Taylor Swift Dear Reader Lyric Breakdown 📚🥀 - for the tortured writers who have imposter syndrome

Taylor Swift Dear Reader Lyric Breakdown 📚🥀
today we are breaking down one of my favorite songs from the midnights album, as well as the 3am version. this is the last song on the entire record and i think it got a little lost and overlooked, but lyrically this is a song that i feel is one of taylor’s defining tracks.
in this song she addresses her fans and listeners directly and it feels so personal. and that’s why i chose it to talk about first because i want to bring attention to the lyricism and the self-awareness in her voice :)
please share your own thoughts and theories about Dear Reader & let me know if i should do more lyric breakdowns in the future!!
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[@CatBunnySwift]

woah nena you predicted the next album, tortured writers, tortured poets department

[@ccynthesyzer]

Right?! 👀

[@aliph7838]

Yeah, I saw this video's tittle and went like "whaaaaat?!".

[@oriyanbarnes]

I was just going to comment this lol 😂

[@buttered_Noob]

I KNOW RIGHT

[@sweetxnothing13]

dear reader is such underrated song 🥺

[@NenaShelby]

it is🥲💗

[@juliana_nicole]

I think the line “never take advice from someone who’s falling apart” is taking about her past self. She’s reflecting on her life, telling people to not look up to that old Taylor, the young, naive, and inexperienced, and if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense because her whole life has been performed through music, all of her heartbreaks, mistakes, etc. So I think Dear Reader is kind of leading into a new era where she accepted all of her past mistakes and is finally content. Similar with Anti-hero but that’s a whole different story. I also just realized something else. Dear Reader is the last track of Midnights. With Taylor you know it’s never a coincidence. So this kind of backs up my theory of it being kind of closing a chapter of her life, specifically trying to find her place, and after all those years she feels as if she’s gained enough knowledge and been through enough experiences to be able to give that advice to others. Kind of ironic how she’s closing off the Midnights album with a song called “Dear Reader” because it sounds as if
It doesn’t even belong in the album, it sounds like the beginning of something new. Hopefully this makes sense haha

[@NenaShelby]

i really like this perspective it’s really interesting & it does sound like it’s leading to something new👀

[@swaraapednekar8176]

I screamed when I first heard, "No one sees when you lose when you're playing solitaire". To me, it feels like she's saying "Stop trying to win at life". Like it's okay to not be perfect, and it's okay to feel like you've let yourself down, no one's watching. You're playing against the game, not against a person.

[@lizzymay]

we can all agree that Nena's vlogmas objectively makes the holiday season 100x better 🎄❄💜

[@onurturekmt1595]

I agree with you 100%❤❤❤

[@addisongreen201]

Taylor: dear reader… *giving advices
Also Taylor: never take advice from someone who’s falling apart
Yeah I’m conflicted a lot ma’am

[@blondieHPfan10113]

i love this song and your perspective of it so much! I will say 1 thing about the line "Dear reader when you aim at the devil make sure you don't miss"
If it just meant your interpretation she could've said make sure you hit (or something along those lines) BUT I think she says make sure you don't miss as a way of saying make sure when you aim at the devil you don't miss so you don't harm innocent/other people, while still saying you should also make sure to hit your target (i think a lot of these things are layers of advice like this)
anyway i love this song so much i'm glad you love it too

[@NenaShelby]

ooo this is a great perspective!! thanks for sharing 💙

[@Thesmoke098]

came here after I saw ppl talking about links between Dear Reader and TTPD, and omg the title of this video 😮😮😮

[@jinal-patel]

IKRRRRR

[@erinbilliot3935]

When I first heard the “where I pace in my pen” line I also interpreted it as her writing and being unsure about the best way to spread her lyrics and experiences while still trying not to let her words get misconstrued. Either way I love this song and your analysis videos are always so good.

[@blondieHPfan10113]

ditto!

[@taytaysgf_]

Dear reader is so underrated

[@swift4life1328]

Dear reader is my most streamed song of midnights. It’s not my favourite song but it is up there..!!!! I love the lyrics so much!!!❤❤

[@NenaShelby]

it’s my fav 🥹💘

[@Catalina_____]

Thanks Nena! Dear Reader is SO underrated, it’s I’d say my favourite in the album. No one is talking about how good it’s, the perfect album closure.

