Taylor Swift’s Clean Speech Was 6 Years Ago and I’m Still Not Over It

The 1989 world tour was six years ago.

It seems impossible to think about the fact that there have been 3 albums since Taylor put out 1989. 3 albums and the start of her re-recordings. If there is one thing we’ve come to know about Taylor Swift, it’s that she doesn’t disappoint.

I’ve grown up with Taylor. Her music has gotten me through some of my darkest moments. She’s been that steady voice that has guided me through many moments. She’s been what I’ve both celebrated, and what I’ve cried my eyes out to.

I can say with honesty, no moment in Taylor Swift’s history has been more influential than the “clean speech”. At least, to me, that speech has turned into a shining light.

October 27th, 2014

It was roughly a month after my entire world was turned upside down. My father passed away in September. I was a 24-year-old who didn’t quite have a handle on my life. It was my third semester of college, I was balancing school work and a part-time job. While dealing with the fact that I’d needed to move out of the house I’d grown up in.

My world had fallen apart in four years. It had started in 2010 when my mom had passed.

Things weren’t okay.

As I’d always done, there was one thing that kept me grounded… music. Music has always been my personal release. I’ve hidden inside of lyrics for decades.

On October 27th, Taylor Swift put out 1989. It was that album that produced a song that I have found solace in.

Clean is the last track on the 1989 album. It’s a song that is highly underrated and not one of her popular singles. Yet, it’s a song that has more heart and holds more emotion than most people would understand.

To set this story, allow me to pluck out a few of these lyrics:

“Hung my head as I lost the war and the sky turned black like a perfect storm”

“The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing.”

“Ten months sober, I must admit — just because you’re clean, don’t mean you don’t miss it.”