lou's library

I love it when two of my personal universes align and I realise Taylor Swift has written a song inspired by one of my favourite books. It truly does happen more often than you’d think, which makes me quite sure that TayTay and I would have a simply cracking book club. Someone let her know I’m available any time. Anyway, here are some of the books that inspired Taylor Swift songs. Enjoy!

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier without knowing that tolerate it was heavily inspired by it. Once you know it, it sure does make a lot of sense though.

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky. Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life. Drawin’ hearts in the byline, always taking up too much space or time.

That does sound a lot like the new wife in Rebecca trying to emotionally reach her husband and asking herself why she is failing to do so. And honestly, I totally understand why Taylor might have felt inspired to write about Rebecca. It’s such a captivating tale of obsession, jealousy, belonging and ghosts of the past. It’s quickly become one of my favourite books and I now feel a completely new excitement whenever tolerate it comes on.

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

I think it’s fair to say Taylor seems to have a bit of an obsession with Peter Pan, as she references the story in several of her songs. That makes two of us, TayTay.

And you said you’d come and get me, but you were twenty-five, and the shelf life of those fantasies has expired. Lost to the “Lost Boys” chapter of your life. Forgive me, Peter, please know that I tried.

That’s an excerpt from Peter, which is one of my favourite songs on The Tortured Poets Department. But there are also references to Peter Pan in cardigan from folklore and I love how she keeps using the idea of a boy refusing to grow up in her songs. Peter Pan is one of my favourite children’s books (second to only Winnie the Pooh), because it has so many layers of meaning that become visible slowly as you engage with the story at different points in your life. I do hope Taylor will continue to write about it.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Of course, this blog post wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Love Story, one of Taylor’s most well-known songs. And while I personally think the tragedy of it all is part of what makes Romeo and Juliet so appealing, I do understand Taylor’s desire to give our star-crossed lovers a happy ending.

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles, and my Daddy said “Stay away from Juliet”. And I was crying on the staircase, begging you “Please don’t go”

I’m sure Romeo and Juliet has inspired hundreds of songs, but Love Story is one of my favourites because it is so fun to sing/scream along to. Just think of Richie in season two of The Bear having a Love Story moment in the car. Iconic.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The amount of times I listened to happiness (one of the best Taylor songs out there, if you ask me) before I finally got all the Great Gatsby references is almost shameful. Once you’ve heard them though, they’re everywhere. Happiness also isn’t the only song of Taylor’s referencing The Great Gatsby, but it’s my personal favourite.

Showed you all of my hiding spots, I was dancing when the music stopped. And in the disbelief I can’t face reinvention. You haven’t met the new me yet.

I think this song really demonstrates Taylor’s ability to write a song inspired by a book, but to use that as a starting point to then go and also make the song about other things. I love how she keeps dropping small Great Gatsby hints throughout the song without making it too obvious. And of course, the book is such a beautifully devastating story of love, the American Dream and the downfall of hopes that it just lends itself to a song perfectly.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Forget everything I just said about subtlety, because I Hate It Here is very obviously inspired by The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (a classic I don’t see enough people rave about).

I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind, people need a key to get to, the only one is mine. I read about it in a book when I was a precocious child.

If that ain’t one of Taylor’s most relatable songs, then I don’t know. I think it’s also a beautiful ode to how books are able to take you out of reality when you need a break. And reading The Secret Garden felt exactly like that to me. It’s such a beautiful story, full of feeling and I was so happy when I first heard I Hate It Here, because that book totally deserved a place in the Taylor Swift universe.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that it perhaps inspired you to either listen to Taylor’s songs in a different way or to visit these books from a new perspective. Do let me know if you’ve read some of these novels and whether or not you liked them!