In 2019, it was announced that Taylor Swift’s former record label had sold her master recordings to Scooter Braun, an entrepreneur and music manager. Swift was rightfully upset with this transaction for a multitude of reasons. The first reason is that Swift wanted to be able to purchase her master’s. In Swift’s original contract with her first label, she didn’t own her master recordings. Then, years later as her contract was up, Swift tried to pursue the purchase of them but was not given the opportunity to. The second reason that Swift disapproved of this purchase was because Braun had formerly been publicly critical of Swift and took digs at her on social media. All in all, Swift’s main issue with the sale is based on her belief that artists should own their own work.
However, Swift didn’t let the rocks thrown at her stop her shine. In light of her old master’s being sold away, Swift decided to embark on a project that is still ongoing. She is re-recording her first six albums that she does not own. They are famously called “Taylor’s Version”. As an incentive for fans to listen, Swift is including previously unreleased songs that didn’t make the original album. These songs are called “From The Vault” tracks. The metaphorical vault has been found to hold tracks that should’ve made the original album, and some that are just bonuses. Everyone has their own opinion of each track, and here are mine.
- Bye Bye Baby
Starting off the list is the last vault track on Fearless (Taylor’s Version). The song isn’t inherently bad. However, its precursors overshine it by a million miles. “Bye Bye Baby” is a slow guitar ballad that fails to showcase anything interesting. Lyrically, it feels redundant and doesn’t showcase even an eighth of Swift’s pen game. Swift’s repetition of “bye bye” doesn’t pack the punch that the teenage version of herself thought it did.
Best line: “Feels like I’m becoming a part of your past.”
- When Emma Falls In Love
From Swift’s third re-recorded album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), “When Emma Falls In Love” tells a tale of her friend, evidently named Emma. She describes Emma’s relationships and the way in which she’s impressed by her. Conceptually, it is a great song (and rumored to be about Emma Stone). However, for me, it doesn’t quite land sonically or lyrically. The 2010 Speak Now didn’t miss out on the presence of this song.
Best line: “When Emma falls in love, I know that boy will never be the same.”
- That’s When (Featuring Keith Urban)
It’s no surprise that Fearless (Taylor’s Version) vault tracks make up most of the bottom half of my list. Swift was still on the rise in 2008. Swift enlists longtime friend, Keith Urban, on “That’s When”. The duet isn’t horrible but it doesn’t leave me wanting for more. Lyrically, Swift doesn’t hit her stride. The structure is confusing and I still find myself perplexed when I listen to it. This song gets lost in the midst of all of the other vault tracks.
Best line: “And I said, ‘Leave those all in our past.’”
- Message In A Bottle
From Red (Taylor’s Version), “Message In A Bottle” is a fun upbeat song that details a similar story told in the album track “Come Back… Be Here”. The pop-sounding song didn’t make the 2012 album most likely due to Swift’s label wanting to keep Red a country album. For me, though the song is fun and catchy, its composition and lyricism are seemingly basic when looking at the entire album especially when its proceeding tracks are songs like “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) and “Forever Winter”.
Best line: “But time moves faster, replaying your laughter.”
- You All Over Me (Featuring Marren Morris)
The first “From The Vault” track ever released back in 2021 is a slow country ballad about the aftermath of a relationship. It features beautiful backing vocals by Marren Morris. The song is wistful and paints a picture of young heartbreak. While I do enjoy a listen every once in a while, I don’t find myself often revisiting it.
Best line: “No amount of freedom makes you clean.”
- Timeless
The Closer on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) tells the story of a love that can last through the ages. Conceptually, it’s a beautiful song and the lyrics showcase romanticism like no other. Its instrumentals fit the song beautifully. The only reason it’s lower on the list is because the other vault tracks overshine it. However, that is just a testament to the brilliance of Swift’s talent. This song would be a highlight in many other artist’s discography.
Best line: “If we’d met on a crowded street in 1944 and you were headed off to fight in the war, you still would’ve been mine. We would have been timeless.”
- I Bet You Think About Me (Featuring Chris Stapleton)
In “I Bet You Think About Me”, from Red (Taylor’s Version), Swift details a relationship in which he tried to make her feel inferior. In my opinion, this song is the most country-sounding song that she has put out since her first album. I infer that Swift kept it off the original Red as it already was going in a more pop direction. I enjoy this song quite a bit, however, it is too country for me to constantly replay.
Best line: “It turns out I’m harder to forget than I was to leave.”
- Mr. Perfectly Fine
I’ve always wondered why “Mr. Perfectly Fine” didn’t make the original Fearless cut. Its melodic structure and lyricism would have made for a great 2000s country hit. She sings about a relationship in which his actions only hurt her but didn’t affect himself. Rumored to be about Joe Jonas, it contains a nostalgic feeling of Swift’s early career.
