"You're on Your Own, Kid" | |
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Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Midnights | |
Released | October 21, 2022 |
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Genre | |
Length | 3:14 |
Label | Republic |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Lyric video | |
"You're on Your Own, Kid" on YouTube |
"You're on Your Own, Kid" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. With a production combining alternative rock, pop rock, and synth-pop sounds, "You're on Your Own, Kid" is an upbeat song with muted guitars and synthesizers that gradually build up. In the lyrics, a narrator reflects on her coming of age, on how she dealt with an unrequited love and her career ambitions.
Music critics lauded the track for what they deemed a vulnerable yet hopeful message in its lyrics. They interpreted "You're on Your Own, Kid" as Swift's reflection of her celebrity and personal life, including an eating disorder she suffered. Commercially, it charted in the top 10 of the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States, and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Global 200. Swift occasionally performed "You're on Your Own, Kid" on her Eras Tour in 2023–2024.
After announcing her tenth studio album, Midnights , on August 28, 2022, she unveiled its cover artwork on social media but kept its track listing undisclosed. [1] [2] On September 21, 2022, Swift announced a thirteen-episode series called Midnights Mayhem with Me on the social media platform TikTok, and thereafter revealed the title of one album track each episode. [3] The tenth episode was released a few days later, in which Swift revealed the fifth track from the album, "You're on Your Own, Kid". [4] "You're on Your Own, Kid", alongside the thirteen announced tracks and additional surprise-released tracks for the 3am edition of Midnights, was released on October 21, 2022, under Republic Records. [5] The "Strings Remix" of the song was included on the CD version of the Lavender Edition of the album. [6]
Swift wrote and produced "You're on Your Own, Kid" with Jack Antonoff, who programmed the track and played instruments including percussion, Juno 6, Mellotron, Moog, electric guitars, and bass. Additional musicians were Evan Smith, who played synthesizers and recorded his performance at Pleasure Hill Recording, Portland, Maine; and Sean Hutchinson, who played drums and recorded his performance at Hutchinson Sound, Brooklyn. The track was recorded by Antonoff and Laura Sisk at Rough Customer Studio, Brooklyn, and Electric Lady Studios, New York City. It was mixed by Serban Ghenea, assisted by Bryce Bordone, at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound, Edgewater, New Jersey. On the vinyl editions, the track was mastered by Evan Smith at Sterling Sound, Nashville, Tennessee. [7]
"You're on Your Own, Kid" lasts for three minutes and 14 seconds. [8] The song features persistent electric guitar strums throughout. [9] It begins with soft, muted percussion beats, [10] plucked guitars, and subtle synthesizers, which gradually build up. [11] [12] [13] In the refrains, after the lyrics, "You're on your own kid, you always have been", the instrumental comes to a halt, contrasting with what Slant Magazine 's Paul Attard found to be a "relentless pre-chorus". [14] In reviews of Midnights, critics described the genre as alternative pop, [10] [15] alternative rock, [16] and pop rock. [17] The Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield, in a ranking of Swift's songs, called "You're on Your Own, Kid" a synth-pop track reminiscent of the music by rock band New Order. [18] Ilana Kaplan from the Alternative Press described the production as 1990s-alt-rock-tinged. [19]
The lyrics address a narrator's reflection on her coming of age. [15] [20] It has been widely interpreted as a song documenting Swift's rise to fame. [21] The narrator reminisces about her teenage years in her hometown, where she dreamt of getting out and found solace in songwriting as a means to create her own fantasy. [18] The first verse has her recalling an unrequited love in the past: "Summer went away / Still the yearning stays / I play it cool with the best of them / I wait patiently / He's gonna notice me / It's ok, we're the best of friends." [22] Time's Shannon Carlin found this to be in line with the theme of unrequited love in Swift's previous songs including "You Belong with Me" and "Hey Stephen" from Fearless (2008). [23] The second verse sees her moving on from the boy and chasing her career aspirations, just to realize; "My dreams aren't rare." [22] When she returns for a homecoming, her friends ignore her and have moved on with their lives. [13] Towards the end, the song concludes with a hopeful message of self-reflection. The narrator looks around in a "blood-soaked gown" and reckons that every misstep was a lesson learnt: "So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it / You've got no reason to be afraid." [20] [22] [24] The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis wrote the "blood-soaked gown" imagery evokes the 1976 horror film Carrie. [25]
