Despite its appearance, “happiness” has a deceptive title—as Taylor acknowledged herself during the “willow” premiere. It’s a classic Taylor track about moving on from a decaying relationship, but acknowledging the bits of joy that existed within a more destructive, hurtful context. It’s ultimately a hopeful song—what was bad was also good at times, and there will be good things still to come.
She also mentioned that this was the last song written on the album—finished just a week before release.
Dessner told Rolling Stone that Swift wrote “happiness” and bonus track “right where you left me” last, explaining:
"I walked into the studio and Jon Low, our engineer here, was mixing and had been working the whole time toward this. And I came in and he’s in the middle of mixing and I was like, ‘There are two more songs.’ And he looked at me like, ‘…We’re not gonna make it.’ Because it does take a lot of time to work out how to finish them.
But she sang those remotely. And the music for ‘happiness’ is something that I had been working on since last year. I had sang a little bit on it, too — I thought it was a Big Red Machine song, but then she loved the instrumental and ended up writing to it."
This song debuted #52 on Billboard’s Hot 100, being the seventh-highest charting song off the album.
happiness
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see this for what it is
But now I'm right down in it
All the years I've given
Is just shit we're dividing up
Showed you all of my hiding spots
I was dancing when the music stopped
And in the disbelief
I haven't met the new me yet
There'll be happiness after you
But there was happiness because of you
Both of these things can be true
There is happiness
Past the blood and bruise
Past the curses and cries
Beyond the terror in the nightfall
Haunted by the look in my eyes
That would've loved you for a lifetime
Leave it all behind
And there is happiness
Tell me, when did your winning smile
Begin to look like a smirk?
When did all our lessons start to look like weapons pointed at my deepest hurt?
I hope she'll be a beautiful fool
Who takes my spot next to you
No, I didn't mean that
Sorry, I can't see facts through all of my fury
You haven't met the new me yet
There'll be happiness after me
But there was happiness because of me
Both of these things I believe
There is happiness
In our history
Across our great divide
There is a glorious sunrise
Dappled with the flickers of light
From the dress I wore at midnight
Leave it all behind
And there is happiness
I can't make it go away by making you a villain
I guess it's the price I pay for seven years in heaven
And I pulled your body into mine every goddamn night now I get fake niceties
No one teaches you what to do
When a good man hurts you
And you know you hurt him too
Honey, when I'm above the trees
I see it for what it is
But now my eyes leak acid rain
On the pillow where you used to lay your head
After giving you the best I had
Tell me what to give after that
All you want from me now
Is the green light of forgiveness
You haven't met the new me yet
And I think she'll give you that
There'll be happiness after you
But there was happiness because of you too
Both of these things can be true
There is happiness
In our history
Across our great divide
There is a glorious sunrise
Dappled with the flickers of light
From the dress I wore at midnight
Leave it all behind
Oh, leave it all behind
Leave it all behind
And there is happiness
In "Happiness," Taylor Swift explores the aftermath of a relationship that turned sour. She begins by admitting that while she had clarity when she was "above the trees," she is struggling now that she is "right down in it." She acknowledges that the years she invested in the relationship are now "shit we're dividing up." Swift reveals that she showed her partner all of her hiding spots, but when the music stopped, she found herself alone and unable to face reinvention.
Nevertheless, Swift believes that happiness is possible even after the pain of a difficult breakup. She admits that there was happiness because of the relationship but believes that there can be happiness after it, too. She sees past the "blood and bruise" and realizes that there is beauty beyond the pain. They are separated by a "great divide," but there is still hope for a glorious sunrise.
However, Swift confesses that she cannot make the pain go away by making her partner a villain. She acknowledges that she made mistakes that hurt him as well. Nevertheless, she feels that he wants forgiveness without acknowledging the new person she has become. She is certain that there will be happiness after him, and she is willing to move on.
Overall, "Happiness" is a powerful exploration of the aftermath of a failed relationship. Swift writes with raw honesty and vulnerability, never shying away from the pain and confusion that often accompanies such experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, when I'm above the trees
When I'm away from the chaos, I can see things for what they really are.
I see this for what it is
I see the situation for what it really is, not what I had hoped it would be.
But now I'm right down in it
Now I'm caught up in the situation and it's hard to see things clearly.
All the years I've given
I've invested a lot of time and energy into this relationship, and it feels like a waste now.
Is just shit we're dividing up
Our relationship has fallen apart, and now we're dividing up the remnants of it.
Showed you all of my hiding spots
I trusted you enough to show you all of my vulnerabilities and secrets.
I was dancing when the music stopped
I was enjoying the relationship, but it suddenly ended and left me feeling lost and confused.
