Happiness

Album: Evermore (2020)
Charted: 52
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Despite its title, "Happiness" is fundamentally a breakup song that captures post-split emotions. Swift is addressing her ex who has revealed himself not to be all she thought he was. She is understandably furious, but rather than giving vent to her bitterness, Swift takes the high road and gives him the "green light of forgiveness." She explained the song is about "the realization that maybe the only path to healing is to wish happiness on the one who took it away from you."
  • Honey, when I'm above the trees

    This is the seventh track of Evermore, and Swift starts the song by linking to "Seven," the aptly titled seventh track of its sister record, Folklore. That song starts:

    Please picture me in the trees
  • Swift wrote the song alongside its producer, Aaron Dessner of The National, who co-produced all but one of Evermore's 15 tracks. This was the last written for Evermore – they completed the tune just a week before the record's release.

    Dessner explained to Rolling Stone he'd been working on the music for "Happiness" since 2019 with his Big Red Machine project in mind. But Swift "loved the instrumental and ended up writing to it" days before Dessner and engineer Jon Low began mastering Evermore.

Comments: 1

  • Francois from New YorkAbsolutely a breathtakingly beautiful and beautifully sung song. Her voice leaves me in awe.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.