Best line: “How’s your heart after breaking mine?”
- Babe
In 2018, country duo “Sugarland” released “Babe (Featuring Taylor Swift)” after Swift decided to give the song to them. Swift only did backing vocals on the first track but on her version, she is the sole singer. I’ve always loved this song and thought that it would fit the original album so well. Both fortunately and unfortunately, Red had so many outstanding tracks which has resulted in great vault tracks as well.
Best line: “We’re a wreck. You’re the wrecking ball.”
- Don’t You
This song was my original first favorite vault track from Fearless (Taylor’s Version). Many argue that it should’ve never been on Fearless as her version of it features a prominent synth pad and low beat. While I do agree that it doesn’t fit the cohesion of the album, taking the song for what it is, I think it is great. It’s a nostalgic song about reminiscing about an old ex. It’s not perfect by any means, but it makes for a good listen.
Best line: “You can say we’re still friends but I don’t want to pretend.”
- The Very First Night
This upbeat track is a happy nostalgic song about first meeting someone. Its chorus is catchy but its pre-chorus is the main focus for me. When I first listened to it back in 2021, it was an instant classic to me. It contained everything needed to be a banger but was probably too pop for Red.
Best line: “Don’t forget about the night out in LA.”
- Castles Crumbling (Featuring Haley Williams)
This haunting track featuring beautiful vocals by Haley Williams of Paramore is a song that was written about Swift’s fear of losing the favor of public opinion. After the infamous 2009 VMA scandal, Swift thought her time to shine was dwindling. This theme remains for most of Swift’s career. However, she’s proven time and time again that the best is yet to come. The song has a haunting piano and is reminiscent of the song “Haunted (Taylor’s version) which made the original Speak Now.
Best Line: “Smoke billows from my ships in the harbor. People look at me like I’m a monster.”
- Forever Winter
“Forever Winter” is a more upbeat song that only masks the devastating tale it tells of someone Swift knows going through mental health issues. The all-too-relatable track showcases some of Swift’s best storytelling and lyricism as she perfectly describes the emotions behind mental health. Beneath the lyrics are horns, drums, and a guitar. The wintery themes are perfectly conveyed through the instrumentals alone.
Best line: “If I was standing there in your apartment, I’d take that bomb in your head and disarm it.”
- Say Don’t Go
Written with songwriting legend Diane Warren, “Say Don’t Go” is a pop song that is lyrically and melodically brilliant. Swift’s ability to maintain relatability in her songwriting while having authenticity is showcased in this 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault track. I don’t understand how every single vault track from 1989 was cut from the original.
Best line: “Why’d you have to twist the knife? Walk away and leave me bleeding.”
- We Were Happy
In this Fearless (Taylor’s Version) vault track, Swift reminisces about a better time with someone she formerly loved. It’s a bittersweet tale about losing someone. Ever since its release, I always loved and resonated with this song. It’s not a fan favorite and some disregard it as a slow ballad to get lost in the mix. However, its rawness has always stood out to me.
Best line: “You threw your arms around my neck back when I deserved it.”
- Electric Touch (Featuring Fallout Boy)
“Electric Touch” is an upbeat, almost rock-sounding song from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and is about the excitement and anxiety of meeting someone new. Though it didn’t exactly need a feature from Fallout Boy, the song still hits for me. It’s fun and playful and always puts me in a good mood. The hopeful lyrics paint a picture of young love and the extremities that come with it.
Best line: “This could either break my heart or bring it back to life.”
- Now That We Don’t Talk
This track recently came out with the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and was an instant banger for me. Sonically, I found it nothing all too special. I enjoyed the instrumentals but for me what stood out the most was the lyrical content. “Now That We Don’t Talk” perfectly describes a relationship that has ended, whether it be a romantic relationship or a friendship. For me, I can easily relate it to a friendship breakup which can often be the hardest. However, this vault track is one that can take my emotions and turn them into a pop classic.
Best line: “And from the outside, it looks like you’re trying lives on.”
- Run (Featuring Ed Sheeran)
It’s general consensus from most Swifties that “Run (Featuring Ed Sheeran)” isn’t a standout vault track. Yet, I completely disagree with the court of public opinion on this one. This Red reject was the first song Swift and Sheeran wrote together and is a soothing duet about keeping love alive even if nobody else wants it to. I always found it to be sonically and lyrically beautiful. Its familiar yet new take on forbidden love makes it such an interesting track for me and I’m so glad that Red (Taylor’s Version) was able to unleash it.
Best line: “Run like you’d run from the law.”
- “S***!”