And in the disbelief
I'm still in shock and can't believe that our relationship is over.
I can't face reinvention
I'm not ready to change who I am or start over after this relationship.
I haven't met the new me yet
I'm still trying to figure out who I am and what I want now that the relationship is over.
There'll be happiness after you
I'll eventually find happiness again without you in my life.
But there was happiness because of you
I was happy when we were together, and I'll always remember that.
Both of these things can be true
I can be happy without you, but I can also acknowledge that we had good times together.
Past the blood and bruise
Despite the pain and hurt I've endured, I can still find happiness.
Past the curses and cries
Even though I've been through tough times, I can move past them and find happiness.
Beyond the terror in the nightfall
Even in my darkest moments, I know there is the possibility of happiness.
Haunted by the look in my eyes
I'm still haunted by the pain and hurt I've experienced in this relationship.
That would've loved you for a lifetime
I truly loved you and I would have been committed to you forever.
Leave it all behind
I need to let go of the past and move on to find happiness.
And there is happiness
Despite the pain and hurt, I'm hopeful that I can find happiness in the future.
Tell me, when did your winning smile
When did your charming demeanor turn into cruelty?
Begin to look like a smirk?
I used to love your smile, but now it seems like you're mocking me.
When did all our lessons start to look like weapons pointed at my deepest hurt?
Our relationship started out as a learning experience, but now it feels like you're intentionally trying to hurt me.
I hope she'll be a beautiful fool
I hope the person who replaces me is silly enough to not be hurt by you.
Who takes my spot next to you
Whoever you end up with next will be taking my place in your life.
No, I didn't mean that
I didn't mean to be spiteful or vengeful, I want you to be happy.
Sorry, I can't see facts through all of my fury
I'm still hurt and angry, and it's hard for me to think logically.
You haven't met the new me yet
I'm still growing and changing, and the new me might bring forgiveness and peace.
There'll be happiness after me
You'll eventually find happiness after our relationship ends.
But there was happiness because of me
I brought happiness into your life while we were together.
Both of these things I believe
I believe that we can both be happy in our own separate ways.
In our history
Memories of our relationship will always be a part of my life.
Across our great divide
Even though we're not together anymore, we're forever linked by our past experiences.
There is a glorious sunrise
Despite the pain, there is hope for a better future.
Dappled with the flickers of light
The future will have moments of joy and happiness, even if they're brief.
From the dress I wore at midnight
Memories of fun and happy moments will always be with me.
I can't make it go away by making you a villain
Blaming you for everything won't make the pain go away.
I guess it's the price I pay for seven years in heaven
The pain and hurt I'm feeling now is the cost of all the happy memories we shared.
And I pulled your body into mine every goddamn night now I get fake niceties
I gave you all of me, and now I have to deal with insincere apologies and fake kindness.
No one teaches you what to do
It's hard to know how to move on and find happiness after a relationship ends.
When a good man hurts you
It's especially difficult when the person who hurts you is someone you thought was good.
And you know you hurt him too
I know I played a role in the end of our relationship and have to take responsibility for that.
But now my eyes leak acid rain
I cry so much it feels like my tears are burning my skin like acid.
On the pillow where you used to lay your head
Even my bed reminds me of you and the good times we shared.
After giving you the best I had
I put all of my heart and soul into the relationship and it still fell apart.
Tell me what to give after that
It feels like I've given everything and don't know how to move on from here.
All you want from me now
All you want is for me to forgive you and move on.
Is the green light of forgiveness
You want me to signal that I'm ready to move on and forgive you.
And I think she'll give you that
The new me may be ready to forgive, but I'm not there yet.
Oh, leave it all behind
I'm determined to let go of the past and start fresh.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor A. Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abrar Al-Heeti
I like that she not only says, "There was happiness because of you," but also, "There was happiness because of me." Oftentimes I feel that when things fall apart, we only think about how much joy the other person once brought us, and not how much joy they once felt from us, too, and that they may also be lamenting that loss. We forget how valuable our own time and love was to someone else.
Christina Catalano
I love this comment so much.
Shahil Mohammed
🥺
krisnotes1979
and probably why this song is painful to me
ThatsoCaroline
so beautifully put
MissAdele
Oh man, i feel woke. Haven't tought about it that way. This comment wins. And this song heals
Pranjal Borse
I hope Taylor realizes that the reason happiness isn't played more is not because it's a bad song, it's because we cannot go about crying our eyes out every day.
aditiiiiii
you’re so real for this 😭😭 i wish i could go about crying my eyes out every day
Mehar Brar
not this being my alarm
aditiiiiii
@Mehar Brar i could never i'd just start crying in bed