Taylor Swift loves telling good stories about the underdog winning in life, from "Speak Now" (Taylor's version) with "Hail" to "1989" (Taylor's version) with "New Romanticism." On “From the Vault,” a track on the album, she continues that tradition.
As part of the October 27th release of 1989 , Swift drops "Suburban Legends," which is sure to be the anthem you need to get through high school.
What is "Suburban Legend" about?
Fans have compared the song's swirling cinematic synths to "Mastermind" from Midnights , but lyrically it's more akin to the nostalgic hometown reunion of Evermore 's "This Damn Season."
Co-written and produced by her long-time collaborator Jack Antonoff, Suburban tells the story of two star-crossed lovers who find success outside their small town but try to unite against all odds. together. “I didn’t come here to make friends,” she sings. “We were born to be suburban legends.”
In the second poem, Swift shares her fantasy of walking into a high school reunion together, hoping that "maybe our mismatched zodiac signs would surprise the whole school." But alas, by the bridge, you can watch Their story won't last. The underdog may win – but they don’t celebrate their victory together.
The story of suburban outcasts struck an emotional chord with Swift and Antonoff, who hail from different East Coast suburbs.
Swift grew up on a (literal) Christmas tree farm outside Philadelphia before heading to Nashville to launch her music career, while Antonoff grew up in nearby New Jersey, which greatly influenced his own work with Bleachers Musical sounds.
suburban legend lyrics
Someone calls you from an unmarked number
in my peripheral vision
I let it slide like a hose on a smooth plastic summer
All is quickly forgiven
you're so charming it's almost annoying
Flush with cool currencies
I always dig out my empty pockets
when it comes to you
I'm not here to make friends
We were born to be suburban legends
When you hold me, I'm together
You kiss me in a way that breaks me forever
I fantasize that maybe our zodiac signs don't match.
It will surprise the whole school
When I go back to my class reunion
go with you
You're not just a chapter in my old diary
As the pages were torn out I stood in a 1950s gymnasium
I can still see you now
I'm not here to make friends
We were born to be suburban legends
When you hold me, I'm together
You kiss me in a way that breaks me forever
I know you still remember
We are born a national treasure
When you told me we would get back together
You kissed me in a way that broke me forever
The clock is ticking and I'm walking down your block
I broke my heart because you were so polite
The waves crashed on the shore and I rushed to the door
If you stop knocking on the door, my life will be ruined.
The clock is ticking and I'm walking down your block
I broke my heart because you were so polite
The waves hit the shore and I rushed to the door
You don't knock on the door anymore, I always knew
my life will be ruined