[@ozer13_]

this lyric breakdown literally made me cry. the first time I listened to Dear Reader I felt something that made me feel upset. but I Couldn't understand what was the song telling me. It's because I'm Turkish. and I'm not a native speaker of English. so, that's why sometimes it takes time for me to understand the song or at least I have to look at the lyrics while I listen, it's easier when ı do that. everything you've explained just hit me really hard. I don't know how to explain this but as you mentioned Dear Reader has a very similar effect as Long Live. In these two songs, Taylor directly talks to us which is so deeply emotional for me 'cause in both songs she sees herself as "I'm under the spotlight, everyone takes me as a role model but I'm not good enough for that." or "At this moment, you love me, you care about me but please don't forget me when I'm gone. years later If anyone asks you "who is she?", tell them it was me." I don't know long live always makes me want to cry and a couple of times I did cry. and now Dear Reader... the feeling it has is so different. I don't know what else to say, you already explained it very well. I'll just say, it hits different..
I hope this text doesn't sound ridiculous. I wrote down it in English then I translated it to Turkish to see if it sound good enough. I don't know, I hope it's good. I mean, you'll get the idea, it's not that bad :')

[@Teehee28]

This song immediately hit me the first time I heard it. She was telling me things I needed to hear four months earlier and it really helped me understand those dark times ❤️ 💗

[@Marie-mj6jb]

Wow, I honestly never fully dissected those lyrics. Your way of emplaning them gave me chills , especially when you said for her to end her entire discography with this song, it’s just so insane to really think about. It’s so sad how much suffering you really hear in those lyrics if you actually sit down and analyze them like that. Damn. Thank you, I really enjoy your videos. ❤

[@Teehee28]

I also feel this song is the ‘this is me trying’ aimed also at the people pleasers aswell as the tortured writers with imposter syndrome

[@ananya.16]

I WAS WAITING FOR THIS THANK YOU SM

[@adriana-es6tm]

i loooove these lyric breakdowns💗

[@rnee]

Thanks for making more lyric breakdowns! These are always so interesting!

[@TaylorSwiftLoverr]

I love your channel Nena! Thank you for making us smile!!! ❤️

[@jewel8337]

i love your dissecting songs videos! it gives a different perspective taylor's songs please do more 💗

[@shabbychicpeony5074]

Absolutely love this song and your lyric breakdowns! They are the some of my favorite videos that you post

[@willowdraws13]

THANK YOU SO MUCH NENA! THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG! The lyrics are truly beautiful

[@hyrumchristopherson8204]

another great lyrical breakdown! I love lyrical breakdowns so much bc I love learning so many metaphorical things + hidden rhetoric :)

[@just_close_your_eyes13]

this is one of my fave taylor swift songs ever and the bridge is just so good and the song always makes me think and thank you so much for giving me a lyric breakdown so i understand what everything means!!

[@efectomajo]

I just did my final ranking of the album today, and Dear Reader is my favorite. And I love your lyric breakdown videos, so this is totally a present for me. Thankyou Nena!

[@JenniLovesBurgers]

i interpreted the solitaire line as something she longs for. she's so famous and so well known that any tiny mistake she makes is so heavily scrutinized, and if she was just by herself and made a mistake no one would call her out for it. I see it as longing for solitude so she can live her life and make mistakes without them being so publicized and held against her

[@fgyct123]

I absolutely adore this song 🥺 I feel like each line has such an important message. I started learning a bunch of songs on the guitar from your tutorials! I hope you make one for dear reader!!!

[@mplumchao]

“Dear readers” is the first song of this Midnight that catch me at the verse. Thank you very much for the lyrics breakdown and your tutorials here, I can started to play guitar and write a song again because of what you did ♡, big thanks. ♡

[@rayalingo9220]

I love your channel, vlogmas is my favorite time of year (CZcams wise) so I can watch you!!!

[@BettynJames]

This is my 3rd time watching this over the past 6 months its been out and the way you explain helps a lot of people understand meanings to the song they didnt think of and I think thats amazing. A suggestion I have for a lyric breakdown is Cardigan, I have yet to watch mirrorball though because I know Im gonna get emotional.

[@KandraKSwiftie1985]

Hi Nena, what a great breakdown of a great song in my opinion. I'd love to hear you're breakdown of Champagne Problems or any song from Evermore

[@chloe.albrecht]

Thank you for this breakdown. I feel like this song could really grow on me and I LOVE the bridge too, it's very emotional and real. What's funny is that she kind of hinted at this song in her NYU graduation speech where she gave life advice and there are a few lines in this song that can echo to advice she said back then. I think she doesn't feel qualified to give people advice but as we know she's so wise, has been trough so much and really have this ability to process emotions that it would be a crime not to share with us.
And if you want to do a breakdown on Evermore I would love one either on willow or it's time to go

[@stephreg22]

Nena, I clicked so fast! I think Dear Reader is my most played off Midnights! Love your lyric breakdowns. 🥰

[@1996kaisa]

Please do lyrics breakdown from Would've, could've, should've and of course others but wcs is one of my favorite from Midnights 😍love your lyrics breakdown "serie"❤️

[@matthewgover8978]

I just wanted to say I love your taste in Taylor. I absolutely love Dear Reader, and I also love how you appreciate You Are In Love-the songs people often overlook.

