The Inner Monologue

Let’s play a game. Name five Taylor Swift songs with lyrics so profound they could be etched into a monument. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

All Too Well? Obviously. champagne problems? Sure. The Archer? Fine, if you’re feeling dramatic. But now try naming 20. Or 50. Suddenly, it’s not so easy, is it?

That’s because even the most celebrated artists—Swift, Dylan, The Beatles, your favorite indie sadboy with a guitar—only have a tiny fraction of songs that are truly great. The rest? They’re fine. Fun. Sometimes forgettable. And that’s normal.

The 8–10% Rule of Actually Great Songs

Taylor Swift has written over 200 songs. How many are considered lyrically brilliant? Maybe 15–20, depending on who you ask. That’s about 8–10% of her discography. The rest are catchy, clever, or just… there.

But before Swifties come for me with pitchforks, let’s look at the classics:

• The Beatles – Hundreds of songs, but how many are Eleanor Rigby or A Day in the Life level? Maybe 10–15.
• Bob Dylan – A Nobel Prize in Literature doesn’t mean every song is Like a Rolling Stone. (Have you heard Wiggle Wiggle? Exactly.)
• Led Zeppelin – Masters of riffs, not always of poetry. Stairway to Heaven is iconic, but Hot Dog exists.

Even modern critical darlings follow the same pattern: Artist% of Songs That Are Actually Profound Taylor Swift 8–10% Kendrick Lamar 8–15% Lorde 8–12% Phoebe Bridgers 10–15% The Beatles 5–10% Bob Dylan 5–15% (depending on your tolerance for rambling)

Why Can’t Every Song Be a Masterpiece?

Because art doesn’t work like that. Albums need balance—radio hits, deep cuts, mood shifts. If every track were All Too Well (10 Minute Version), we’d all be emotionally exhausted by track three.

Also, let’s be real: Not every idea is a winner. Even Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The Takeaway: Lower Your Expectations

If you’re waiting for your favorite artist to drop 12 straight lyrical masterpieces on one album, you’ll be disappointed. Even the greats only strike gold a fraction of the time.

So next time someone insists “Every Taylor Swift song is a poetic triumph!”, hit them with the numbers. Then play Shake It Off and watch them reconsider their life choices.