10 Exes Everyone Has, As Told By Taylor Swift Songs | The Odyssey Online
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10 Exes Everyone Has, As Told By Taylor Swift Songs

Because no one knows breakup ballads quite like Taylor.

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10 Exes Everyone Has, As Told By Taylor Swift Songs
Elle UK

If you've ever experienced a breakup, you know there is no healing method quite like drowning your sorrows with the three break up gods: Ben, Jerry, and Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is the queen of exes, the queen of breakup anthems, and the queen of heartwrenching professions of love through ballads. Some may hate her, some may worship her, but regardless of your feelings, you cannot deny that Swift writes songs about every type of romantic encounter you have experienced.

1. Your First Love - "Fifteen"

Any girl listens to "Fifteen" and automatically has a certain love on her mind. The first time you fall in love, or rather, think you do, is a person that you cannot erase from your memory. When Taylor Swift writes her lyrics "When your fifteen/And somebody tells you they love you/ You're gonna believe them," she puts to words your naivety and innocence throughout your first love. It is most likely a love that ended badly, with you being exploited or hurt, thus starting your mistrust in love and your hesitance to fall in love again. But, at that age, you are so desperate for love that you can become blind to who that person really is. This type of love is very basic, dramatic, and innocent.

2. Your First Heartbreak - "Picture to Burn"

The first time you experienced heartbreak, not just a breakup, is a memorable love in itself. You experience many stages of said heartbreak, eventually leading to anger or revenge. "Picture to Burn" encapsulates all of this, from its sarcastic bitterness and witty threatening tone. From declaring "you loved yourself more than you could ever love me" to promising that "I'm just sitting here/Planning my revenge/There's nothing stopping me/From going out with all of your best friends," "Picture to Burn" is the badass heartbreak anthem we all needed the first time around.

3. The One Your Parents Hated, But You Loved - "Love Story"

Based on Romeo and Juliet, a romantic classic, this song is what you blasted in your room after your parents told you they weren't too fond of the person you were seeing. It was just so unfair that your parents didn't like him; he is the love of your life. "Love Story" was the super realistic dream that said boy would show up to your house and throw pebbles out your window, whisk you away to a garden, declare his love for you, despite it being forbidden by your parents, and live happily ever after... until you found out that he was a jerk and your parents were right.

4. The Cheater- "Should've Said No"

Finding out the person you loved cheated on you is obviously one of the worst feelings anyone can think of. You feel worthless, betrayed, and self-conscious. "Should've Said No" is the song that puts into words everything you wanted to say to that person. "You should've said no/ You should've gone home/ You should've thought twice before you let it all go" clearly explains that a cheater makes a decision to betray you. There are no accidents, according to Taylor, instead, there are only decisions. This song had people who weren't even cheated on crying in their rooms about an imaginary relationship. A personal gut-wrenching line in "Should've Said No" is "I can't resist/Before you go, tell me this/ Was it worth it?/Was she worth this?" The cheater's actions don't just sting, it can create an image of yourself that makes you question whether you were good enough.

5. The Love at First Sight - "Enchanted"

Whether or not you believe in love at first sight is debatable, but I'm sure everyone can pinpoint at least one time where they walked into a room, looked at someone, and their heart soared. Maybe it had to do with their physical appearance or maybe something about their personality, you were intrigued and wanted, no, needed, to know more. The eye contact grows and grows as "your eyes whispered 'have we met?'/Across the room your silhouette/Starts to make it's way to me," until you are talking and you realize just how much you like this person. You leave that room thinking "it was enchanting to meet you" and the "lingering question kept [you] up/ 2 am who do you love," until your praying "Please don't be in love with someone else." Whether or not you ever speak or see this person again, or whether or not it is true love, "Enchanted" describes the feeling of a first impression you just can't shake.

6. The On/Off Again, Fighting Relationship - "The Way I Loved You"

Most people wish for an easy relationship. One without fighting, someone your parents and friends love, and who treats you like a princess. But, that can also be boring. Sometimes the crazy, passionate relationships that involve screaming matches, making up, tears, and laughs are the ones we love the most. "The Way I Loved You" compares this easy relationship of a seemingly perfect boyfriend to the image of one of these relationships where you are "breaking down and coming undone/It's a rollercoaster kind of rush/ Never knew I could feel that much." Swift describes that although the gentlemanly boy is a perfect boyfriend, she does not feel the same intensity as she does with the one that kisses her in the rain. And, we all gotta admit, we want to get kissed in the rain.

7. The One that Got Away - "If This Was a Movie"

Everyone has that one person that no matter how long it's been- you just can't shake them. Their presence and the memories you have of them are always playing through your mind. You aren't necessarily still in love with them, but you definitely will never stop loving them. Even after all that time, you still want them back. Maybe you've had other relationships, good ones, even. But, this person is someone that you will always love and continue to wait for. As the song says, "Six months gone and I'm still reaching/ Even though I know you're not there." Based on the premise of wishing he would show up with a romantic gesture, much like a movie scene, Taylor Swift describes the longing to get back the one that got away.

8. The Gentleman - "Begin Again"

We all date our fair share of jerks, i.e. the cheater, the first heartbreak, etc., and sometimes, it seems all the boys we seem to fall for fall into the 'jerk' category. But, one day, you'll meet a boy, and he's charming, sweet, and a gentleman, and you'll remember that not all men suck. It doesn't mean he's the one, or that you'll even fall in love with him, but you'll be reminded that there are guys out there that aren't our to break your heart. "Begin Again" is that first date where all you want to do is talk about the guy before who broke your heart and compare this guy to him, but you find that you are now incredibly invested in the conversation and ready to move on. The song goes "I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did/And I've been spending the last eight months thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end/ But on a Wednesday in a cafe/I watched it begin again" and makes you believe in love all over again.

9. The Game Player - "Cold As You"

The boy that just completely messed with your heart and your mind. Every time you said you were done, he somehow managed to win you back over, until he broke you again. Over and over the cycle continued, until you realized that half the time you were fighting with him just so he would grovel and come back. "Cold As You" recognizes that "when you take, you take the very best of me/So I start a fight because I need to feel something/And you do what you want because I'm not what you wanted." He plays way too many games that cause you to go crazy. The fighting and making up is fun for a while, until you realize that fighting and heartbreak are all that's there. If the smiles, love, and laughs are outnumbered by the tears and apologies, you are dealing with a game player. "Cold As You" is the realization that this kind of boy only has his interests at heart and probably doesn't care for you the way you do him.

10. The One - "Stay, Stay, Stay"

"Stay, Stay, Stay" blends together all aspects of a great love. Yes, they fight, but they talk it out. They joke around and are humorous and light, much like the song. But, through it all, "Stay, Stay, Stay" shows that no matter what, Swift is willing to put work into the relationship to see it through because she knows it's one that she wants to last a lifetime. Although the song starts with "I'm pretty sure we almost broke up last night/I threw my phone across the room at you," it ends with "All those times that you didn't leave/It's been occurring to me/I'd like to hang out with you for my whole life/Stay/And I'll be loving you for quite some time." 'The One' is the person that you understand the need to work for because, despite the occasional fight, they are completely and utterly worth it. You see a future with that person and you are able to be completely yourself with them. They are your other half. "Stay, Stay, Stay" has us all excited to finally meet this person.

So, whether you're crying over the boy that broke your heart or dancing in your room because you are just so happy in your relationship, Taylor Swift has the perfect choice of songs for any relationship occasion. Now, plug into your speaker or turn up your headphones, and enjoy ballad after ballad of the best relationship advice in the world.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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