“It’s Nice to Have a Friend” by Taylor Swift
“It’s Nice to Have a Friend” is a tender love song based on a relationship the singer has had with an individual from childhood whom she eventually marries. It seems that as the track progresses, so does their ages.
Thus in the first verse we find them as small children, playing video games and sleeping in tents together. In the second verse they appear as teenagers, now with stress in their lives and being there to mitigate each other’s tensions. In fact it is seemingly under such circumstances that their romance originated. And finally, in the third verse they are married and living happily ever after. And throughout all of these different stages, she is acknowledging her partner as her “friend”. Thus even though they are now wed, the foundation of their relationship is a strong bond they formed even before they had romantic needs.
Alternate Explanation
An alternate, though less-likely explanation is that in each of the individual verses are in reference to different individuals in the singer’s life. But Swifties have concluded that this song is actually an updated retake of a similar track she dropped in 2006. That track is entitled “Mary’s Song”. And that particular tune was based on neighbors of Tay Tay who were married and had known each other from their early youth.
So basically, what Swift is doing here is idealizing the concept of a young couple falling in love and subsequently spending their lives together. Simply put, this track is more or less an exercise in romanticism.
Quick Facts about “It’s Nice to Have a Friend”
- This song features samples from the Regent Park School of Music Youth Choir via Toronto, Canada.
- Taylor Swift wrote and produced “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” along with Louis Bell and Frank Dukes.
- Republic Records released this song as the penultimate track on Taylor Swift’s album “Lover” on the date of 23 August 2019.
