It’s the week of April 19, which means we’ve made it. New Taylor Swift music will hit the airwaves on Friday with the release of The Tortured Poets Department. It’s Swift’s 11th studio album and has been highly anticipated since the singer-songwriter announced it at the Grammy Awards.
MORE: All the Taylor Swift Tortured Poets Department bonus tracks and variations that have been announced
In order to prepare for the onslaught of new music, we are taking on the frankly impossible challenge of ranking the 14-time Grammy winner’s 40 best songs. This is the opposite of whatever you would deem scientific as this list would likely shift slightly if we undertook the same project next week.
Let’s get to it. Here are songs 40-31, plus a few that just missed. Each day before the album release, we’ll give you the next 10 until we get to No. 1.
Just Missed
“I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor’s Version)” – Red (Taylor’s Version)
“Tim McGraw” – Taylor Swift
“Now That We Don’t Talk (From the Vault) (Taylor’s Version)” – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
“False God” – Lover
“I Know Places (Taylor’s Version)” – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
40. Foolish One (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)
Album: Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
It may be a shocker right off the bat, but “Foolish One” just doesn’t get enough love. It’s an extremely relatable song about missed connections and mixed messages, and it’s so easy to belt out in the car. One of my personal favorites when it comes to vault tracks from her re-releases.
Best Lyric:
Don’t know what to call this situation
But I know I can’t call you mine
And it’s delicate, but I will do my best to seem bulletproof
‘Cause when my head is on your shoulder
It starts thinkin’ you’ll come around
39. Hits Different
Album: Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition)
Speaking of loudly singing in the car, nothing quite hits like a chorus of “OH MY LOVE IS A LIE” from this absolute bop. I’ll be honest with you all, if this was just my personal rankings, “Hits Different” would be in the top three.
Best Lyric:
Freedom felt like summer then on the coast
Now the sun burns my heart and the sand hurts my feelings
And I never don’t cry (no, I never don’t cry) at the bar
Yeah, my sadness is contagious (my sadness is contagious)
I slur your name ’til someone puts me in a car
I stopped receiving invitations
38. tolerate it
Album: evermore
This is truly one of Swift’s more heartbreaking songs as she details a relationship where one person is putting in their all and the other is just… tolerating it. Her performance on the Eras Tour of the evermore staple is more movie than anything else, and it brings a whole new level to the song.
Best Lyric:
I take your indiscretions all in good fun
I sit and listеn, I polish plates until they gleam and glistеn
You’re so much older and wiser and I
I wait by the door like I’m just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy [expletive]
And watch you tolerate it
37. Paper Rings
Album: Lover
“Paper Rings” is an absolute bop that is truly just about being so in love you don’t even need the jewelry to go with it.
Best Lyric:
I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings
Uh huh, that’s right
Darling, you’re the one I want, and
I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
36. the 1
Album: folklore
I. Love. This. Song. So. Much. I don’t know if it was the surprise album or the pandemic or something else, but when the first notes hit through my noise-cancelling headphones, I was in.
Best Lyric:
We were something, don’t you think so?
Rosé flowing with your chosen family
And it would’ve been sweet
If it could’ve been me
In my defense, I have none
For digging up the grave another time
But it would’ve been fun
If you would’ve been the one
35. Picture To Burn
Album: Taylor Swift
Step aside, pop Taylor. Country Taylor is here. This is the epitome of teen Swift breakup anthem, and although I’ve aged, the joy I get from loudly singing this is still the same.
Best Lyric:
In case you haven’t heard, I really, really hate that
Stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
You’re a redneck heartbreak who’s really bad at lying
So watch me strike a match on all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another picture to burn
34. I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor's Version)
Album: Red
A bit of a heartbreaker disguised as an upbeat pop banger.
Best Lyric:
And the saddest fear
Comes creepin’ in
That you never loved me
Or her
Or anyone
Or anything
33. Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)
Album: 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
The 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault was incredibly strong, but “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” truly stood out as one that felt just so perfectly in line with the vibe of the original album.
Best Lyric:
Let’s fast forward to three hundred awkward blind dates later
If she’s got blue eyes, I will surmise that you’ll probably date her
You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor
You search in every model’s bed for something greater
32. illicit affairs
Album: evermore
There’s something extra heavy about the “bubble gum pop” Taylor Swift tackling a song about sneaking around. It’s haunting and intense and shows she can recognize the ugly in love.
Best Lyric:
Take the road less traveled by
Tell yourself you can always stop
What started in beautiful rooms
Ends with meetings in parking lots
31. Teardrops On My Guitar
Album: Taylor Swift
The quintessential teen angst love song. It’s perfect.
Best Lyric:
Drew talks to me, I laugh ’cause it’s just so funny
But I can’t even see anyone when he’s with me
He says he’s so in love, he’s finally got it right
I wonder if he knows he’s all I think about at night
