True story

(Verse 1)
In a world where pasts collide,
Soviet tales of a different stride,
A history veiled in a shroud,
Yet we seek a path, a way to be proud.

(Chorus)
Oh, we can't be a carbon copy,
Of a realm with a past so rocky,
But let's dance to our own melody,
Find a new world where we can be free.

(Verse 2)
See, there's a land down Havana way,
Mountains rugged, dreams in the fray,
A campesino, a story to share,
Fighting for a future, a dream to declare.

(Chorus)
In the face of struggle and strife,
Hope ignites, lighting up our life,
We stand strong, we can finally see,
A glimpse of the world we're meant to be.

(Bridge)
Oh, literacy's a beacon bright,
Illuminating the darkest night,
In the pages of a book we find,
A new perspective, a changed mind.

(Verse 3)
From illiteracy's chains we break free,
In this newfound world, we seek to see,
Progress isn't built in a single day,
But step by step, we'll find our way.

(Chorus)
In imperfect lands, hope takes flight,
Guiding us through the darkest night,
We won't be bound by an abstract mold,
But by the stories of the brave and bold.

(Outro)
So let's learn and grow, hearts unfurled,
In this journey to reshape our world,
Finding beauty in every hue,
As we sing the song of the red, white, and blue.

(Verse 1)
In the realm of progress, it's a grandiose tale,
Capitalism's wanderlust, it sets the sail.
Never content to stay confined at home,
Across the seas, its ambitions roam.

(Chorus)
Oh, this world of expansion, a relentless song,
Reaching beyond borders, it won't be long.
And in this journey, oh so vast,
The Third World's story, echoes from the past.

(Verse 2)
400 years of history, it's been a ride,
Empires carving fortunes far and wide.
Portuguese, Spanish, and all the rest,
Claiming treasures, on a global quest.

(Chorus)
Oh, this world of expansion, a relentless song,
Reaching beyond borders, it won't be long.
And in this journey, oh so vast,
The Third World's story, echoes from the past.

(Bridge)
It's not about poverty, a twisted game,
Countries rich, yet hearts in flame.
Philippines, Brazil, and Mexico too,
Abundant wealth, but dreams subdued.

(Verse 3)
Timber, cocoa, copper, and more,
Exploitation's tale, a bitter lore.
Centuries of plunder, a painful truth,
Silent cries echoing through youth.

(Chorus)
Oh, this world of expansion, a relentless song,
Reaching beyond borders, it won't be long.
And in this journey, oh so vast,
The Third World's story, echoes from the past.

(Outro)
Let's rewrite the chapters, break the chains,
Stand together, and break the reins.
For a world united, where hearts find peace,
Let love and justice, forever increase.

It's pretty obvious if you pay attention.

Cause she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts

She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers

Swift is mocking the ruling class and presenting herself as the average, relatable worker left behind.

And you’ve got a smile that could light up this whole town

I haven’t seen it in a while since she brought you down

You say you’re fine I know you better than that

Hey what you doing with a girl like that

She masterfully illustrates how much good the means of production could do for the world and how the very machinery itself is being over-exploited to the point of breaking down. Not only does she comment on how the people of the town are being deprived of the light, but that the light itself is being diminished by the bourgeoisie.

Can’t you see that I’m the one who understands you

Been here all along so why can’t you see

You belong with me

Standing by waiting at your back door

All this time how could you not know baby

You belong with me

You belong with me

You belong with me

Have you ever thought just maybe

You belong with me

You belong with me

Another well-placed jab at the owning class, Swift points out that the bourgeoisie usually doesn't even understand the things they own and are relying on the workers to actually operate machinery and produce value. Despite this, they are being left at the proverbial backdoor while the owners take front and center, hoarding wealth and media attention for things they didn't earn.

I fully support her message that the means of production do absolutely belong with the working class.

泰勒斯威夫特主席万岁!

True story

True story

And I'm the liberal on The Hill

" When they point to the pictures Please tell 'em my name"

They made such a great team together. I'm glad Imogen Heap has held on to these memories.

the revisionists don't want you to see this but it's true

You got nothing to lose but your pains!