“S***!” from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is surprisingly not a diss to her haters but rather a dreamy love song. Swift sings about being so in love that you don’t care what people call you. It wasn’t what I expected upon first listening. However, it has become one of my go to’s to play in the car. It’s dreamy and feels like pure love. I’ve always been one to not care what people say or think, and so this song has been super relatable.
Best line: “If I’m all dressed up, they might as well be looking at us.”
- Better Man
Just as “Babe” was, “Better Man” was originally released by a band called Little Big Town. Swift offered up the song and it went on to win Song of The Year at the Country Music Awards. With Red (Taylor’s Version) Swift decided to include this old song of hers. With all due respect to Little Big Town, Swift’s raw emotion truly sells the song like nobody else ever could. It’s a heartbreaking guitar song that I have always loved. Swift’s first live performance of it back in 2018 at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville will always live in my head rent-free.
Best line: “Push my love away like it was some kind of loaded gun.”
- Suburban Legends
Some people argue that “Suburban Legends” is too reminiscent of songs from Midnights, or that it is corny. While I do agree that it isn’t exactly 1989-sounding, I still constantly replay this track. It tells the story of wanting a high school sweetheart to work out. As a hopeless romantic, this narrative will never get old, and hearing Swift’s perspective on it was shocking and exciting. You wouldn’t exactly expect a famous celebrity in Hollywood to sing about their old town and high school sweetheart.
Best line: “I didn’t come here to make friends. We were born to be suburban legends.”
- Nothing New (Featuring Phoebe Bridgers)
Kicking off the top five is “Nothing New (Featuring Phoebe Bridgers)” from Red (Taylor’s Version). In this haunting guitar track, Swift echoes similar themes that she sang about in a Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) vault track. In 2012, Swift was on her fourth album and felt that the public was losing interest in her. With messages of feeling lost through growing up, Swift and Bridgers sing about not knowing what the future holds. The all-too-relatable track is hauntingly beautiful with Bridger’s and Swift’s vocals colliding into a perfect song. This vault track is arguably one of Swift’s best duets and showcases her pen game very well.
Best line: “I wonder if they’ll miss me once they drive me out.”
- I Can See You
This Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) vault track was quite a surprise to fans upon its first release back in July, as nobody expected a 19-year-old Swift to write a sultry country rock song about a secret love affair in the workplace. It’s playfully catchy and paints such a fun story. Thematically, I see why it was kept off of the original Speak Now. However, it showcases Swift’s versatility which evidently began early in her career.
Best line: “They keep watchful eyes on us so it’s best that we move fast and keep quiet.”
- Foolish One
I’m not sure if this track is actually one of the best vaults or if I painfully relate. Nevertheless, Swift sings about delusion and having a crush on someone who doesn’t reciprocate those emotions. The melody and lyrics are playful and fun while maintaining its message. The end of the song really takes it home for me, as an older Swift gives advice to her younger self.
Best line: “Foolish one, your day is gonna come for your confessions of love when all is said and done. He just wasn’t the one.”
- Is It Over Now?
If “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” weren’t the giant that it was, “Is It Over Now?” would be the standout vault track for me. From 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Swift sings about the end of a relationship and the fallout that proceeds it. Ever since I first listened to it, I have had it on repeat 24/7. Swift finds the perfect balance between fun pop instrumentals and melodies and perfect lyricism. For so long, I’ve been longing for pop songs with A+ lyricism. Swift has a few that hit home, but “Is It Over Now?” sets a new bar and standard.
Best line: “If she’s got blue eyes I will surmise that you’ll probably date her.”
- All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
Surprise, surprise. Any Swiftie knows that this would be at the top of the list. After begging her for years, Swift finally released the ten-minute version of the infamous track 5, “All Too Well”, from her 2012 album, Red. Before the ten-minute version, “All Too Well” was already revered as one of Swift’s best songs of all time. However, in the ten-minute version, Swift reaches new heights and packs the punches. Rumored to be about Jake Gyllenhaal, Swift takes shots at their age difference and the toxicity that radiated from their relationship. I always loved this song and the ten-minute version release was just like an extra treat. Picking the best line is a daunting task, so please, take it with a grain of salt. Each lyric could be argued as the best, as her pen was clearly on fire.
Best line: “Did the twin flame blue paint you blue? Just Between Us did the love affair maim you too?”
So there it is. That’s my personal ranking of each From The Vault Track by Swift. Of course, I would’ve loved for her to purchase her old masters, however, Swift has turned a bad experience into one of her best endeavors. Each vault track perfectly fits into its album and highlights a different side to Swift’s identity at the time. Everyone’s vault track ranking is different and my perspective is just one of millions. The differing opinions only further show that Swift’s talent wears many hats with versatility.
