Fear Ruins Love [TS: Perspectives Albums 10/11/12]

 

 

 I'm Testing out this theory that there is a song in each of the 'Multiple Taylor's Series' that talks about the same situation from each different perspective. We're remembering the physical portrayals from the Anti-Hero music video that gave us the map to Taylor's plan of introducing each persona. See my other posts about it:

https://kit10phish.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/meet-the-3-taylors-in-the-anti-hero-music-video/

https://kit10phish.wordpress.com/2025/10/08/how-do-the-three-taylor-personas-influence-her-work/

https://kit10phish.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/the-last-three-taylor-swift-albums-are-three-strands-of-a-braid/

Obviously not every song has a 1:1:1 match, because the tracklists are different lengths. But I thought it would be a fun exercise none-the-less, and might be enlightening. 

These 3 songs convey Taylor holding back in her love-life for fear of being "other" or outed. Question surely addresses Kissgate, COSOSOM talks about changing herself to escape and appease, but always wondering, what if? What if she just stayed her authentic self--would the love affair work out? And Ruin the Friendship goes back to Taylor's youth. Instead of acting on her inner feelings, she suppressed them out of fear of rejection or stigma. She repressed her sexuality in order to preserve her image and further her career.

Midnights' Giant Taylor

TTPD's Poet Taylor

TLOAS' Showgirl Taylor

Midnights' Giant Taylor realizes it's nobody's fault that her and this once in a lifetime love didn't last. Outside forces made things too difficult to be open and continue their romance. Both people acted out of self-image preservation, but regret that doing that severed their tie.

TTPD's Poet Taylor speaks about her writing and changing her image constantly to try to compensate for the sapphic sexuality that threatened to un-do everything, but also that she needs.

TLOAS' Showgirl Taylor is wistful and wishes she had been more bold. She figures, life is short, what have you got to lose? What is the worst thing that could happen? She believes you should act before you lose the chance.