Last Monday night, Taylor Swift's new single "Out of the Woods" debuted and received a ton of praise, and she decided to surprise fans with another song this week. However, people have been a bit more critical of "Welcome to New York," the latest single from 1989. Jezebel calls it's the "gentrification anthem NYC didn't need." Personally, I like the song. Here's why: I just moved to Brooklyn two weeks ago so, in a way, it's like Taylor is personally welcoming me to the city and going through the same transitional phase. Not to be cheesy, but I appreciate the fact that she's so inspired by the place. To everyone being so critical: Don't hate the girl for loving where she's living!
While I enjoy Swift's optimistic perspective, I will agree her experience is probably pretty different from that of an average twenty-something. Sure, if you're T. Swift and have a car service at your whim, you're likely avoiding the subway. Chances are she's eating at cute, little cafes — not ordering from Seamless way too often (aka my personal downfall). But since we're basically in the same boat (and by boat, I mean city), I've decided to help Tay out and rewrite her lyrics for accuracy. Not that there was anything wrong with the original words, but I'd rather be realistic.
She posted the full lyrics on her Tumblr and a preview of the song on YouTube (which you can check out below). For the full song, either head over to Just Jared or download it from iTunes.
Verse 1
TAYLOR'S LYRICS
Walking through a crowd The village is aglow Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats Under coats Everybody here wanted something more Searching for a sound we hadn’t heard before And it said...
REALISTIC LYRICS
Walking through a crowd Tourists move so slowKaleidoscope of subway linesUnderground Everybody here has their headphones inSpeaking out loud is a sound we haven’t heard before No one said...
Chorus
TAYLOR'S LYRICS
Welcome to New York It’s been waiting for you Welcome to New York Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York It’s been waiting for you Welcome to New York Welcome to New York
REALISTIC LYRICS
Welcome to New YorkYou've been waiting for the subwayWelcome to New YorkIt may never get here
Welcome to New YorkYou've been waiting for a paycheckWelcome to New YorkYour rent is due soon
Verse 2:
TAYLOR'S LYRICS
It’s a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat Forevermore The lights are so bright But they never blind me, me Welcome to New York It’s been waiting for you Welcome to New YorkWelcome to New York
REALISTIC LYRICS
It's a Seamless miracle with options to eat, eat Forevermore Netflix binges feel so rightAnd never disappoint me, meWelcome to New York You've been waiting for happy hourWelcome to New YorkWelcome to New York
Verse 3
TAYLOR'S LYRICS
When we first dropped our bagsOn apartment floorsTook our broken heartsPut them in a drawerEverybody here was someone else beforeAnd you can want who you wantBoys and boys and girls and girls
REALISTIC LYRICS
When we first dropped our bagsOn apartment floorsJK, we waited for IKEA firstPut together every drawerEverybody here was someone else beforeAnd you can swipe right on who you wantBoys and girls and Tinder and OKCupid
Verse 4
TAYLOR'S LYRICS
Like any great love It keeps you guessing Like any real love It’s ever changing Like any true love It drives you crazy But you know you wouldn’t change anything, anything, anything…
REALISTIC LYRICS
OK, I'm actually gonna keep Taylor's lyrics on this one. I wouldn't change anything either — except maybe the price of rent.
Images: Giphy