[@abzster]

ooh maybe Coney Island from evermore I just love that song. thanks for doing Dear Reader, I recently found an appreciation for it and I didn't realize the "pace in the pen" lyric as in animal's pen but as her writer's pen that she paces with --- home alone writing while all her friends go out with others, I really love your interpretation and think it really fits

[@ours.good.worth-the-fight]

The title of this vid😭😭😭
Tortured writer? Like a tortured poet, what a coincidence

[@zahras4524]

Wow you are an actual great swiftie in the world ❤❤❤

[@MsClaireSophia]

I love your lyrics breakdown. My one of most favorite songs of her is also last kiss. I loved it since it came out. It still gives me chill after all these years. In midnight, I really like You are on your own kid. Can you do a breakdown of that one too?

[@Hannahrenee_20]

Oh my gosh thank you. I couldn't figure out what this song meant and I didn't rlly care for it, but now I absolutely love it

[@m.ab4848]

OMGGGGG YESSSS, PERFECTTT😭✨

[@lover9867]

It's amazing 💗

[@ThePeppiestPandaz]

Honestly I believe mirrorball gives like shake it off vibes as when she stops trying as hard as she can to get approval, and just does what she wants (shake it off vibes), she finally finds the one person who like her for who she is.

[@ThePeppiestPandaz]

I was listening to the playlist and commenting on mirrorball, but then the playlist went to dear reader, and I left the comment on the wrong video… 😂

[@laa70]

I would LOVE to see a lyric breakdown of ivy, right where you left me, or gold rush if any of those are interesting to you!

[@allyes4140]

Your hair looks so good

[@naomiisaiaholive4576]

Amazing ❤❤😊

[@Alhapra]

Thank you, I basically want to see your interpretation with the "Dear reader, bend when you can, snap when you have to" and I think it's literally reminder for me lol.

[@felienmusic]

With your help I now understand the song better! Now I need to put in on my playlist (because it wasn't on there, oops!).
About the time period: I feel like this is kind of a goodbye song, a song she wrote before the break. A dilemma between knowing people look up to you, but feeling like you aren't capable of that. A letter to the fans she knew she had even when there was so much internet hate. A goodbye letter to the people she would leave behind.... That pretty intense!

[@buttonbelly7904]

OMG PLS DO HAPPINESS LYRIC BREAKDOWN THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DEPRESSING AND FAVOURITE SONGS EVER! also a guitar tutorial 😉

[@luandreia25]

I really like "Dear Reader". Great lyrics!

[@worshipingtaylor8934]

Hi Nena...you did a superior excellent lyric breakdown! Please do more love that.
113 percent agreed with everything you interpreted.
Yes Dear Reader is one of my faves here too.
It does leave me with mixed emotions also. I'm also concerned about the weight of the world on Taylor. Hopefully these struggles she paints are rare Midnight thoughts...and not any foreshadowing of drastic changes. That would be the saddest moment ever but I know we Swifties will support anything Taylor decides she needs.
BTW I'll be there Eras Tour LA Aug 5th too...maybe see you there!13

[@NenaShelby]

definitely so many mixed emotions with this song 🥲 omg yes i’ll see you there!😍

[@dj_awall15]

Soooooo reading your subtitle now is pretty freaking cool. 😂😂😂

[@skurinski]

This song gets a whole new meaning with the breakup. She was giving us signs for sure

[@uniquewaterlily]

dear reader is one of my favorite songs on midnights, i keep coming back to it
i kinda feel that the line 'if you aim at the devil, make sure you don't miss' can also be interpreted as 'if you are blaming someone or if you angry at someone, make sure you are blaming the right person' because sometimes we can think someone hurt us, but in reality they wanted to help and/or had nothing to do with the thing that hurt us
and i'm sure it also means 'if you decide to fight 'the devil' (the devil being the person/the situation that hurt you and/or made you make bad decisions), make sure that your words/actions don't harm those who had nothing to do with it', because the feeling of anger and desire to take revenge can often be so blinding you completely forget about the consequences, so it's important to think about other people's feelings
or it can mean like a dozen other things, idk
it's not taylor swift lyrics if you are not trying to find the hidden meaning behind the words 💁‍♀
p.s. - i'm absolutely in love with your channel(s), found you through guitar tutorials and now i'm stuck watching you talk about all things taylor 😶‍🌫

