Born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Swift relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 2004 to pursue a career in country music. She broke into the country music scene with her eponymous self-titled debut studio album, Taylor Swift in 2006, which included the singles "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song". Swift also released the holiday album, Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, later titled as The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection in October 2007.
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 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.
Swift has released several songs for film soundtracks. She co-wrote two songs for the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrackβ "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 12 Grammy Awards (including three Album of the Year wins), two Brit Awards (including a Global Icon award), an Emmy Award, 28 [https://guinnessworldrecords.com/]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 and Artist of the Decade (2010s) by the American Music Awards.
Christmas Must Be Something More
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find
You'd see that today holds something special
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more
What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I think there is something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find
You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more
We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind
Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
But here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more
There's gotta be more
There's gotta be more
In the song "Christmas Must Be Something More", Taylor Swift questions the value of the material things that are often associated with Christmas. She suggests that if ribbons and bows, presents and snow, and even traditional Christmas carols no longer held their significance, would the essence of the holiday remain? She points out that even if angels never performed the miracles we wish for, and we found happiness in a cardboard box instead of wrapped presents, Christmas Day would still be special, more than just a superficial celebration. Taylor asserts that we need to remember the real reason for the season - the birth of Jesus, the "birthday boy who saved our lives." She maintains that amidst the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, we should take a moment to appreciate the deeper meaning of Christmas.
The songβs message is delivered through Taylor Swiftβs distinctive voice and accompanied by a vibrant and upbeat pop-country sound. The lyrics are thought-provoking and genuine, encouraging listeners to pause and reflect amidst the frenzy of the holiday season. The song ended up being an instant hit, striking a chord with people all over the world that might forget the real meaning of Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
What if the material aspects of Christmas didn't exist?
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would Christmas still exist without the commercialization?
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe
Would Christmas still hold its romantic aspect without the traditions?
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if the weather didn't match the holiday image?
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
What would happen if the spiritual aspect of Christmas was replaced with falsehood?
Tell me what would you find
What would you discover if the true meaning of Christmas was revealed?
You'd see that today holds something special
The day of Christmas holds a special significance.
Something holy, not superficial
The meaning of Christmas is spiritual and not based on material possessions or traditions.
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
We should remember Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day, and who saved us all.
It's something we all try to ignore
Despite its importance, the true meaning of Christmas is often overlooked.
And put a wreath up on your door
Traditions like hanging a wreath on the door sometimes overshadow the true meaning of Christmas.
So here's something you should know that is for sure
The true meaning of Christmas is something we should all be aware of.
Christmas must be something more
Christmas has a deeper spiritual significance beyond the material and traditional aspects.
What if angels did not pay attention to
What if there was no divine intervention during the holiday season?
All the things that we wished they would always do
All the things we pray for during Christmas season.
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
What if happiness is in simple pleasures and not in material possessions?
Then I think there is something we all forgot
We have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
What would happen if presents all went away
What if Christmas did not involve the exchange of gifts?
You'd see that today holds something special
Christmas is more than just the presents.
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
We should remember Jesus Christ who has saved us.
We get so caught up in all of it
We are too consumed by commercialization and traditions of Christmas.
Business and relationships
These are two of the things that occupy us all the time.
Hundred mile an hour lives
Our lives are too hectic with so many things going on.
And it's this time of year
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year.
And everybody's here
People from all over come together during Christmas.
It seems the last thing on your mind
The true meaning of Christmas is often the last thing people think about during the holiday season.
There's gotta be more
There has to be a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TAYLOR SWIFT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lindsey Peicott
I've never really been religious, but Taylor had guts to put this song out. People can tear you apart for your beliefs (especially if you're a celebrity). Another reason to love her!
Severus Snape
@Taylor Allison same
Marcus M
I was just thinking the same.
Taylor Allison
I believe in Jesus. But I don't believe that I have to be religious to believe in him. I don't believe that believe in Jesus our lord and savior is a religion. I just believe that he is real and he has come to save us.
Karena Chou
+Lindsey Peicott i know right!! so proud of this girl! <3
Roxana Dragos
This song is very sentimental and I appreciate that Taylor wrote it, making us realize that Christmas wouldn't exist if Jesus wasn't born.
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our livesβ€
Malte
Yeah. Amen. :)
Joelle
i'm not religious at all, but this song is beautiful, about the true meaning of christmas. i wish more people would do that <3
Adriana Deschaine
@Alisha Hill YES
Matthew Locke
Iβm not religious either. I just have a personal relationship with the God who created the universe and saved me from eternal fire ππ€πΌ