Folklore is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums. There isn’t a song I don’t like on this album. Though some I like less than others.

I listen to and ranked the clean version. It doesn’t change a ton, but it does mean there are a few different lyrics in the versions I listen to. However, the videos are linked to the “explicit” versions as it can be hard to find the official clean videos.

17. illicit affairs- There is one note where she went up that I don’t love, but I otherwise enjoy this one.

16. the lakes- This one has a lot of poetic imagery and hearkens back to the romantic poetry days. I like it for that reason. Not my favorite, but enjoyable.

15. hoax- I love her lower range, so I enjoy this one. Not my favorite on the album, but it’s a fun one.

14. betty- This is a song that when I listen to it I always like it a lot more than I remember. I don’t often purposely seek it out, but I like it when I listen to it.

13. peace- If there’s a song that captures Taylor’s anxieties and thoughts about relationships better than this one, I’m not sure what it would be. This song perfectly captures that emotion.

12. seven- This was a very different sound for Taylor, but I like it. It has some great lines and imagery in this one.

11. epiphany- A great song capturing the emotions and feelings of the pandemic. I don’t listen to it often because I think it’s very sad, but it’s extremely well done.

10. my tears ricochet– This one as a metaphor is just brilliant. It’s definitely haunting. Jon thinks it sounds like a funeral song, and he’s not wrong. But I love it. I love Taylor’s lower range, so I love it.

9. the 1- This is a fun one. It’s just a bop. Not my favorite on the album, but it’s a great one that I enjoy. “We never painted by the numbers, baby / But we were making it count / You know the greatest loves of all time are over now.”

8. august- I adore this one. “Back when we were still changin’ for the better / Wanting was enough / For me, it was enough / To live for the hope of it all / Cancel plans just in case you’d call / And say, ‘Meet me behind the mall.'” I like a lot of lyrics, but those were some of my favorites. The musicality to this one is interesting and enjoyable.

7. mirrorball- This song has a similar vibe to “this is me trying,” and I really enjoy both of them. “But I’m still on my tallest tiptoes / Spinning in my highest heels, love/ Shining just for you.” And “I can change everything about me to fit in.” Lots of good lyrics on this one, but those are two of my favorites.

6. invisible string- This one is a fun, romantic, whimsical song. I know some knock some of the lyrics in this for not being “deep,” but I like it. It’s just a fun one.

5. exile (feat. Bon Iver)- I also love this one. This is my favorite Bon Iver song in her catalog. The lyrics in this one are great. I love the way this one sounds, how their voices blend, and also the music. “I can see you starin’, honey / Like he’s just your understudy / Like you’d get your knuckles bloody for me / Second, third, and hundredth chances / Balancin’ on breaking branches / Those eyes add insult to injury / I think I’ve seen this film before / And I didn’t like the ending.” But there are also a lot of other great lines here.

4. this is me trying– The former perfectionist in me can relate to this song and being an associate at a law firm also made this song more relevant for sure. The lyrics on this one are also really well written.

3. the last great american dynasty– I love the storytelling in this one. It’s such a fun and well-done song. Such a wonderful story that’s developed here. This is another song without a lot of feminist undertones, and I love it.

2. mad woman– I really like this one. Feminist rage songs, you know I’m always here for that. I love the lyrics and music and again just everything about this one. It’s a great one that I love. I won’t bother listing out any particular lyrics I love because it’s all good.

1. cardigan– This is one of my favorite songs of Taylor’s of all time. The imagery, the lyrics, the music—everything about this one is good. If I were to list my favorite lyrics, we’d be here all day. But for two that came to mind first: “You drew stars around my scars / But now I’m bleedin’.” And “Steppin’ on the last train / Marked me like a bloodstain, I / I knew you /Tried to change the ending /Peter losing Wendy, I / I knew you / Leavin’ like a father Running like water.” It’s a great song.