Critics interpreted "You're on Your Own, Kid" as Swift's self-reflection on her past and journey to celebrity. [23] [26] [27] In Vulture, Craig Jenkins thought Swift's "lilting" vocals and references to her early-career days harken back to her 2008 album Fearless, both stylistically and thematically. [28] PopMatters 's Matthew Dwyer considered the song Swift's contemplation about her legacy in the music industry, citing the lyric, "I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this." [29] John Wohlmacher from Beats Per Minute found the lyrics dark but the musical composition somewhat brighter, and so "it feels like Swift is using pop music to cast a shadow over the brightly illuminated truths within her lyrics". [13] For Atwood Magazine's Nic Nichols, "You're on Your Own, Kid" shares similar themes with Swift's 2008 song "Fifteen". [30] The lines, "I hosted parties and starved my body / Like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss", were deciphered as her mentioning her eating disorder, which is also documented in Miss Americana (2020). [24] [31]
Stephen Thompson of NPR praised the lyrics' specificity and imagery, and the "gorgeous" melody that showcases Swift's talents as a great songwriter. [32] Attard considered "You're on Your Own, Kid" one of the Midnights tracks that best display the "matured temperament and the stark intimacy of Swift's songwriting", [14] and Petridis selected it among the songs that are "filled with subtle, brilliant touches". [25] In Slate, the critic Carl Wilson dubbed "You're on Your Own, Kid" one of the album tracks that showcase emotional acuity. [33] Kate Solomon from the i praised the track as the album's most emotionally affecting. [34] Paste's Ellen Johnson complimented it for a rich narrative that avoids being "overly wordy or sappy", which she found superior to mainstream pop songs. [16] In Variety, Chris Willman ranked "You're on Your Own, Kid" at number 49 on his list of the best 50 songs from Swift's repertoire, specifically praising the lyrics. [35] Alex Hopper of American Songwriter viewed the song as a fan-favorite and picked it as one of Midnights' best tracks. [36]
Following the release of Midnights, tracks of the album occupied the entire top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100; "You're on Your Own, Kid" opened at number eight on the chart, with 34.1 million streams, 1,500 downloads, and 498,000 airplay impressions. The tracks made Swift the first artist to occupy the top 10 of the Hot 100 and the woman with the most top-10 entries (40), surpassing Madonna (38). [37] It peaked at number six on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum by Music Canada. [38] [39] In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 65 on the UK Singles Chart and received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). [40] [41]
Elsewhere, "You're on Your Own, Kid" debuted on numerous territories, and peaked within the top 40 of Australia (6), [42] Ireland (6), [43] the Philippines (6), [44] Singapore (6), [45] Malaysia (7), [46] Iceland (13), [47] Portugal (13), [48] Vietnam (13), [49] Croatia (18), [50] India (19), [51] South Africa (19), [52] New Zealand (20), [53] Luxembourg (22), [54] Lithuania (24), [55] the Czech Republic (26), [56] Sweden (27), [57] Switzerland (27), [58] Slovakia (32), [59] Norway (34), [60] Hungary (36), [61] Spain (39), [62] and Denmark (40), [63] and further reaching Italy (82), [64] Argentina (98), [65] and France (107). [66] The song ultimately debuted and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Global 200. [67]
Swift occasionally performed "You're on Your Own, Kid" as a "surprise song" outside the regular set list on several dates of the Eras Tour. In 2023, she sang the song in Tampa, Florida (April 14), Los Angeles, California (August 5), and Mexico City, Mexico (August 26). [68] [69] In 2024, she performed it as a full song in Tokyo, Japan (February 10) and Dublin, Ireland (June 30) and as part of mashups with "Fifteen" in Singapore (March 7) and Lyon, France (June 2), with "Long Live" in Lisbon, Portugal (May 25), with "State of Grace" in Dublin, Ireland (June 28), with "The Archer" in London, England (August 19), and with "Long Story Short" in Toronto, Canada (November 16). [70]
The song was also one of the "surprise songs" featured in the tour's accompanying concert film. [71] The "friendship bracelets" lyric in "You're on Your Own, Kid" prompted fans and concertgoers who attended the Eras Tour to make their own bracelets that spelled out the titles of Swift's songs and other colloquialisms. [72]
Chart (2022–2023) | Peak position |
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Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) [65] | 98 |
Australia (ARIA) [42] | 6 |
Belgium ( Billboard ) [73] | 15 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [38] | 6 |
