Taylor Swift’s ‘Snow on the Beach’ Lyrics Confront the Contradictions of Falling In Love

There’s a surreal rhythm thrumming throughout the soft, plucky track “Snow on the Beach,” the fourth song on Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights. The dreamy, almost haunting nature of the song is purposeful, given it represents a once-in-a-lifetime feeling: that “cataclysmic, fated moment where you realize someone feels exactly the same way that you feel at the same moment,” as Swift revealed in an Instagram video ahead of the album drop on October 21.

As a long-time admirer of artist Lana Del Rey, Swift said she was honored to announce on October 7 that the “Young and Beautiful” singer would feature alongside Swift on the track. Although Del Rey’s addition to “Snow on the Beach” is subtle—some might say, uh, too subtle—Del Rey’s ethereal voice aids in capturing the essence of Swift’s mindset: “The song is about falling in love with someone at the same time as they’re falling in love with you,” Swift said. “…And you’re kind of looking around going, ‘Wait is this real? Is this a dream? Is this for real? Is this really happening?’ Kind of like it would be if you were to see snow falling on a beach.”

Apart from a clear nod to Janet Jackson in the line “I’m all for you like Janet,” “Snow on the Beach” features intentionally vague lyrics, ripe for interpretation. Still, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume Swift is referencing her own “cataclysmic, fated moment” with actor Joe Alwyn, whom Swift has been dating for six years. She’s written numerous other songs—including several on Midnights—alluding to her hopes and fears surrounding the stability of their relationship. (In “Anti-Hero,” for instance, she sings “I wake up screaming from dreaming / One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving / Cause you got tired of my scheming / For the last time.”) Her album Reputation tackled similar feelings; “Delicate” features Swift singing “Is it cool that I said all that? / Is it too soon to do this yet?/ ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate.”

In “Snow on the Beach,” she seems to rehash the same anxiety, but through the lens of wonder: “I can’t speak afraid to jinx it / I don’t even dare to wish it / … Can this be a real thing? Can it?” In the end, she seems to trust the reality before her own eyes, no matter how impossible it might feel.

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Read the full lyrics to “Snow on the Beach” below.

One night a few moons agoI saw flecks of what could’ve been lightsBut it might have just been youPassing by unbeknownst to meLife is emotionally abusiveAnd time can stop me quite like you didAnd my flight was awful thanks for askingI’m unglued thanks to you

And it’s like snow at the beachWeird but fucking beautifulFlying in a dreamStars by the pocketfulYou wanting meTonight feels impossibleBut it’s coming down no sound it’s all aroundLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snowAh-ah-ah

This scene feels likeWhat I once saw on a screenI searched aurora borealis greenI’ve never seen someone live from withinBlurring out my peripheryMy smile is like I won a contestAnd to hide that would be so dishonestAnd it’s fine to fake it ’til you make it’Til you do’Til it’s true

Now it’s like snow at the beachWeird but fucking beautifulFlying in a dreamStars by the pocketfulYou wanting meTonight feels impossibleBut it’s coming down no sound it’s all roundLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snowAh-ah-ah

I can’t speak afraid to jinx itI don’t even dare to wish itBut your eyes are flying saucersFrom another planetNow I’m all for you like JanetCan this be a real thing? Can it?

Are we falling likeSnow at the beachWeird but fucking beautifulFlying in a dreamStars by the pocketfulYou wanting meTonight feels impossibleBut it’s coming down no sound it’s all roundLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snow on the beachLike snowBut it’s coming down no sound it’s all roundLike snow on the beach(It’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down)(Like snow on the beach)(It’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down)(It’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down)(It’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down it’s coming down)

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