Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans… Read Full Bio ↴Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise.

Swift rose to mainstream prominence with her sophomore studio album, Fearless (2008), a country pop record with crossover appeal. Aided by the top-five singles “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me”, Fearless was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Swift's third studio album, Speak Now (2010), blended country pop with elements of rock and featured the top-ten singles “Mine” and “Back to December”.

Drawing inspiration from various pop, rock, and electronic genres, Swift's fourth studio album Red (2012) saw her transcending her country roots. She completely moved to pop with her synth-pop fifth studio album, 1989 (2014), and expanded the electropop sound on her next two studio albums, reputation (2017) and Lover (2019), which respectively embraced urban and retro styles. The four albums spawned a string of international top-five singles, including “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, “I Knew You Were Trouble”, “Shake It Off”, “Blank Space”, “Bad Blood”, “Look What You Made Me Do”, “ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco)”, “You Need to Calm Down”, and “Lover”.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Swift experimented with folk and alternative rock on her eighth and ninth studio albums, folklore and evermore (both 2020), whose lead singles “cardigan” and “willow” topped charts around the world. She also released the critically acclaimed documentaries Miss Americana and Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions that year. Swift's tenth studio album, Midnights (2022), marked her triumphant return to pop after two folk albums. The album set the record for biggest first day and first week ever on Spotify, spawned the hits Anti-Hero and Lavender Haze, and sold over 1.5 million copies in its first week becoming not only the biggest debut of the decade but also Swift's biggest debut ever. She would make history by becoming the first artist to occupy the entire top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 with tracks from Midnights.

Additionally, Swift began re-recording her back catalog in November 2020 as a result of a publicized dispute with talent manager Scooter Braun and her former label Big Machine, regarding the acquisition of the masters of her back catalog. In April 2021, Swift released a re-recorded issue of her 2008 album Fearless, titled Fearless (Taylor's Version). It debuted at number one in the US. Swift continued releasing re-recorded versions of her back catalog in November, 2021 with the release of Red (Taylor's Version), a 30 track re-issue of her 2012 critical smash. The album debuted at #1 in the US, spawned the #1 hit All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault), and broke the record at the time for biggest first day for a female album on Spotify. Red (Taylor's Version) was a critical and commercial hit, and proved that Swift's ambitious, yet ongoing plan to re-record her first 6 albums was well worth it.

Along with the release of Red (Taylor's Version) came All Too Well: The Short Film (2021), Swift's filmmaking debut. The 15 minute romantic drama was based on the lyrical content from Swift's 2012 fan favorite “All Too Well” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien. It had a limited theatrical release in major cities, and Swift held special screenings of the film throughout 2022 at various film festivals. In December, 2022 Taylor announced that she would be making her feature directorial debut with Oscar-winning studio Searchlight Pictures.

Following the release of Midnights, Swift would embark on her first tour in five years, The Eras Tour—a retrospective tour covering the entirety of her discography. During her ongoing tour, Swift would release her next two re-recorded albums, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) in July and 1989 (Taylor's Version) in October of 2023. The former of which would land Swift as the woman with the most number-one albums (12) in Billboard 200 history, surpassing Barbra Streisand. The latter was her sixth album to sell one million copies in a single week in the US, her largest album sales in a week span. “Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version)”, the lead single for 1989 (Taylor's Version), would peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

At the 66th annual GRAMMY Awards, Taylor Swift surprised viewers by announcing her eleventh studio album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. On April 19, 2024, the album was released globally, breaking records: it became the first ever to amass 1 billion Spotify streams in a week and sold 2.6 million units in its first week in the US. Swift dominated the charts, monopolizing the top 14 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 and securing the top 10 positions on Australia’s ARIA Singles Chart. The lead single, Fortnight, featuring Post Malone, quickly soared to the number-one position on the Hot 100. Additionally, just two hours after the album’s release, Swift surprised fans with a reissue titled THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY, which included 15 extra songs.

