The Swift Side of Me
#006
Last Kiss x
Sad Beautiful Tragic
Last Kisses & Tragic Endings: Swiftie Soundtracks to Heartbreak
Music has always played an important role in how I process certain life events and the emotions that come with them. Heartbreak, and more specifically, breakups are no exception.
The mashup of Last Kiss and Sad Beautiful Tragic was performed in Zurich, N1; and both songs depict deeply emotional experiences of love lost. This comes with a rollercoaster of emotions—anger, confusion, frustration, profound sadness—and at the same time, nostalgia helps us hold on to the magical, happier moments of the relationship.
Last Kiss shares the story of a breakup that catches you off guard, whereas the story told in Sad Beautiful Tragic is that of a couple who reaches a mutual decision to part ways. Taylor sings:
🎵 Long handwritten note
Deep in your pocket
Words, how little they mean
When you’re a little too late 🎵
The tone and point of view suggests that the breakup was anticipated and may have been coming for a while. The narrative of Sad Beautiful Tragic also highlights Taylor’s loyalty and commitment to the relationship. She is described standing close to the tracks with his face in a locket, suggesting she was willing to risk it all and remained loyal to the relationship to a fault.
A common theme to both songs is the notion that moving on from lost love is difficult and entails a gradual process. In Last Kiss, Taylor incorporates strong visuals to depict the disbelief of the relationship being over, with Taylor literally clinging to what’s left of the relationship:
🎵 Now I’ll go
Sit on the floor wearing your clothes
And I’ll I know is I don’t know
How to be something you miss
I never thought we’d have a last kiss 🎵
From Heartbreak to Healing: Embracing the Journey of Moving On
What is made clear in both Last Kiss and Sad Beautiful Tragic is that moving on from a relationship is a gradual process. It’s never an instant switch from sadness to joy, nor is it an overnight transformation. In Last Kiss, we hear the aftermath of the breakup—the disbelief, the physical yearning for what was lost, and the struggle of holding onto memories that seem too precious to let go of. This speaks to the way Taylor captures the moment of heartbreak—the sinking realization that a chapter has closed, but the journey to healing hasn’t quite begun.
In both songs, Taylor acknowledges that moving on takes time, but she portrays it differently. Sad Beautiful Tragic explores healing in a more nuanced way. While there is still pain, there’s a recognition that, as time passes, the intensity of that pain will shift. Similar to living with chronic pain, the person in the song understands that the hurt may never fully disappear, but over time, it becomes more bearable. There’s something comforting in this song’s acceptance of the natural course of grief, suggesting that moving forward isn’t just about closing the door on the past, but rather about making peace with it and learning to cherish the lessons it taught us.
This gradual shift toward healing is echoed in many of Taylor’s other songs as well. Take Begin Again, for example, which depicts the first tentative steps of opening yourself up to someone new after a breakup. The key takeaway is that healing isn’t linear—it’s messy, it’s difficult, but it’s also filled with moments of self-discovery and personal growth.
The Complexity of Letting Go: When Good Memories Mask the Bigger Issues
When I reflect on my own past relationships, I find myself relating most closely to the narrative of Sad Beautiful Tragic. For me, the period leading up to the breakup was never an immediate decision—it often stretched over weeks or even months. This prolonged uncertainty is where the struggle to move on truly begins. During this time, I’d find myself clinging to the good memories, the way Taylor does by way of wearing her ex’s clothes—this nostalgia and romanticizing the past became a form of self sabotage, convincing myself that the good moments outweighed the challenging ones.
In one of my more recent past relationships, there were deep-rooted issues, particularly a misalignment of our long-term goals as a couple. Yet, every time I contemplated ending things, I was swept away by memories of the sweetest moments—late night discussions about music, mastering the art of pizza making together, or a meaningful Christmas gift. I found myself justifying the relationship by holding on to those moments, often trying to convince myself that they made up for the relationship’s growing shortcomings. I was placing far too much weight on fleeting, trivial things while also ignoring the red flags that were so clearly waving in front of me.
In the end, heartbreak is universal, but it’s also personal. Each breakup is unique, yet the emotions we face—pain, anger, profound sadness, nostalgia—are shared. Taylor’s music serves as both a soundtrack and a guide through the emotional landscape of heartbreak. Through her lyrics, we find the comfort of knowing we’re not alone in our pain, and that we can emerge stronger from it.
Ultimately, both songs teach us that even in the saddest, most beautiful tragedies, there is hope on the other side. And while it may take time to get there, just like Taylor’s characters, we’ll find that the risk of falling in love is always worth taking.
Episode 1 of The Surprise Song Swiftie Riddle Series
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Episode 1 of the Surprise Song Swiftie Riddle Series on The Swift Side of Me YouTube Channel! Remember to like, share and subscribe!
Speak Now: It's your turn to share your thoughts!
Which song resonates more with you after a breakup: the finality of Last Kiss or the bittersweet nostalgia of Sad Beautiful Tragic? Or is there another Taylor Swift song that speaks to you? Drop a comment below with your thoughts!
XO,
Inspired by Taylor, Creating with Love
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