield such power” for election season because it’s not about power or winning, it’s about creating the best future for the people. Checks and balances, it’s the whole system. It’s meant to limit a single person’s power (not that it’s helping us much right now).
Wise Men Once Said
“The Albatross” from The Tortured Poets Department Era
Themes about unruly and critiqued women have been a motif in Taylor’s music for a while — “the last great american dynasty” and “Anti-Hero” are right up there. “The Albatross” speaks of an autonomous woman and male fears projected onto her. The lyrics repeatedly refer to the things “wise” men once said or believed. In other words, don’t blindly trust the authority figures of the patriarchy. Do your research, listen to all sides of the debate, make an informed decision. Taylor essentially said the same thing in her Instagram post. “The Albatross” also includes one of the most explicit political references of Taylor’s career: “Wise men once read fake news and they believed it.”
Burn The Witch
“Cassandra” from The Tortured Poets Department Era
The line is actually “When it's ‘Burn the bitch,’ they're shrieking,” but never deny me the chance to make it about witches. It has the same meaning, anyway. “Cassandra” is a masterpiece of a song, elaborating on the themes of the Cassandra myth, the Greek prophetess cursed so that no one believed her predictions. There is so much symbolism here, primarily concerning women being persecuted for being observant. There are also some clear real-world references in this song, but I think its themes are important when it comes to why we listen to which politicians and reading the writing on the wall.
Only The Young
“Only the Young” from Lover Era
“When you are young, they assume you know nothing” speaks more of the frustration of being underestimated, called ignorant because of youth. Underestimating kids and teenagers being able to see what is going on in the world. “Only the Young” is an on-point song about the exhaustion my generation feels, being told that the world is going to shit every day. Withheld from Lover but included in the Miss Americana documentary, this song and this phrase exposits that only the young have it in them to change the world.
Build A Legacy
“thanK you aIMee” from The Tortured Poets Department Era
As just about everyone alive knows, “thank you aIMee” is presumed to be a jab at Kim Kardashian, prompted by her actions in the now decade-and-a-half-long celebrity feud with Kanye West. The song is a great upbeat tune about who you become despite and because of other people’s attacks, one of the best lines being “All that time you were throwing punches I was building something,” and later “I built a legacy that you can’t undo.” That’s one of the ideas of participating in every election, that you will contribute to building a legacy of love and welfare.
Things Will Change
“Change” from Fearless Era
It still amazes me how this song hits when it’s from so long ago when baby Taylor had just had her breakthrough; her lyrics are 10 times more complex now, and she isn’t staying out of politics anymore. However, the basic message of “Change” is what everyone wants to believe and has wanted to believe at almost any point in American history: that things will get better. Taylor exposited this universal message in 2008 when we sure weren’t imagining everything that would happen. I’ve been especially making a bunch of bracelets that say “things will change” because that’s what I’m hoping for, only to move forward. Hopefully accessories and tokens like this will keep spirits up and encourage people to listen, and things will change soon.
P.S. I have a stupid number of these bracelets right now (I craft to relieve stress). If you want some I take Venmo for shipping costs. The bracelets would be my gift.