Swift has released several songs for film soundtracks. She co-wrote two songs for the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack— “You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home” and “Crazier”, and contributed two songs to the Valentine's Day soundtrack, including the single “Today Was a Fairytale”, which was her first number one on the Canadian Hot 100, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. She also contributed two original songs to The Hunger Games soundtrack album: “Safe & Sound - from The Hunger Games Soundtrack”, co-written and recorded with The Civil Wars and T-Bone Burnett, and “Eyes Open”. “Safe & Sound” won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. In 2013, Swift recorded “Sweeter than Fiction”, a song she wrote and produced with Jack Antonoff for the One Chance film soundtrack, which received a Best Original Song nomination at the 71st Golden Globe Awards. Swift and English singer Zayn Malik, mononymously known as Zayn, released a single together, “I Don't Wanna Live Forever”, for the soundtrack of the film Fifty Shades Darker (2017). She also recorded an original song called “Beautiful Ghosts”, which she wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the Cats's soundtrack (2019). In 2020, Swift's documentary Miss Americana featured the song “Only the Young” which was written after the 2018 United States elections. In 2022, she released an original song titled “Carolina” for Where The Crawdads Sing (2022) inspired by the novel written by Delia Owens.

With sales of over 200 million records worldwide, Swift is a best-selling music artist. Her accolades include 14 Grammy Awards, including four Album of the Year wins, which makes Swift the artist with the most awards for that category in history, two Brit Awards (including a Global Icon award), an Emmy Award, 28 Guinness World Records, 32 American Music Awards (the most wins by an artist), and 23 Billboard Music Awards (the most wins by a woman). She ranked eighth on Billboard's Greatest of All Time Artists Chart (2019) and was listed on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time (2015). Swift has been included in various power rankings, such as Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world (2010, 2015 and 2019) and Forbes Celebrity 100 (placing first in 2016 and 2019). She was named Woman of the Decade (2010s) by Billboard, Artist of the Decade (2010s) by the American Music Awards, and Person of the Year (2023) by Time Magazine.

-Tied Together With A Smile
Taylor Swift Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

That you cry; but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

I guess it's true that love was all you wanted
'Cause you're givin' it away like it's extra change
Hoping it will end up in his pocket
But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain
Oh, 'cause it's not his price to pay
It's not his price to pay

Hold on, baby; you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go, and no one knows
That you cry; but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

Hold on, baby; you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go, and no one knows
That you cry; but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile

But you're coming undone

You're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone, oh
Goodbye, baby
With a smile, baby, baby

Overall Meaning

Taylor Swift's "Tied Together with a Smile" is a soulful ballad that delves into the painful insecurity and need for validation prevalent among many young women. Swift begins the song by observing that the person who doubts their beauty the most is looking back at them from the mirror. She tells the listener that she knows they believe they're not beautiful, but it’s not true. Swift delivers a poignant message, reminding her fans that everyone struggles and beautiful people are not exempt from pain.

Although the person Swift sings to is trying to maintain a facade of happiness and a perfect life, she can see the cracks in their façade. From her lyrics, it is evident the person is so desperate for love and validation that they're giving their love away carelessly. Perhaps, they want to be noticed or appreciated by another person but sadly, these efforts are not reciprocated, causing them to feel lower and not pretty. This idea that self-worth is attached to someone else's feeling about you is a theme that Swift explores throughout some of her work.

Swift uses the metaphor of being "tied together with a smile" to illustrate how the person is a bundle of contradictions, struggling inwardly while projecting an outwardly happy demeanor. Throughout the ballad, there are hints that she is aware of how the facade is slipping, with the line "you're tied together with a smile, but you're coming undone." This line reminds us that no one can bury their pain for too long before it bubbles over.

Line by Line Meaning

Seems the only one who doesn't see your beauty
It appears as if you are the only one who does not appreciate your own beauty.

Is the face in the mirror looking back at you
The only entity that cannot see your beauty is the reflection staring back at you in the mirror.

You walk around here thinking you're not pretty
You believe that you are not good-looking, which makes you self-conscious.

But that's not true 'cause I know you
Contrary to what you believe, I am aware that you are attractive.

Hold on, baby; you're losing it
Please be patient as you seem to be losing grip on your emotions.

The water's high, you're jumping into it
It feels like you are jumping into deep waters, which might be difficult to get out of.

And letting go, and no one knows
You feel like you are letting go of things, and nobody knows how it affects you.