Croatia ( Billboard ) [50] | 18 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [56] | 26 |
Denmark (Tracklisten) [63] | 40 |
France (SNEP) [66] | 107 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [67] | 7 |
Greece International (IFPI) [74] | 10 |
Hungary (Stream Top 40) [61] | 36 |
Iceland (Tónlistinn) [47] | 13 |
India International Singles (IMI) [51] | 19 |
Italy (FIMI) [64] | 82 |
Ireland (IRMA) [43] | 6 |
Lebanon English (Lebanese Top 20) [75] | 18 |
Lithuania (AGATA) [55] | 24 |
Luxembourg ( Billboard ) [54] | 22 |
Malaysia ( Billboard ) [76] | 11 |
Malaysia International (RIM) [46] | 7 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [53] | 20 |
Norway (VG-lista) [60] | 34 |
Philippines ( Billboard ) [44] | 6 |
Portugal (AFP) [48] | 13 |
Singapore (RIAS) [45] | 6 |
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) [59] | 32 |
South Africa (RISA) [52] | 19 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [62] | 39 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [57] | 27 |
Swiss Streaming (Schweizer Hitparade) [58] | 27 |
UK Singles (OCC) [40] | 65 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [77] | 8 |
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100) [49] | 13 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [78] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [79] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [39] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [80] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [81] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [41] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic reinventions, and cultural impact, Swift is a leading figure in popular music and the subject of widespread media coverage.
"State of Grace" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red. To promote the album before its release, Big Machine Records released the song for download on October 16, 2012. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "State of Grace" is an arena rock song that uses chiming, feedback-drenched guitars and pounding drums. An acoustic version features as a deluxe-edition bonus track. The lyrics are about the tumultuous feelings evoked by the first signs of love.
"22" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the album's fourth single on March 12, 2013, by Big Machine Records. Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback, "22" combines pop styles such as dance-pop and bubblegum with disco and 1990s rock. The track begins with an acoustic guitar riff and progresses into an upbeat refrain which incorporates pulsing synthesizers and syncopated bass drums. The lyrics celebrate being 22 years old while acknowledging the heartache that the narrator experienced in the past.
"Style" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the third single from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). She wrote the track with its producers Max Martin, Shellback, and Ali Payami. An incorporation of pop, funk, disco, and electronic styles, "Style" is built on an electric guitar riff, pulsing synthesizers, and dense vocal reverb. The lyrics are about a couple who could not escape from an unhealthy relationship because they are never "out of style". Big Machine in partnership with Republic Records released the song to US radio on February 9, 2015.
"Long Story Short" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Long Story Short" is an upbeat song that consists of dynamic programmed and live drums, synths, strings, and guitars; music critics characterize the genre as synth-pop, electropop, folk-pop, and indie rock. The lyrics see Swift reminiscing about a dark part of her past and her contentment with a current state of mind.
Midnights is the tenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on October 21, 2022. She conceived it as a concept album about nocturnal ruminations inspired by her sleepless nights. The confessional lyrics explore emotions such as regret, self-criticism, fantasies, heartbreak and infatuation, with allusions to her personal life and public image.
"Mastermind" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). She wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff. An electropop and synth-pop song, "Mastermind" features synth arpeggiators, layered vocal harmonies, an expansive bass, and subtle orchestration in the refrains. Inspired by the 2017 film Phantom Thread, the lyrics are about a calculating woman: Swift's narrator confesses to her lover that she was the one who initiated and planned their romantic relationship.
"Vigilante Shit" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her tenth studio album Midnights (2022). Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, the track is a dark pop and trip hop tune with elements of industrial and hip hop. Its minimalistic production is driven by trap beats composed of pulsing snare drums and light bass and electronic tones. The lyrics are about a noirish vengeance declaration, taking aim at an enemy and encouraging other women to do the same.
