Pop star Taylor Swift released her 10th studio album today (October 21), titled Midnights.
The Blank Space songstress has been kept busy over the past two years thanks to re-recording her first six albums and the release of her lockdown projects Folklore and Evermore - but now she is back once again with 13 new songs for her loyal fanbase.
The singer announced the new album at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards in August, 13 years on from the infamous Kanye West incident.
Taylor, who is known for her 'easter egg' surprises, confirmed the tracklist for Midnights via a fun social media game called Midnights Mayhem With Me (MMWM).
But what is the full tracklist for Midnights and what are the songs about?
Here's everything you need to know:
Lavender Haze
Lavender Haze is the first song on the Midnights album.
The title was confirmed by the singer during the ninth episode of MMWM and following the announcement, Taylor posted a short video on Instagram explaining where she got the idea for this song and what it is about.
In the video, she said she found inspiration for the song from TV series Mad Men and her relationship with long-term partner Joe Alwyn.
She said: “I happened upon the phrase ‘Lavender Haze’ when I was watching Mad Men and I looked it up because I thought it sounded cool, and it turns out that it was a common phrase that was used in the ’50s where they would just describe being in love.
“Like, If you were in the ‘Lavender Haze,’ that meant you were in that all-encompassing love glow, and I thought that was really beautiful.”
She went on to reveal that the song reflects on her relationship with Conversations With Friends actor Joe, who she has been dating for the last six years.
The singer added: “I guess theoretically, when you’re in the lavender haze, you’ll do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off of that cloud.
“I think a lot of people have to deal with this now, not just ‘public figures’, because we live in the era of social media. If the world finds out that you’re in love with somebody, they’re going to weigh in on it.
“We’ve had to dodge weird rumours, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it. This song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff.”
The actor has also played a role in the songwriting process behind some of Taylor's songs and he has co-writing credits on both Folklore and Evermore under the pseudonym William Bowery.
The lyrics for Lavender Haze read: "All they keep asking me is if I'm gonna be your bride.
"The only kinda girl they see is a one night or a wife.
"I find it dizzying, they're bringing up my history but you weren't even listening."
Maroon
Maroon is the second album on Taylor's Midnights album, which was announced in the fifth episode of MMWM.
The song has been written by both Taylor and her celeb pal Jack Antonoff, who features on 11 songs on the Midnights album.
Jack has joined the Cardigan singer on numerous songs throughout her 16-year career and has songwriting credits on the likes of Lover, Cruel Summer and Look What You Made Me Do.
Maroon is yet another Taylor track that uses colour to reference love, following on from her 2012 release of Red.
She references a love that was "so scarlet it was maroon" and many fans have pointed out that the song could be about Taylor's ex-boyfriend, Tom Hiddleston due to the lyric "I chose you, the one I was dancing with in New York, no shoes."
At the end of Taylor's relationship with DJ Calvin Harris in 2016, she was pictured dancing with Tom at the Met Gala in New York.
One fan said of the theory on Twitter: "Ummmmmm is Maroon about Tom Hiddleston?!? They danced together in New York WITH NO SHOES at the 2016 Met Gala!!! SHE "CHOSE" HIM because she was dating Calvin Harris at the time!!?!?!?!"
Anti-Hero
Anti-Hero is the third song on Midnights and was announced during the sixth episode of MMWM.
Following the announcement, Taylor took to Instagram to call the song “one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written”.
She added: “I really don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before.
“You know I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized, and not to sound too dark, I just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person.”
The 32-year-old then went on to say that Anti-Hero is a "guided tour" of all the things she dislikes about herself.
She said: “We all hate things about ourselves and it’s all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we’re going to be this person.
“Yeah, I like Anti-Hero a lot because I think it’s really honest.”
The chorus reads: "It's me.
"Hi, I'm the problem, it's me.
"At teatime everybody agrees.
"I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror.
"It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero."
Anti-Hero is the lead single for Midnights and the music video was released on October 21.
Snow On The Beach
Snow On The Beach is the fourth song on the album and was announced in the 13th episode of MMWM.
During the announcement, Taylor confirmed that the song was a collaboration with none other than Video Games singer Lana Del Rey.
The Shake It Off singer said in the episode: “Snow on the Beach featuring Lana Del Rey is track four on Midnights and I cannot get through that sentence without grinning because I am such a massive fan of Lana Del Rey."
When speaking about the inspiration behind the song, Taylor said it's about “falling in love with someone at the same time as they’re falling in love with you, in this sort of cataclysmic, fated moment where you realise someone feels exactly the same way that you feel at the same moment”,
She added: “You’re kind of looking around going like, ‘Wait, is this real? Is this a dream? Is this for real? Is this happening? Is it really happening?'
“Kind of like it would be if you were to see snow falling on a beach.”
The lyrics read: "I can't speak, afraid to jinx it.
"I don't even dare to wish it but your eyes are flying saucers from another planet.
"Now I'm all for you like Janet.
"Can this be a real thing, can it?"
You're On Your Own, Kid
You're On Your Own Kid is the fifth song on Midnights and was announced during the 10th episode of MMWM.
The three minute and 14 second song has been written by both Taylor and Bleachers singer Jack.
In You're On You're Own, Kid, Taylor references her battles with anxiety and mental health.
In the lyrics, she mentions her eating disorder which she previously revealed during her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana.
She sings: "I hosted parties and starved my body like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss.