That you cry; but you don't tell anyone
You are most likely shedding tears, but you keep this information to yourself.

That you might not be the golden one
It is possible that you are not perfect or in the best situation.

And you're tied together with a smile
You present yourself in a certain manner, probably through smiling, despite how you're dealing with things.

But you're coming undone
Despite your effort to put on a good face, things seem to be falling apart.

I guess it's true that love was all you wanted
Perhaps all you wanted was to be loved.

'Cause you're givin' it away like it's extra change
You seem to be giving away your love without much thought, like excess coins.

Hoping it will end up in his pocket
You are probably hoping that the love you offer will be appreciated by someone who deserves it.

But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain
Your love might end up being disregarded, like a useless penny left in the rain.

Oh, 'cause it's not his price to pay
It might not be his responsibility to respond to your love the way you want him to.

You're tied together with a smile
You are maintaining a certain presentation of yourself, likely through smiling or happy appearances.

But you're coming undone, oh
Despite your efforts to keep it together, you are breaking down.

Goodbye, baby
Perhaps it is time to bid farewell to the situation causing your distress.

With a smile, baby, baby
As you leave, don't forget to smile, even though it might be tough.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LIZ ROSE, TAYLOR SWIFT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@awwee1457

3y↑23

Seems the only one who doesn't see your beauty
Is the face in the mirror looking back at you
You walk around here thinking you're not pretty
But that's not true 'cause I know you

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

I guess it's true that love was all you wanted
'Cause you're giving it away like it's extra change
Hoping it will end up in his pocket
But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain

Oh, 'cause it's not his price to pay
It's not his price to pay

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

You're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone
Goodbye, baby
With a smile, baby, baby

@UCqkdtMiE5ZquD_lF9prae4Q

3y↑2

একটি হাসি দিয়ে, শুভ বিদায় baby...........
Lyrics:
Seems the only one who doesn't see your beauty
Is the face in the mirror looking back at you
You walk around here thinking you're not pretty
But that's not true 'cause I know you

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

I guess it's true that love was all you wanted
'Cause you're giving it away like it's extra change
Hoping it will end up in his pocket
But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain

Oh, 'cause it's not his price to pay
It's not his price to pay

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go
And no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone

You're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone
Goodbye, baby
With a smile, baby, baby

মনে হয় একমাত্র যে তোমার সৌন্দর্য দেখে না
আয়নায় মুখ কি তোমার দিকে ফিরে তাকায়
তুমি সুন্দর না ভেবে এখানে ঘুরে বেড়াও
কিন্তু এটা সত্যি নয় কারণ আমি তোমাকে চিনি

দাঁড়াও, বাবু, তুমি হারিয়ে ফেলছ
জল বেশি, তুমি তাতে ঝাঁপ দাও
এবং যেতে দেওয়া
আর কেউ জানে না
যে তুমি কাঁদবে, কিন্তু কাউকে বলবে না
যে আপনি সোনার এক হতে পারে না
এবং আপনি একটি হাসি সঙ্গে একসঙ্গে বাঁধা করছি
কিন্তু আপনি পূর্বাবস্থায় আসছেন

আমি মনে করি এটা সত্য যে ভালোবাসাই আপনি চেয়েছিলেন
'কারণ আপনি এটিকে অতিরিক্ত পরিবর্তনের মতো দূরে সরিয়ে দিচ্ছেন
আশা করা যায় এটা তার পকেটে যাবে
কিন্তু সে তোমায় বৃষ্টিতে এক পয়সার মতো ছেড়ে দেয়

ওহ, 'কারণ তার মূল্য দিতে হবে না
এটা তার মূল্য দিতে হবে না

ধর, বাবু, তুমি হারিয়ে ফেলছ
জল বেশি, তুমি তাতে ঝাঁপ দাও
এবং যেতে দেওয়া
আর কেউ জানে না
যে তুমি কাঁদবে, কিন্তু কাউকে বলবে না
যে আপনি সোনার এক হতে পারে না
এবং আপনি একটি হাসি সঙ্গে একসঙ্গে বাঁধা করছি
কিন্তু আপনি পূর্বাবস্থায় আসছেন