[@jewel8337]

I've never fully understood dear reader but this helps a lot

[@sipurpashot4208]

This is my favourite song of hers

[@SaraIsFangirling]

I also understood the devil line as like when you think the enemy is someone but it turned out to be someone else... Do you know what I mean? Like she's been through times where she's like this is the worst, but then she finds someone could actually cut her deeper or be more heartless. So it's like saying keep your eyes open for who actually is praying for your downfall and don't waste your shot in the wrong aim? I don't know if I'm the only one or if I went the wrong way about it lol

[@serene_swiftie_13]

this video is amazing, but can we get a you’re on your own kid lyric breakdown next

[@mayarrajesh]

please do a tutorial for this one, the bridge would sound SO good on acousticcc

[@richardh776]

Yes I love every song on Midnights but one of my favorites is maroon because it has great lyrics and sound. When I first heard it reminds me of Dress on how it goes.

[@twillowd6930]

we want lyric breakdowns yes

[@Teehee28]

Glad someone’s noticing this song and us 😂😅

[@awakenyourlifeyoga7929]

Dear Reader is my favorite midnights song and second favorite Taylor song. It feels similar to Daylight to me in its reflection. Would love more lyric videos if you’re so inspired!

[@preciousangel376]

PLSSS DO SWEET NOTHING LYRIC BREAKDOWN NEEEXTTT

[@hyrumchristopherson8204]

Amazing life advice from Nena Swift

[@jessicaniss1338]

A fellow dear reader stan, yesss!!!

[@hotsaucewhorror8701]

pacing in my pen could also be her pen she writes with. mental pacing (back & forth) expressed in her writing

[@NenaShelby]

that’s so true!!

[@twillowd6930]

YES 👏

[@Starbuxlvr1313]

Nena, been listening to this one and didn’t realize you did a lyric breakdown! It’s one of the best songs I’ve ever heard! 🫶🏼

[@ashley_004]

Just a suggestion from a random viewer(no offense, i really like watching your content)
If you make your videos a little shorter and if the video goes faster, I'm sure you'll have many many more views
Again, i love your content and i don't mean any hate

[@naiellydutra3076]

Lyric breakdown of Question..?, please!

[@dorimcdowell911]

Nena here predicting TS 11 a year prior! 😎🫶🤭

[@kevinpatino8708]

I really thought when I saw the thumbnail it said dear reader I thought she was going to give us a story time. Dear reader thank you so much for clicking this video. 😂 it’s a joke nena I know is dear reader from Taylor swift I thought you were giving us a story time. Thank you so much for the deep dive on what it meant it was awesome to hear your prospective from kevin

[@geeltd3135]

im happy that you also love this song as much as I dooooo.

[@alisondawnsmith]

"burn all the files, desert all your past lives" gives me Karma the album vibes. There's another line on Midnights that does that for me as well, but now I can't quite find it in my brain

[@juliana_nicole]

You mean reputation?

[@alisonsmith6748]

@@juliana_nicole No

[@richardh776]

Hi. I hope you react to the behind the scenes video of ATW short film. Also, she will be doing a FEATURE film. On Monday a director on director interview will be released. Can't wait for everything. I still love all your videos despite some people commenting about me before.

[@DanielOrme]

A song that centers on a contradiction (or is it a paradox? I'm never quite sure of the definitions): it's full of advice as it warns against advice-givers. In the end, the big piece of advice is ... Don't listen to my advice. Only Taylor Swift!

[@ashleymarie4756]

can you do champagne problems?

[@shridhrithisings09]

why are soo many people sleeping on dear reader! this song just hits different :)

[@zahras4524]

Have you ever been in Taylors shows ?

[@jasminescroggins8677]

I thought “I pace in my pen” was a metaphor for writing (pen like the writing utensil)

[@taytaydays9331]

Dear reader isn’t a bad song but i feel like it haven’t really fallen for it yet but ay the best ones are the ones you don’t like at first 🤷‍♀️

[@Alhapra]

I'm watching this xDD

[@swiftothecore]

…she’s pretty settled with Joe…
That did not age well 💜😂

[@salvadorsara9755]

Hello Nena😍😍😍 do you regards me to idol Taylor ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@oasiseclipse8882]

Tolerate it or champagne problems

[@rhaeliason]

love this ! the way you explained it, your voice n everything else is just>>> ❤️🤍