Swift on her Speak Now World Tour in 2011

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has written or co-written every song in her discography, with the exception of several cover songs and two guest features, alongside some songs released by other artists. Swift signed with Sony/ATV Tree publishing house in 2004 to become a professional songwriter.

Pursuing a country music career in Nashville, she wrote or co-wrote all 11 tracks on her eponymous debut album, which was released by Big Machine Records in 2006.^[1][2] In 2007, Swift released her first extended play (EP), The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, which includes four cover versions of Christmas classics and two self-written songs. Beautiful Eyes (2008), Swift's second EP, features alternate versions of songs from her debut album and two new tracks.^[3]

On her second studio album, Fearless (2008), Swift wrote eight tracks by herself and co-wrote the remaining five with Liz Rose—who had worked with her on her debut album.^[4][5] She wrote all 14 tracks of her third studio album, Speak Now (2010), by herself. The album explores mainstream pop and rock styles in addition to the country pop sound of its predecessor.^[6] On her next release, Red (2012), Swift experimented with other pop, rock, electronic, and hip hop styles.^[7] She wrote nine Red tracks by herself and co-wrote with others including Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback. Martin and Shellback collaborated with her again on her next two studio albums, 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017), on which Swift also worked with producer Jack Antonoff and recalibrated her musical identity from country to pop.^[8] Antonoff continued collaborating with Swift on her seventh studio album, Lover (2019), which marks her first release after leaving Big Machine for Republic Records; Lover includes three solely-written tracks.^[9]

Swift explored alternative rock and indie folk on the albums Folklore and Evermore; in addition to Antonoff, Aaron Dessner of the National became a key producer and co-writer.^[10] Swift's former partner Joe Alwyn was co-writer and co-producer of select tracks. Since April 2021, Swift has released four re-recorded albums—Fearless (Taylor's Version), Red (Taylor's Version), Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version)—to claim ownership of the masters of her Big Machine-released albums.^[11] Each of the re-recorded albums includes "from the Vault" unreleased songs Swift had written but excluded from the original releases' track lists. One such song, "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)", is the unabridged version of the previously released "All Too Well". Swift's tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022), features Antonoff as the main collaborator and Dessner as the co-writer and co-producer for select bonus tracks.^[12]

In addition to solo material, Swift has recorded two songs as a featured artist without a writing credit: "Highway Don't Care" (Tim McGraw, 2013) and "Birch" (Big Red Machine, 2021). She has written songs for film soundtracks including Valentine's Day (2010), The Hunger Games (2012), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), Cats (2019), and Where the Crawdads Sing (2022). Some tracks written by Swift were released as standalone singles for her other projects, such as the Christmas single "Christmas Tree Farm" (2019) and the track "Only the Young" (2020) for her documentary Miss Americana. Among tracks she wrote for other artists are "Best Days of Your Life" (Kellie Pickler), "This Is What You Came For" (Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna), and "Better Man" (Little Big Town).

Released songs

Jack Antonoff co-wrote songs for 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and 1989 (Taylor's Version).

Max Martin co-wrote 22 songs with Swift on four albums: Red, 1989, Reputation, and Red (Taylor's Version).

Aaron Dessner co-wrote songs on Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights (3am Edition). Swift later appeared on Dessner's band, The National's single, "The Alcott" (2023).

Swift wrote "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home" (2008), performed by Miley Cyrus as part of the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack.

Swift co-wrote Kellie Pickler's "Best Days of Your Life" (2008).

John Mayer collaborated with Swift on "Half of My Heart" (2010).

The Civil Wars co-wrote and featured in "Safe & Sound" (2012).

Swift co-wrote and featured in B.o.B's "Both of Us" (2012).

Paula Fernandes co-wrote and featured in "Long Live" for the Brazilian edition of Speak Now World Tour – Live (2012).

Swift provided guest vocals for Tim McGraw's "Highway Don't Care" (2013), featuring Keith Urban.

Ed Sheeran co-wrote and featured on "Everything Has Changed" (2012), "End Game" (2017), and "Run" (2021).

Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol co-wrote "The Last Time", on which he contributes guest vocals.

Ryan Tedder co-wrote "Welcome to New York" and "I Know Places" on 1989.

Imogen Heap co-wrote "Clean" on 1989.

Kendrick Lamar co-wrote the remix of "Bad Blood", and appears as a featured artist.

Swift co-wrote "This Is What You Came For" (2016), performed by Rihanna.

Swift co-wrote and appears as a featured artist in Sugarland's "Babe".

Brendon Urie co-wrote "Me!" and appears as a featured artist.

The Dixie Chicks feature in "Soon You'll Get Better".

Louis Bell co-wrote three Lover tracks and "All of the Girls You Loved Before".

Shawn Mendes co-wrote and appears as a featured artist on the duet remix of "Lover".

Andrew Lloyd Webber co-wrote and co-produced "Beautiful Ghosts" from the soundtrack for Cats (2019).

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver co-wrote and features on the songs "Exile" and "Evermore".

Lana Del Rey co-wrote and features on "Snow on the Beach".

Ice Spice, featured on the remix to "Karma", is the first female rapper with whom Swift has collaborated.

Unreleased songs

Other songs

Notes

References