"The jokes weren't funny, I took the money. My friends from home don't know what to say."
Midnight Rain
Midnight Rain is the sixth song on Midnights and was announced during episode four of MMWM.
This song has also been written by Taylor and Jack, and is two minutes and 54 seconds long.
Midnight Rain reminisces on a past relationship where two people have grown apart.
The chorus reads: "He was sunshine, I was midnight rain.
"He wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain.
"He wanted a bride, I was making my own name.
"Chasing that fame, he stayed the same.
"All of me changed, like midnight"
Question...?
Question...? is the seventh song on Midnights and was announced during episode three of MMWM.
The three minutes and 30 seconds song is another hit by Taylor and Jack.
Question...? features a conversation between a couple who have seemingly broken up, with Taylor asking a series of questions about the relationship during the chorus.
The chorus reads: "Did you leave her house in the middle of the night? "Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight?
"When she said it was too much, do you wish you could still touch her?
"It's just a question."
Vigilante Sh*t
Vigilante Sh*t is the eighth song on the album and was announced during episode two of MMWM.
This is Taylor's first song with a swear word in the title and is the only song on the album that is solely written by the All Too Well star.
Vigilante Sh*t is one of Taylor's more vengeful songs on the album, with lyrics including: "I don't start sh*t, but I can tell you how it ends. Don't get sad, get even.
"So on the weekends, I don't dress for friends. Lately I've been dressing for revenge."
Some of the lyrics seem to hint at her ongoing feud with rapper Kanye West.
On her Speak Now, Taylor released a song called Innocent about how Kanye interrupted her speech at the 2009 VMA's.
In Vigilante Sh*t, Taylor seems to reference the incident once again with the lyrics reading: "I don't dress for villains or for innocents. I'm on my vigilante sh*t again."
One Twitter user said: "Wait…. Is Vigilante Sh*t about Kanye & Kim!? "Divorce!? “Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride”, “Thick as thieves with your EX WIFE”"
Bejewelled
Bejewelled is the ninth song on Midnights and the title was announced during the seventh episode of MMWM.
This is another song that has been written by Taylor and Jack.
Bejewelled describes a woman who is losing her sparkle while in a relationship with a man who doesn't appreciate her.
The lyrics read: "Familiarity breeds contempt. Don't put me in the basement when I want the penthouse of your heart.
"Diamonds in my eyes, I polish up real, I polish up real nice."
Labyrinth
Labyrinth is the 10th song on Midnights and was announced during the 11th episode of MMWM.
During the announcement, Taylor told fans that this song would be "worth the wait".
It has also been written alongside record producer Jack.
Labyrinth features features a term that Taylor used in her NYU graduation speech earlier this year.
The lyrics read: "Breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out."
The song seems to reference the anxiety around falling in love as the lyrics continue: "Oh no, I'm falling in love, Oh no, I'm falling in love again.
"I thought the plane was going down, heard you turn it right around."
Karma
Karma is the 11th song on Midnights and the title was announced during the eighth episode of MMWM.
This title announcement noticeably caused a stir with Swifties as Taylor cackled while confirming the 11th track.
Fans questioned whether the laughter was on purpose as a longtime theory suggested that Taylor Swift's 10th album was supposed to be titled Karma.
The theory dates back to 2016 and there has been speculation that the song could be about Taylor's feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
One fan said on Twitter : "Karma is definitely about Kanye because it's definitely not a coincidence that it's Track 11.
"When Innocent [her song where she initially forgave Kanye for the 2009 VMA incident], is Track 11 too."
The feud between the celebs began after Kanye humiliated Taylor on stage at the VMA's in 2009 by interrupting her acceptance speech for Best Female Video.
The drama seemingly died down between Taylor and Kanye until the rapper released his song Famous.
In the lyrics for the song, Kanye raps: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b*tch famous."
The feud then erupted once more after Kanye's ex-wife Kim 'leaked' a voice recording of Taylor 'confirming' the lyric after the singer claimed she wasn't aware of the term "I made that b*tch famous".
Taylor went on to disappear from the limelight following the feud, later releasing album Reputation to tell her version of events in songs Look What You Made Me Do and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things.
The full phone conversation between the singer and Kanye was later leaked online to reveal the extent of the conversation.
The Karma lyrics, which seemingly point at the feud, read: "Ask me what I learned from all those years.
"Ask me what I earned from all those tears.
"Ask me why so many fade but I'm still here.
"'Cause karma is the thunder, rattling your ground.
"Karma's on your scent like a bounty hunter
" Karma's gonna track you down, step by step from town to town."
Sweet Nothing
Sweet Nothing is the 12th track on Midnights and was announced during the 12th episode of MMWM.
The song has been penned by Taylor and William Bowery, aka her boyfriend Joe.
The slow tune seems to hint at the ease of their relationship together.
The lyrics read: "Outside, they're push and shoving. You're in the kitchen humming. All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing."
Mastermind
Mastermind is the 13th and final song on Taylor's Midnights album.
The title was revealed during the first episode of MMWM and is the last of the collaborations between the singer and Jack on Midnights.
Mastermind talks about Taylor's reputation and her 'scheming' ways.
The lyrics read: "No one wanted to play with me as a little kid, so I've been scheming like a criminal ever since to make them love me and make it seem effortless.
"Is this the first time I feel the need to confess?
"And I swear, I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care."
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