by Addie Heffernan '30 on September 24, 2026
A&E - Music
In 2026, it would not be outrageous to say that Taylor Swift is universally known. Regardless of your opinion on her or her music as a whole, her songs are topping charts and breaking records left and right. Her 2023–2024 Eras Tour was a global phenomenon that brought together millions of fans around the world for three hours of friendship bracelets, glittery outfits, and songs old and new. This piece focuses on one song in particular, which was released in 2010 on her third record, entitled Speak Now, a completely self-written album that blended country and pop with some emphasis on rock as well. This album has been my favorite of hers since it was released, and “Long Live,” the fourteenth track and finale of the standard version of the record, is a big reason why. While the lyrics of this song may not be as intricate as some of her work on The Tortured Poets Department or folklore, “Long Live” has always held a special place in my heart and remains my favorite of her songs. Swift wrote this song while on her Fearless Tour, and in the many years since, it has remained a love letter to her band and the fans who have stood by her from the very start. It is a song of celebration for what has been achieved and a thank you in the possibility of goodbye, a theme that has resonated with me and many fans. The song is still quite popular among Swift’s fanbase.
“Long Live” is filled with anthemic, triumphant lyrics like “Cause for a moment / a band of thieves / in ripped-up jeans / got to rule the world” and “Bring on all the pretenders / I’m not afraid.” These lyrics emphasize the joy that Swift felt during her earliest tour performing alongside her fellow musicians and sharing her art. The bridge is by far the most bittersweet part of the song, with lyrics such as “If you have children someday / when they point to the pictures / please tell them my name” expressing Taylor’s wish to her fans and band at the time of writing the song that she hoped to be remembered, even if her career has reached its peak. It is this balance that has made the song perfect for both singing in the car with friends and listening to on the night of graduation, as I did in May. This is one of the reasons why this song has remained my favorite out of Swift’s discography and has stood the test of time for me and other fans around the world. My favorite lyric, “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you,” is one that, in my opinion, perfectly encapsulates the song as a whole. It emphasizes the obstacles that Swift faced during the early years of her career, the frequent doubts about her writing ability, and the legitimacy of her accolades, while also acknowledging that she felt those fights were worthwhile because of the people she had beside her.
While this song means a lot to me, it is easy to understand why it means so much to Swift’s fanbase too, as over the years, they have fought metaphorical battles by her side, namely, when she was cancelled in 2016 and when she lost her masters and ownership of all of her work in 2019. This song is not only a celebration of what Swift has been through with her team and fans, but also a promise from them to her that, no matter what happens, they’ll still fight dragons with her every time.