Sta… Read Full Bio ↴This 1940’s themed song was inspired by Ethel and Bobby Kennedy.
Starlight is a song I wrote actually after seeing a picture of um, Ethel and Bobby Kennedy when they were seventeen. I saw this picture about a year a half ago, and I didn’t know anything about like, what they were doing or what was going on in the picture, but I just thought ‘They look like they’re having the best night.’ And, um, and so I wrote this song about what the night might’ve been like. And um, I ended up meeting Ethel and going and playing it for her and she just loved it. It was such a fun moment when she was just in love with the song and so happy about it and um, it’s just this adorable picture that to me, it just like brought forth all these potentials for how that night could’ve been.
–Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift also briefly dated Conor Kennedy earlier in 2012, who is also rumored to have part in inspiring this song.
Starlight
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight
Like we're made of starlight
I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45
Picked me up late one night out the window
We were seventeen and crazy running wild, wild
Can't remember what song he was playing when we walked in
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince
And I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
He said, "Look at you, worrying so much about things you can't change
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues
If you keep thinking that way"
He was tryna to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things"
Like, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Ooh, ooh he's talking crazy
Ooh, ooh dancing with me
Ooh, ooh we could get married
Have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream
(Huh-huh-huh)
(Huh-huh-huh)
(Huh-huh-huh)
(Huh-huh-huh)
"Oh, my what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Like starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things
In "Starlight," Taylor Swift reminisces about a magical night. She begins the song by describing the music, "a marvelous tune." Swift sings about meeting Bobby at the boardwalk in 1945, the summer they were both seventeen. They snuck into a yacht club party, pretending to be aristocrats by dressing up in their finest clothes. The memory of that night stays with Swift and she describes it as if it happened just yesterday. The lyrics convey a sense of youth and carefree joy, as they dance like they're made of starlight.
Bobby, the guy Swift met that night, gives her some wisdom. He reminds her not to worry about things she can't change because it's pointless. Instead, he encourages her to look at the beauty in the world and make the most out of it. The song then ends with Swift dreaming of all the possibilities in life, suggesting that anything is possible as long as you keep believing.
Line by Line Meaning
I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
The singer is amazed and impressed by the music they are hearing.
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The singer had an amazing time and will always remember how they danced.
The whole place
The entire venue/setting was stunning.
Was dressed to the nines
Everyone was dressed elegantly or very well.
And we were dancing, dancing
The artist and their partner were dancing enthusiastically throughout the night.
Like we're made of starlight
The singer and their partner were dancing as if they were made of light, moving gracefully and shining brightly.
I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45
The singer met Bobby on a boardwalk during the summer of 1945.
Picked me up late one night out the window
Bobby picked up the artist through their window late at night, possibly to sneak out.
We were seventeen and crazy running wild, wild
The artist and Bobby were young and carefree, living without boundaries and exploring the world in their own way.
Can't remember what song he was playing when we walked in
The artist doesn't remember what song was playing when they entered a party with Bobby.
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
The singer and Bobby sneaked into a fancy yacht club party, implying that they were not invited.
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince
The artist and Bobby pretended to be of high nobility in order to fit in at the party.
He said, "Look at you, worrying so much about things you can't change
Bobby observed that the singer was stressing out about things they had no control over and tried to help them put things in perspective.
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues
Bobby warned the singer that if they kept worrying about things they can't change, they would be unhappy forever.
If you keep thinking that way"
Bobby suggests that the way the singer is thinking could lead to negative consequences.
He was tryna to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
Bobby was trying to skip rocks on water while talking to the artist.
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Bobby wants the artist to see the beauty and wonder in the world around them, represented by the starlight.
Don't you dream impossible things"
Bobby encourages the singer to dream beyond their current situation and aim for seemingly impossible or out-of-reach goals.
Ooh, ooh he's talking crazy
The singer comments on how Bobby is sounding a little crazy during their conversation.
Ooh, ooh dancing with me
The artist and Bobby were dancing together during the event.
Ooh, ooh we could get married
Bobby and the artist could get married and build a future together.
Have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream
Bobby and the artist could have a large family and encourage their children to dream big and aim high.
"Oh, my what a marvelous tune"
The singer repeats their earlier sentiment about the amazing music they are hearing.
Like we dream impossible dreams
The artist feels like they have the ability to dream and achieve things that seem impossible.
Like starlight
The beauty and wonder of the world is represented by the metaphor of starlight.
Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Bobby continues to point out the beauty and wonder in the world around them.
Don't you dream impossible things
Bobby encourages the singer to dream beyond their current situation and aim for seemingly impossible or out-of-reach goals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Whiterabbit_99
I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight
Like we're made of starlight
I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45
Picked me up late one night out the window
We were seventeen and crazy running wild, wild
Can't remember what song he was playing when we walked in
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince
And I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
He said, "Look at you, worrying so much about things you can't change
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues
If you keep thinking that way"
He was tryna to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things"
Like, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Ooh, ooh he's talking crazy
Ooh, ooh dancing with me
Ooh, ooh we could get married
Have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream
"Oh, my what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Like starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things
@KUYAFAITH
1. Taylor Swift - The Country Girl
2. Fearless - The Teenage Girl
3. Speak Now - The Princess
4. Red - A Heartbroken Woman
5. 1989 - The Party Woman
6. reputation - A Brave Woman
7. Lover - The Lover
8. folklore - A Wise Woman
9. evermore - The Woman who told the Stories
...............
@alexandrahi6879
I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight
Like we're made of starlight
I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45
Picked me up late one night out the window
We were seventeen and crazy running wild, wild
Can't remember what song he was playing when we walked in
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince
And I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
He said, "Look at you, worrying so much about things you can't change
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues
If you keep thinking that way"
He was tryna to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things"
Like, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Ooh, ooh he's talking crazy
Ooh, ooh dancing with me
Ooh, ooh we could get married
Have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream
"Oh, my what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Like starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things
@javierabascunan3208
I dont like the front so here i go
I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight
Like we're made of starlight
I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45
Picked me up late one night out the window
We were seventeen and crazy running wild, wild
Can't remember what song he was playing when we walked in
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince
And I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
He said, "Look at you, worrying so much about things you can't change
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues
If you keep thinking that way"
He was tryna to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things"
Like, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Ooh, ooh he's talking crazy
Ooh, ooh dancing with me
Ooh, ooh we could get married
Have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream
"Oh, my what a marvelous tune"
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place
Was dressed to the nines
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Like starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Don't you see the starlight, starlight
Don't you dream impossible things
@aixIX
i had my first kiss with this song. she was a swiftie, and she made me listen to the red album. i liked starlight a lot, so when i took her out on a date, i brought my speakers and played this song as we danced in the middle of the amusement park without caring to the world around us. we might not have lasted for so long, but i'm so grateful to her for introducing taylor swift to me. hope you're doing well out there, sab x
@diamondheart0723
This is the cutest thing 😭
@rubykgarrett
i wish yall could have lasted this was the cutest thing to read ☹️
@leaf111
wholesome
@theyellowlover101
AWEEEEEEEE WTH
@medha8064
When she reads this>>>>
@kaushikisharma5789
"I SAID OH MY,WHAT A MARVELOUS TUNE" - me while listening to Taylor's songs
@christaacree9759
Omg "I said oh my what a marvelous tune" "I had a marvelous time ruining everything "
@julii22
@@christaacree9759 ur brilliant
@emmyjo720
Perfect language for 1945.