দাঁড়াও, বাবু, তুমি হারিয়ে ফেলছ
জল বেশি, তুমি তাতে ঝাঁপ দাও
এবং যেতে দেওয়া
আর কেউ জানে না
যে তুমি কাঁদবে, কিন্তু কাউকে বলবে না
যে আপনি সোনার এক হতে পারে না
এবং আপনি একটি হাসি সঙ্গে একসঙ্গে বাঁধা করছি
কিন্তু আপনি পূর্বাবস্থায় আসছেন

আপনি একটি হাসি সঙ্গে একসঙ্গে বাঁধা করছি
কিন্তু আপনি পূর্বাবস্থায় আসছেন
শুভ বিদায় বেবি
একটি হাসি দিয়ে, বাবু, বাবু

All comments from YouTube:

@SamanthaVillapando-lk3xs

2y↑77

every single time I hear this song I can't help but cry.. it feels like this song is hugging my younger self :(

@Rainbow-eevee

29w

Really? I'm only 13

@Rainbow-eevee

29w

And I'm not crying my eyes out? Not trying to be rude

@pickledcucumber8693

4y↑81

Underrated and relatable gem 😩

@MariaMechaeel-m2l

Right?

@amphibialover1235

3y↑54

Oh my gosh almost all her songs are incredible

@glidaknaan2826

2y↑8

i just cant belive its the same gril who does vigilante shit dance.... (as a swiftie)

@lynnmcguire7295

2y↑1

fr like she would never believe it now (young Taylor) @@glidaknaan2826

@kenzekid1279

5y↑162

This song is relatable😭🤚🏻

@decent-secrecy

4y↑8

same here :(

@VivaMarie

3y↑7

you're so beautiful 😭

@marijakuncic

4y↑116

Cannot wait till it gets re-recorded! <3

@SadGirl-go8rs

1y↑5

Rep is my fave album but I'm most excited for this redo. I'm an original Swiftie and to hear this original work get redone will make me SO happy ❤

@Sidneet_Edits

2y↑16

this is the best song from the album in terms of lyricism and music I think:)

@SadGirl-go8rs

1y↑10

This and I'm only me when I'm with you are her best non singles off this album. I miss them so much ❤

@lanainmydreams

5y↑33

I love the outro on this so much

@remingtonfrench1638

5y↑47

I love this album so much

@AngelHehehe-hl2yr

2y↑25

UNDERRATED ALBUM

@catherinepalacios3828

4y↑47

Love this song! it has this is me trying vibes. so excited for the re-recording

@MarxrileyAoki

2y↑2

And The Way I Loved You in terms of the sound and some lyrics

@mariapalomino8551

1y↑1

Me to

@decent-secrecy

3y↑142

any swifties listening here struggling with an eating disorder too? if you are, i know it's difficult, but i know you'll get through this because you are a strong fighter just like our queen taylor!! 💪

@StargazerAPW

3y↑3

❤️

@mariposa3842

3y↑5

thank you so much for this! 💕✨

@giuliapaglialunga6589

3y↑3

you are the strongest, hope you are better now ❤❤

@Prettylittleswiftie

2y↑7

I don’t have a diagnosed/full-on ed but I binge and purge sometimes a lot

@Prettylittleswiftie

2y↑3

But Tysm for saying this ❤❤

1 More Replies...

@flora751

5y↑33

I love this song and I love your video!

@KallieFusari

2y↑7

This song is so underrated!❤

@RainRain-bp2nq

52w↑2

Omg this song is such a masterpiece and so unique and underrated!🫶🫶🫶

@potterssgirl

2y↑5

This was one of my surprise songs!

@awwee1457

3y↑23

@chloerose3507

4y↑21

Love this song, it’s dedicated to her though, now that we know about her eating disorder.

@Zxia.m

1y↑1

DEBUT IS HELLAA UNDERRATEDDDDDDD

@JacksonSkoniecki-g9w

47w↑2

wow bestie you are right when you and me are together we both hold hands and smile at each other 💖💖💖

@pearl9894

3y↑4

I can't get my eyes from the beauty behind so i can't read lyrics 😭💕

@cowboylikeme0

3y↑8

RELATABLE🥺

@bigbthunder9705

2y↑1

You’re throwing up and purging after meals too?

@kaylynnekohlhaas1556

1y↑4

This takes "Taylor understood me more than everyone else did" to next level...btw u wrote a song called Taylor Understood...if anyone wants the lyrics...ill put them in the reply

@emilyblazer995

I'd be super interested to see the lyrics!

@Swiftie4evermore-ts13

33w

I’d love to see the lyrics!!

@notinthe.realworld545

3y↑15

I wish I was alive at the time this was new because I can imagine the hype the way everyone would be so excited for the next album and just that time!! But these times are so depressing with the virus and everything, yes it's getting better but I'm still scared to death :(
That's why I'm here to listen to this beauty of an album

@SLAYHEYY

2y↑2

love this song

@Vishuuu08

5y↑10

I llloooovvvveeeee the video as much as I love this song which is 🥇🥇

@AssemblyGod-nu2dq

1y↑2

Music is sad n touchy heart

@Rainbow-eevee

29w

It's never to late to write a song!

@mbalbaldwin3829

3y↑7

This has been myself once i noticed i was losing passion and the lifetime hope to have a couple of mins to tell you something no one ever would know. You know ppl wait til your down to kick you? So i haven't felt like my best self for i say close to 6 years. Renay what else made everything harder is i had no one to talk about certain things with. That was why well im doing what i do truth facts faith went through all my memories of all them turds and i started to feel better til running from you. Since that moment really haven't had any reason to be happy or have trust in anyone. I never thought i be depressed lost my sobriety for a couple of months. I faked my smile to everyone because til things are completely clear i could believe anything anyone said. To know that your receiving this message it is the start of seemed not to me our new beginning beautiful. I know the worst is gone and around summer you will actually be in person. Im now set free from alot i have carried alone i imagine in a couple of weeks i feel so much better as what was no longer lingers. I will tell you if anything is trying to take away the sun. Currently since like you im nothing like them i do stay to myself which isnt my personality but now its time to prepare what we will do together other than you always outsmarting me lol. Oh on 911 over 4 years ago i receive random texts stating im the true queen and yes beautiful how can i forget who that 12 year old would be screaming for months is my future wife is because it was your random text you promised you will arrive and for t

@VivaMarie

um. ummm ok

@dogdaysminifacts1534

5y↑7

💙💙💙💙taylor swift 💙💙💙💙

@MariaMechaeel-m2l

2y↑4

Who else love this album the young Taylor

@NajdaSwift-ni2qb

38w

Me Me Me Me Me Me Me🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙅!!!!

@charleslindsey9346

2y↑3

Thanks

@nejisvlog

26w

Miss Tay Tay's young voice, it's xo goooooooood!!!

@Virag98

49w

I wish I had known her songs back then, when I was in my early 10s. :)

@hihiimoreo

21w

makes me think of

@Ren00005

3y↑5

The coming undone --

@Potterhead-taylorsversion

Does this song make anyone else cry😭😭

@Rainbow-eevee

29w

I'm starting to write songs! And their turning out awsome

@lebronharris2

2y↑5

Hi Taylor Swift this LeBron Music Love you Lmss you Songs 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 Thanks You Me too Cute 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 Yes 👍 You okay help Pleased Beautiful

@ΝεφέληΠετρουτσοπούλου

1y↑2

Okay here me out tied together with a smile is the youngest sister
you are on your own kid is the middle and I can do it with a broken hurt is the oldest

@luckywolf1234

22w

Mom of The Lucky One

@hihiimoreo

21w

.😊

@dianaestrada3435

3y↑3

Taylor swift tied together with the 😁😊 may 4 2007 😃😀😄😆😅😂🤣

@Rainbow-eevee

29w

Oh cause it's not his price to pay it's not his price to pay!

@scottwilliamtoombs

2y↑2

This one would be great to tweak a bit: like a sons rejection of his dads ways.
😎🤌🤌🥰🥰💁‍♂Like the exact opposite of her upbringing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO-31CVnLes 💞
😎😎🥰🥰🥰🥰💁‍♂"I did not think Lover, could be exceeded": in romantic gesturing; but that one beats Lover, on my scales.💞😘😘🤌🤌🤌