"Question...?" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it is a minimalist electropop and synth-pop track that incorporates synth tones and sharp drum machine beats. The song contains a vocal sample of Swift's 2014 track "Out of the Woods". In the lyrics, Swift's narrator confronts an ex-lover with questions regarding their past behaviors and what could have happened differently.
"Maroon" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. The lyrics use different shades of red such as maroon, burgundy, and scarlet to describe the haunting memories of a long-gone romance in New York. Musically, "Maroon" is a ballad combining dream pop, synth-pop, electropop, and trip hop. It has an ambient production consisting of reverbed layered vocals, trap beats, and an oscillating electric guitar that creates a sustained note throughout the track.
"Bejeweled" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). She wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. It is an up-tempo synth-pop, hyperpop, and bubblegum pop track with ringing synth arpeggios and elements of disco and electronica. The lyrics see a narrator affirming her self-worth upon being unappreciated by her partner; Swift said they were also a metaphorical statement of her return to pop music with Midnights after the 2020 folk-oriented albums Folklore and Evermore. The song was released for limited-time download via Swift's website on October 25, 2022.
"Karma" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff, Sounwave, and Keanu Beats, while Jahaan Sweet co-produced it. Republic Records released the song to US radio on May 1, 2023, as the third single from Midnights. A remix, featuring rapper Ice Spice, was released on May 26, 2023, as part of an extended edition of Midnights.
"Lavender Haze" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff, Jahaan Sweet, and Sounwave. Zoë Kravitz and Sam Dew co-wrote the song, and Braxton Cook was an additional producer. The title was inspired by a phrase used in the series Mad Men that refers to the state of being in love. Republic Records released "Lavender Haze" to US radio on November 29, 2022, as the album's second single.
"Sweet Nothing" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). She wrote the song with Joe Alwyn, who is credited under the pseudonym William Bowery, and produced it with Jack Antonoff. A bedroom pop and soft rock track reminiscent of 1970s ballads, "Sweet Nothing" has an electronic piano–led production accompanied by saxophone and clarinet accents. In the lyrics, Swift's narrator appreciates her partner's calming presence and simple gestures amidst the chaos of the outer world.
"Snow on the Beach" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). It features background vocals from the American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. The two wrote the track with Jack Antonoff, who also produced the song with Swift. "Snow on the Beach" is a love song about two people falling in love with each other simultaneously. It includes a midtempo dream pop and bedroom pop production containing synths, plucked violin, and a reverbed bass.
"Anti-Hero" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. It is a pop rock and synth-pop song driven by a 1980s-inspired drum loop generated with a LinnDrum and retro synthesizers such as the Juno 6 and the Prophet 5. Inspired by Swift's insecurities, the lyrics focus on self-loathing and the impact of fame on her wellbeing; the bridge narrates a nightmare where her daughter-in-law murders her for her last will. Republic Records released the song for download and streaming on October 21, 2022.
"Would've, Could've, Should've" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is a bonus track originally released as part of the 3am Edition of her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Written and produced by Swift and Aaron Dessner, it is a new wave-leaning soft rock song about a narrator's rumination of a flawed, age-inappropriate romantic relationship in the past.
"Bigger Than the Whole Sky" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift as a bonus track for the 3am Edition of her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" is a country-influenced ambient ballad with ambiguous lyrics expressing grief and heartache over a person the narrator has never met.
"Midnight Rain" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). She wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff. Driven by a distorted Moog synthesizer, the production of "Midnight Rain" incorporates a dubstep–influenced bass, trap and house beats, and Swift's pitched-down vocals. The song is electropop with elements of R&B, hip-hop, and indietronica. In the lyrics, the narrator contemplates on a lost love back in her hometown: although the ex-lover wanted a comfortable domestic life, she chose to pursue her career and fame.
"You're Losing Me" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. She wrote and produced it with Jack Antonoff. The song first appeared as a bonus track on The Late Night Edition of Swift's 2022 studio album Midnights, released by Republic Records, in May 2023. The edition was only on CD and available for in-person purchase at certain venues of the Eras Tour for a limited time, following which the song was widely shared and available on social media. It was released for streaming on November 29, 2023.
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