Everything You Need to Know About Taylor Swift’s Lavender Haze: The Meaning, The Release, The Co-Writers, and The Lyrics
by Alex Harris
6th May, 2023
Taylor Swift is known for her catchy songs that often reflect her personal life and emotions. Her album, Midnights, is no exception. The opening track, Lavender Haze, is a purple-hued love song that captures the feeling of being in a honeymoon-style relationship. But what does Lavender Haze mean? When was it released? Who are the co-writers and producers of the song? And what are some of the lyrics that convey the theme of the song? In this article, we will answer all these questions and more. Here is everything you need to know about Taylor Swift’s Lavender Haze.
The Meaning of Lavender Haze
According to Genius, Lavender Haze is a classic 50s phrase that refers to the feeling of being in a blissful state of love. The term was inspired by a line from a Mad Men episode, where Don Draper says to his wife: “You’re in a lavender haze“. Taylor Swift wrote this song to express her desire to focus on the passion of love rather than being swayed by the negative remarks of others.
She sings:
I feel The lavender haze creeping up on me Surreal I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say No deal The 1950s shit they want from me I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
However, it appears that Lavender Haze wasn’t a widely used expression during the mid-20th century. This gives rise to the possibility that its usage in the song was more of a cleverly hidden message, an Easter egg reflecting the song’s lyrical content: “No deal / The 1950s shit they want from me,” in the.
There’s scant evidence of Lavender Haze being colloquially used to denote infatuation. The most readily accessible reference is an Urban Dictionary entry, which was created post the airing of the “Mad Men” episode.
Tracing the earliest usage of Lavender Haze, one lands on the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet James Schuyler’s poem, “Sunday,” part of his 1974 collection Hymn to Life. Additionally, a 1976 dissertation by Nancy Elizabeth Cunningham titled “Behind the lavender haze: a sociological study of lesbianism,” uses the phrase.
In an Instagram post on October 6, 2022, Swift explained how the song reflects her experience of being in love in the era of social media.
She wrote:
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.
Swift also revealed that the song was inspired by her six-year relationship with actor Joe Alwyn, whom she has been dating since 2016. She said:
He’s been such an amazing support system for me, and he’s been there for me through everything. He’s just so wonderful, and I’m so grateful for him.
Through the lyrical storytelling in her song, Swift confronts the relentless rumors and conjectures about her possibly being engaged to Alwyn, covertly married, or even preparing for motherhood.
She poignantly addresses this in the second verse of her song, singing, “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.”
These lyrics are a powerful nod to the concept known as the “Madonna-Whore Dichotomy.” This social paradigm, rooted in patriarchal thinking, confines women to one of two extremes: the virtuous, maternal figure or the promiscuous, untrustworthy seductress.
The Release of Lavender Haze
Lavender Haze was released on October 21, 2022, as the lead single from Taylor Swift’s album ‘Midnights’. The song was unveiled in Taylor’s TikTok game show, Midnight Mayhem With Me. The game show involved fans and celebrities competing in various challenges related to Swift’s music and life. Some of the guests included Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish.
The song received positive reviews from critics and listeners alike. Billboard praised the song as “a catchy and captivating anthem that celebrates passion over public opinion”. Rolling Stone called it “a stunning opener that sets the tone for Swift’s most adventurous and experimental album yet”. The song also topped the charts in several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Co-Writers and Producers of Lavender Haze
Lavender Haze was written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoë Kravitz, Mark Anthony Spears (Sounwave), Jahaan Akil Sweet, and Sam Dew. The song was produced by Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, and Jack Antonoff.
Swift has collaborated with Antonoff on several of her previous albums, including 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, and Evermore. Antonoff is also known for his work with other artists such as Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, and Carly Rae Jepsen.
Kravitz is an actress and singer who has starred in films such as ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, and ‘The Batman’. She is also the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She has released two albums with her band, Lolawolf.
Sounwave is a Grammy-winning producer who has worked with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, SZA, and ScHoolboy Q.
He is also a member of Antonoff’s musical project, Red Hearse, along with Sam Dew.
Jahaan Sweet is a producer and songwriter who has worked with artists such as Drake, Eminem, Kehlani, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. He has also produced songs for Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.
