This was so good!! As you were analyzing Happiness I couldn’t help but think of the difference in how a more mature/older Taylor writes about the ending of a relationship vs how she does in ATW. Especially the line “I haven’t met the new me yet” vs “I'd like to be my old self again. But I'm still trying to find it.” With age she has realized the old self never comes back and instead the person who emerges from the end of a relationship can only ever be a new version.
I always thought the green light of forgiveness was a little more literal. Like a traffic light because I didn’t know about the Gatsby tie. I read it as he is waiting for the green light or her forgiveness so it is ok for him to be happy after hurting her.
the way i immediately knew what the title meant and that realisation was immediately followed by tears streaming down my face…happiness is a butterfly girls and it’s on my fingers rn
brings me back to zach & madeline’s twitter days tweeting “happiness is a butterfly” at any random hour 😭😭 i can’t believe this hasn’t been covered on substack yet!
Also this analysis (or semi-personal attack) of both songs *is* going to give me a panic attack (in a good way)… thank god for therapy because I ain’t touching that with a ten foot pole if you paid me no sireee
happiness is such an overhated Taylor song, but it's always been one of my favourites from evermore. I've never experienced anything remotely similar to what she's describing, yet it's one of those songs that makes you feel so deeply. In saying that, I enjoyed hearing hateration of the Great Gatsby references in the song. People praise those lines, but it's always felt forced to me. She's made it work before; the Peter Pan reference in cardigan makes sense in the context of the song, as does The Secret Garden reference in I Hate it Here. I just don't see the connections between the story of this song and Great Gatsby. Honestly, the Gatsby reference in this is why we can't have nice things makes more sense lol. Still a highlight from evermore tho.
As for happiness is a butterfly, honestly, I think it's one of the most melodically beautiful songs on Lana's discography. Makes me emotional every time. Loved listening to this!! :)
Now you’re cooking. Have I done lyrical analyses of both of those songs individually already well yes. Does that mean I can’t do a sister songs analysis of them together WELL NO! We need to open this case up
Loved hearing this analysis of these two beloved songs! Hearing and connecting with a different interpretation makes it feel like listening to the song for the first time all over again.
On that note, I always interpreted the “everyday is a lullaby” line as every day feels like she is being sung to ‘sleep’ and further the ‘long sleep’ i.e, the inevitable conclusion of our days, death. Not necessarily sewerslidal ideations, but experiencing every day knowing that it is all going to end at some point can make it feel like another dull drowsy day of going through the motions. That is until the ephemeral butterfly of happiness comes along and life feels meaningful again for a moment.
“Hum it on the phone like every night” could mean that she feels most in tune with that lullaby and the existentialism of it all at night. In my head the phone call is to whatever is on the other end of death, where our consciousness goes, trying to be in tune with that feeling and reaching out wondering if you can hear what’s on the other end.
And that part of her that wants to reach out and understand what’s beyond our reach (”trying to catch it like every night”) is what she infuses into her music and it’s what connects her with her audience because it’s a collective human experience, connecting to the line “sing it for my babies on the tour life.” Or tour life could refer to those who are lost and restless and impermenant, like she feels.
Anyways hope someone enjoyed my essay of what my brain has cooked up listening to this song. ❤️
also btw lizard payola is real and it is a communal resource because sunday (1994) responded to my DMs and stories on instagram and we need another episode on them expeditiously when ‘rain’ comes out on april 11th
So glad to see someone show love and appreciation for happiness. It’s one of her best songs in terms of her evolution as a person when it comes to her ex’s. It helps give shape to evermore, a complex body of work reflecting on memory and loss. 🍁🍂
another potential sister songs lyrical analysis: goddess by laufey and loml by taylor because both are kind of about being turned into an idea and then grappling with yourself after it
i was about to say that but i thought you’d save it for a later date and stuff but the web that connects them all just has to be invoked. you see how that works?
another pairing (istg i have to stop) is our troubles by sunday (1994) and midnight rain by taylor swift. our troubles has a whole mystery behind it but i think those songs are deeply about being dissatisfied in your surroundings and feeling this cataclysmic need to change your life and create a new one. (this town smells like a hate-crime/my town was a wasteland) i mean i like the rain when it’s two under one umbrella girls.
This was so good!! As you were analyzing Happiness I couldn’t help but think of the difference in how a more mature/older Taylor writes about the ending of a relationship vs how she does in ATW. Especially the line “I haven’t met the new me yet” vs “I'd like to be my old self again. But I'm still trying to find it.” With age she has realized the old self never comes back and instead the person who emerges from the end of a relationship can only ever be a new version.
Oh ouch 😭 it’s so true !
I always thought the green light of forgiveness was a little more literal. Like a traffic light because I didn’t know about the Gatsby tie. I read it as he is waiting for the green light or her forgiveness so it is ok for him to be happy after hurting her.
Lana’s Lana del Rey is Joan Baez
the way i immediately knew what the title meant and that realisation was immediately followed by tears streaming down my face…happiness is a butterfly girls and it’s on my fingers rn
brings me back to zach & madeline’s twitter days tweeting “happiness is a butterfly” at any random hour 😭😭 i can’t believe this hasn’t been covered on substack yet!
that and i bet on losing dogs by mitski
i literally almost added that!!! you were THERE🫡
literally you’re on your, snake. you always have been
And it's on my fingers rn ..... SHAKESPEARE
thank you thank you, i do the best i can do
We all clapped for a hoax revisit!
Also this analysis (or semi-personal attack) of both songs *is* going to give me a panic attack (in a good way)… thank god for therapy because I ain’t touching that with a ten foot pole if you paid me no sireee
happiness is such an overhated Taylor song, but it's always been one of my favourites from evermore. I've never experienced anything remotely similar to what she's describing, yet it's one of those songs that makes you feel so deeply. In saying that, I enjoyed hearing hateration of the Great Gatsby references in the song. People praise those lines, but it's always felt forced to me. She's made it work before; the Peter Pan reference in cardigan makes sense in the context of the song, as does The Secret Garden reference in I Hate it Here. I just don't see the connections between the story of this song and Great Gatsby. Honestly, the Gatsby reference in this is why we can't have nice things makes more sense lol. Still a highlight from evermore tho.
As for happiness is a butterfly, honestly, I think it's one of the most melodically beautiful songs on Lana's discography. Makes me emotional every time. Loved listening to this!! :)
Ok future sister songs ep for Lizard Review… Sza’s Saturn X Taylor’s I Hate it Here …..😵💫🤭
Now you’re cooking. Have I done lyrical analyses of both of those songs individually already well yes. Does that mean I can’t do a sister songs analysis of them together WELL NO! We need to open this case up
Loved hearing this analysis of these two beloved songs! Hearing and connecting with a different interpretation makes it feel like listening to the song for the first time all over again.
On that note, I always interpreted the “everyday is a lullaby” line as every day feels like she is being sung to ‘sleep’ and further the ‘long sleep’ i.e, the inevitable conclusion of our days, death. Not necessarily sewerslidal ideations, but experiencing every day knowing that it is all going to end at some point can make it feel like another dull drowsy day of going through the motions. That is until the ephemeral butterfly of happiness comes along and life feels meaningful again for a moment.
“Hum it on the phone like every night” could mean that she feels most in tune with that lullaby and the existentialism of it all at night. In my head the phone call is to whatever is on the other end of death, where our consciousness goes, trying to be in tune with that feeling and reaching out wondering if you can hear what’s on the other end.
And that part of her that wants to reach out and understand what’s beyond our reach (”trying to catch it like every night”) is what she infuses into her music and it’s what connects her with her audience because it’s a collective human experience, connecting to the line “sing it for my babies on the tour life.” Or tour life could refer to those who are lost and restless and impermenant, like she feels.
Anyways hope someone enjoyed my essay of what my brain has cooked up listening to this song. ❤️
Literally sobbing not ten minutes in. The first few lines of happiness are a severe gut punch.
My favorite Lana song and my favorite taylor song
Omg slay I voted for this one on the discord. Happiness gets too much shit and for what?
also btw lizard payola is real and it is a communal resource because sunday (1994) responded to my DMs and stories on instagram and we need another episode on them expeditiously when ‘rain’ comes out on april 11th
EXACTLYYYYY
you’re a lizard of a few episodes but got an evolution of a snake that can cut through silence.
So glad to see someone show love and appreciation for happiness. It’s one of her best songs in terms of her evolution as a person when it comes to her ex’s. It helps give shape to evermore, a complex body of work reflecting on memory and loss. 🍁🍂
another pairing is, let me cook, norman fucking rockwell by lana del rey and the tortured poets department by taylor swift
another potential sister songs lyrical analysis: goddess by laufey and loml by taylor because both are kind of about being turned into an idea and then grappling with yourself after it
Well let’s fold Chloe or Sam into that while we’re at it !!
i was about to say that but i thought you’d save it for a later date and stuff but the web that connects them all just has to be invoked. you see how that works?
another pairing (istg i have to stop) is our troubles by sunday (1994) and midnight rain by taylor swift. our troubles has a whole mystery behind it but i think those songs are deeply about being dissatisfied in your surroundings and feeling this cataclysmic need to change your life and create a new one. (this town smells like a hate-crime/my town was a wasteland) i mean i like the rain when it’s two under one umbrella girls.
Amazing analysis! It makes me appreciate happiness more and rediscover happiness is a butterfly ❤️