True story

As a Swiftie, I uphold communism first, Taylor Swift second. While TSwift might seem vapid at first blush, a closer examination of Taylor’s career reveals a hidden agenda that aligns shockingly well with the principles of socialism, drawing inspiration from both Deng Xiaoping's pragmatic reforms and the revolutionary spirit of Maoism.

Swift may not be marching in the streets with a red flag, but her music has had more than one Red era.

Taylor Swift's highly publicized battles with record labels and streaming platforms provide another lens through which we can view her alignment with socialist principles.

Her fight for fair compensation for all artists in an industry dominated by corporate interests mirrors the struggle for workers' rights that is central to socialist ideology. Swift's courage in challenging industry giants is akin to the audacity of those who dared to confront capitalist exploitation and publicly execute landlords, but with music rights instead of landlords.

Socialism places great importance on unity and solidarity among citizens, and Taylor Swift's ability to connect with a diverse fan base is a testament to her role as a unifying figure. Through her music and actions, she encourages people from various backgrounds to come together in support of common causes like queer rights & killing your fucking landlord, fostering a sense of community reminiscent of revolutionary communist ideals. This unity, bridging the gap between Deng Xiaoping's pragmatism and Maoism's revolutionary spirit, is a reflection of her unique influence.

It's not just Taylor Swift's music and activism that align with socialism; it's her influence on public discourse. In an era marked by growing income inequality throughout the imperial core, her songs and public statements challenge the status quo and inspire her audience to consider alternative social and economic systems that prioritize the welfare of all. This blend of Deng's pragmatic approach and Maoist call for revolutionary change shapes the narrative for a more equitable world.

The next time you listen to a Taylor Swift song, consider the possibility that you're not just enjoying catchy jams but also absorbing the subliminal message of social change and solidarity, blending the paths of Deng Xiaoping and Maoism in a unique synthesis.

here is what I think non shitty gaylor discourse would look like.

no hard labeling. taylor swift is not out (being out is not a vibe, its a political status, that deserves respect), its not ok in my opinion to label anyone a sexuality they dont identify with. Taylor swift is a celebrity that will never see hexbear but this is something I have noticed growing in queer culture I see bleeding into real life. try to destroy the impulse in your own mind to put hard labels on strangers in general. I personally think that queer or sapphic are general enough terms

2. no one get too heated, this should be fun

3. hetlors go away.

post your gaylor lyrics in the comments.

It's all coming together!

As we all know, Taylor Swift released her first, self-titled album at the age of 16 on October 24th in 2006.

The album is distinctly more country-flavored than her later music and attentive listeners will notice a very real and totally authentic rural accent which mysteriously disappeared as early as her 2nd album, Fearless.

The debut album didn't have any massive hits, it was before her breakthrough, but its most popular songs are definitely Our Song (which has the most 2000s video ever made, she looks like an actual barbie doll) and the charmingly corny Teardrops On My Guitar. While with her later albums, I usually like about 90% of songs (except Reputation but we don't talk about that), the debut album is 50/50 for me. If you want my personal hipster "I-liked-Taylor-Swift-before-she-was-cool" songs, it's definitely Picture To Burn and probably I'm Only Me When I'm With You.

Taylor Swift has never been an outstanding vocalist, and this was especially true when 15/16-year-old Taylor recorded the debut album. Her voice is kinda thin and you can hear her struggling to hit higher notes, but it makes it all the more endearing. The album doesn't have nearly the same mainstream appeal that her later albums had, but it was all the more authentic and the roots of what made her so popular, her ability to put her feelings on paper and make her audience relate to her, are already there.

To love Taylor Swift, the album, you kinda already have to love Taylor Swift, the singer. I hope she does remake it, she's sung a bunch of the songs from it as bonus songs on the current eras tour so it's not like she's trying to sweep it under the rug.

Fun Fact 1: There exists an original version of Picture To Burn where instead of "So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine, you won't mind if I say..." she sings "that's fine, I'll tell mine you're gay." If you read the comments, you'll find a lot of gay Swifties asking her to bring that version back.

Fun Fact 2: Drew, the guy who she wrote Teardrops On My Guitar about, went on to be arrested for child abuse a couple years later. Dodged a bullet there, Taytay!