Sam Dew is a singer and songwriter who has written songs for artists such as Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Wale, and Jessie Ware. He is also a member of Red Hearse with Antonoff and Sounwave.
According to Swift, the song was influenced by various genres and styles, such as ambient house, dream pop, synth-pop, R&B, and disco. She said:
I wanted to create a song that felt like a mix of different eras and sounds. I love how Sounwave and Jahaan brought their hip-hop sensibilities to the production, while Jack and Zoë added their indie-pop flair. Sam also contributed his amazing vocals to the chorus.
The Lyrics of Lavender Haze
The lyrics of Lavender Haze are straightforward and honest, as Swift sings about her feelings for her lover and her disregard for the opinions of others. She uses figurative language, imagery, rhyme, and repetition to convey the theme of the song.
Some examples of figurative language are:
- “I feel a lavender haze creeping up on me.” This is a metaphor that compares the feeling of being in love to a purple mist that surrounds her.
- “I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say“: This is an idiom that means she doesn’t care what people think or say about her.
- “The 1950s shit they want from me“: This is hyperbole that exaggerates the expectations that society has for her as a woman.
Some examples of imagery are:
- “Staring at the ceiling with you“: This creates a visual image of intimacy and closeness between Swift and her lover.
- “Talk your talk and go viral“: This creates an image of social media and online attention that Swift wants to avoid.
- “Get it off your chest / Get it off my desk“: This creates an image of clearing away unwanted things or emotions.
Some examples of rhyme are:
- “You handle it beautifully / All this shit is new to me“: This is an internal rhyme that occurs within the same line.
- “So real / No deal“: This is an end rhyme that occurs at the end of two lines.
- “Haze / Stay“: This is another end rhyme that occurs at the end of two lines.
Some examples of repetition are:
- “Yeah, oh yeah“: This is repeated three times in each pre-chorus to emphasise Swift’s agreement or affirmation.
- “Lavender Haze“: This is repeated four times in each chorus to emphasise the main idea of the song.
- “Get it off your chest / Get it off my desk.” This creates an image of clearing away unwanted things or emotions.
The lyrics also relate to Swift’s personal life and relationship with Joe Alwyn, whom she dated from 2016 to 2023. The couple broke up a few weeks ago after six years of dating, and a source close to them told PEOPLE that the split was largely caused by “differences in their personalities.” However, during their relationship, Swift and Alwyn shared a number of sweet moments in public, but they kept many of the details about their romance private.
Swift also hinted that Lavender Haze was inspired by her relationship with Alwyn in an Instagram post on October 6, 2022. She wrote:
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.
She also said:
He’s been such an amazing support system for me, and he’s been there for me through everything. He’s just so wonderful, and I’m so grateful for him.
Conclusion
Taylor Swift’s Lavender Haze is a memorable and meaningful song that celebrates passion over public opinion. It showcases Swift’s talent as a songwriter and singer, as well as her collaboration with some of the most talented producers and co-writers in the industry. It also reflects Swift’s personal experience of being in love in the era of social media, and how she dealt with the scrutiny and expectations that came with it. Whether you’re a fan of Taylor Swift or not, you can’t deny that Lavender Haze is a song that captures the feeling of being in a blissful state of love.
Taylor Swift’s Lavender Haze Lyrics
Intro
Meet me at midnight
Verse 1
Staring at the ceiling with you
Oh, you don’t ever say too much
And you don’t really read into
My melancholia
Pre-Chorus
I been under scrutiny (Yeah, oh, yeah)
You handle it beautifully (Yeah, oh, yeah)
All this shit is new to me (Yeah, oh, yeah)
Chorus
I feel
The lavender haze creeping up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Verse 2
All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me)
Is if I’m gonna be your bride
The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see)
Is a one-night or a wife
Pre-Chorus
I find it dizzying (Yeah, oh, yeah)
They’re bringing up my history (Yeah, oh, yeah)
But you weren’t even listening (Yeah, oh, yeah)
Chorus
I feel
The lavender haze creepin’ up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Post-Chorus
That lavender haze
Bridge
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk (Get it off my desk)
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
Chorus
I feel (I feel)
The lavender haze creeping up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal (No deal)
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Outro
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
That lavender haze
I just wanna stay
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze