Scientist Identifies Recurring Lyrical Patterns in Taylor Swift's Music

A linguistic researcher has identified a series of consistent patterns within Taylor Swift's song lyrics, suggesting a predictable thematic structure beneath her career's perceived evolution.

Dr. Naomi Adam, a researcher in literary linguistics at the University of Liverpool, analyzed 123,553 words from 247 songs across Swift's catalog, including studio albums, extended releases, and contributions to soundtracks. The study, detailed on The Conversation, found that Swift consistently employs themes of color, counterfactuality (exploring hypothetical pasts), embodiment (translating emotions into physical sensations), opposition, and time. The analysis also highlighted a recurring focus on how others perceive her and the symbolic use of clothing.

Despite Swift's reputation for reinvention and distinct musical "eras," Adam's research indicates a strong element of continuity in her lyrical content. These identified themes have persisted for over two decades, appearing in her earliest work as well as her most recent releases.

Among the recurring motifs, color is a prominent feature, with songs like "Maroon," "Lavender Haze," "White Horse," and "Gold Rush" referencing specific hues. The album "Red" is titled after a color, and a recent bonus track is named "Pink Clouding." However, the analysis revealed that the color most frequently appearing in Swift's lyrics is grey. Examples include the lines "Did I paint your bluest skies a darkest grey" from "Coney Island" and "Grey November, I've been down since July" from "Evermore."

Adam also noted Swift's frequent exploration of external perception. In the song "Cleveland!," Swift appears to address public commentary with lyrics such as "And with all of that money, why's she dressed like trash? / When she smiles, it's annoying." Similar themes of external viewpoints are present in "Shake It Off" and "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me."

References to body parts are another recurring element, with Swift's recent tracks mentioning arms, elbows, faces, hearts, lips, and shoulders. Clothing items, from "cardigans" and "Eagles T-shirts" to "skirts that are short or tight or little, black dresses and old faded blue jeans," are often utilized not just as fashion but as symbols of identity and self-expression.

Dr. Adam explained that these patterns are likely to continue in Swift's future work. She is co-authoring an upcoming book with Suzanna McClure, titled "The Lyrics of Taylor Swift," which will further explore these research findings. The analysis encompasses Swift's debut from 2006 through her recent "Encore" releases, such as "The Life of a Showgirl."