Taylor Swift, Only the Young | Track Review 🎵

Taylor Swift is politically and socially ‘woke’ on single “Only the Young,” which is featured in her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana. 

It’s quite common for musicians to release singles that aren’t necessarily attached to an album.  That’s likely the case with Taylor Swift, who released Lover back in August 2019. Post-Lover, Swift has dropped a couple of singles, including remixes of hit singles, “Beautiful Ghosts” (Cats), “Christmas Tree Farm”, and now, “Only the Young.” While “Only the Young” isn’t attached to an album, at least currently, it is featured in Swift’s Netflix documentary, Miss Americana. 

Taylor Swift keeps things short and sweet on “Only the Young,” which just crosses two-and-a-half-minutes in duration.  Co-written and co-produced with Joel Little, “Only the Young” is a politically charged pop bop.  She addresses the controversial 2016 presidential election (“The game was rigged, the ref got tricked”), the muted voices of the youth (“you were outnumbered this time”), and school shootings/gun control (“So every day now / You brace for the sound you’ve only heard on TV/ You go to class, scared / Wondering where the best hiding spot would be.” Ultimately, she uses unfortunate situations to empower the youth to drive the change, best exemplified on the chorus, which highlights the titular lyric. Beyond the chorus, on the post-chorus/bridge, she further encourages the young to be resolute – “Don’t say you’re too tired to fight / It’s just a matter of time.”

Final Thoughts

The messaging of “Only the Young” is pitch perfect.  The youth are going to be the generation that can and will fuel the change.  Even though this is a pop song, it’s a pop song that not only is enjoyable, but also quite important and socially and politically tuned in.  Where “You Need to Calm Down” got its share of detractors for accusations of queerbaiting, the brief but potent “Only the Young” isn’t the least bit controversial – it’s totally ‘woke.’

Taylor Swift • “Only the Young” (Featured in Miss Americana) • Release: 1.31.20

Photo Credit: Taylor Swift