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The 7 Best Taylor Swift Songs That She Wrote For Other Artists
Taylor Swift is known for writing and releasing her own music, but she’s written a few songs for other artists as well. In fact, before becoming the superstar she is today, Swift worked as the youngest-ever songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. While she ultimately went on to become a world-famous singer-songwriter, not every song she writes end up on her albums. Her Taylor’s Version vault tracks have been the perfect way for her to release songs that initially never saw the light of day. However, giving the songs she doesn’t want on her albums to other artists has worked great, too.
While there are a few songs she’s kept quiet about writing, a lot of the time, the word gets out that Swift is the mastermind behind the song. Swift has even released her own recordings of songs she’s written for other artists and included them as vault tracks on her re-recorded albums. The artists who record Swift’s songs put their own unique spin on things, but nothing compares to hearing Swift sing from the heart about her life experiences. However, the artists she’s given them to have also done an incredible job.
7
This Is What You Came For By Rihanna
Written By Taylor Swift And Calvin Harris
In 2016, Rihanna released “This Is What You Came For,” a collaboration with Calvin Harris. At the time, Harris and Swift were Hollywood’s “it” couple, and fans started to notice a familiar voice in the background of Rihanna’s song. There was also an unheard-of songwriter listed in the credits, named Nils Sjöberg. The ever-determined and curious Swifties were convinced this secret songwriter was actually a pseudonym and that Swift was the one who wrote the song with her then-boyfriend. Harris would later confirm Taylor Swift had co-written and sung on the track.
“Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you.”
“This Is What You Came For” was a massive success for Rihanna, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. It became Rihanna’s 21st top-five song and Harris’ second. It’s also still his highest-peaking song as a lead artist in the U.S. Swift would perform a solo piano version of the song later in 2016 at a Formula 1 Grand Pix concert. In 2017, she performed an acoustic guitar version at a pre-Super Bowl concert, and her most recent performance was at the Eras Tour.
6
You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home By Miley Cyrus
Written By Taylor Swift And Martin Johnson
Hannah Montana fans would likely know “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home” as the final song performed in the 2009 Disney film Hannah Montana: The Movie. In the song, Hannah Montana reflects on her journey back home after losing herself to the fame and lights in LA. However, Taylor Swift is actually the one who wrote the country-pop hit. Swift had a brief cameo in the film as a girl performing at a barn party where she performed her song “Crazier.”
Swift lent her sharp writing skills to the film’s last song, collaborating with Girls Like Boys frontman, Martin Johnson. The band member had written and performed “Two Is Better Than One” with Swift the same year, and the two were even rumored to have dated. However, for Hannah Montana: The Movie, Swift and Johnson crafted the perfect song for the fictional pop star to dedicate to her hometown. The song feels very true to Swift’s confessional songwriting, but also fits perfectly with Miley Cyrus’ rustic vocals.
5
Babe By Sugarland Featuring Taylor Swift
Written By Taylor Swift And Pat Monahan
In 2018, country duo Sugarland released “Babe,” with Swift as a featured artist. Swift had written it with Train lead singer Pat Monahan sometime around the making of her album Red. However, the song didn’t make it onto the album, and Swift waited six years before handing it over to Sugarland. While Swift is on the track, she only does backing vocals, with Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles taking the lead. The song is seemingly about Swift’s ex cheating on her with lyrics like “Since you admitted it / I keep picturing her lips on your neck.”
The music video plays out this scenario with Nettles playing the role of a ’50s housewife and Swift taking on the villainous, mistress role. Swift’s vocals are most prominent in the song’s outro, which works well with the video’s storyline. In the end, Swift’s character ends up getting burned, too. The song was nominated for several Country awards and won Collaboration of the Year at the Golden Boot Awards. In 2021, Swift included a solo version of “Babe” on Red (Taylor’s Version). The new version leaned more toward pop than country and included added vocals.
In the new intro, Swift repeats, “What about your promises?” Swift performed “Babe” as a surprise song on the Reputation Stadium Tour, and at her Arlington, Texas show, Taylor Swift brought Sugarland out on stage to sing “Babe” with her. During a Singapore show on the Eras Tour, Swift also performed “Babe” as a mashup with her Lover track “Death By A Thousand Cuts.”
4
“Better Man” By Little Big Town
Written By Taylor Swift
“Better Man” is another song initially written for Red but given to a country band. Little Big Town released the song in late 2016, and it was an immediate success, topping both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. The song was nominated for a series of awards and took home a CMT Award, a CMA Award, and the Grammy Award for Best Country Group Performance. In 2018, Swift stopped by Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, the venue where she was discovered as a teenager, and performed an acoustic version of the song.
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In 2021, her solo version of “Better Man” appeared on Red (Taylor’s Version) as one of the vault tracks. Little Big Town performed the hit live several times, including at the Grammy Awards and at CMT storytellers. Swift would also perform the song live several times as well, aside from at the Bluebird Cafe. “Better Man” appeared as a surprise song at both her Reputation Stadium Tour and Eras Tour.
3
This Is Really Happening By Britni Hoover
Written By Taylor Swift And Blu Sanders
As she’s proven with her vault tracks, Swift wrote a lot of songs early in her career that never made it onto an album. However, some of the songs from her days starting out as a songwriter in Nashville ended up going to other artists. Swift’s version of “This Is Really Happening” leaked online years ago, but the song was actually sold to country singer Britni Hoover.
The song is said to have been written around 2004 before being sold to Hoover and included on her 2007 album, Country Strong. Unfortunately, there are no known live performances of Swift singing the song. However, with Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) still to come, it’s possible that Swift’s version of “This Is Really Happening” could end up as a vault track.
2
Permanent Marker By Mary Sarah
Written By Taylor Swift, Nick Brophy, And Jennifer Hanson
“Permanent Marker” is another song Swift wrote as a teenager that never made it onto her debut album. However, there is a demo that’s been floating around online for a while. There are also a few videos online of Swift singing the song live in 2007. One performance was at the 2007 Jamboree Music Festival, and another was when Swift was the opening act for Brad Paisley’s Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour.
At the Jamboree festival, Swift told the audience that the song was going to appear on her upcoming album, Fearless. Unfortunately, “Permanent Marker” never made the cut and wasn’t included as a vault track on Fearless (Taylor’s Version) either. Instead, it was given to country singer Mary Sarah for her 2010 debut album, Crazy Good. Both Sarah and Swift’s recorded versions of the song cut out a bridge that appeared in Swift’s live performance, opting for an instrumental instead.
“X is the shape
I drew through your face
In permanent marker
Just like the mark you knew
You were making
Who do you think you are
To write on his heart
In permanent marker.”
There are rumors online that “Permanent Marker” was inspired by a breakup Swift’s younger brother, Austin Swift, was going through. However, in her live performances, Swift said the song was about a guy she dated whose ex-girlfriend was meddling with their relationship, still trying to get the guy’s attention.
1
Bein’ With My Baby By Shea Fisher
Written By Taylor Swift And Brett Beavers
“Bein’ With My Baby” is another sweet love song Taylor Swift wrote as a teenager, long before she became the biggest star in the world. Like the other songs from her early career, Swift’s version is available to listen to online. It’s a very rough demo, but Swift’s talent and country twang still shine through. The song follows a teenage relationship where Swift wants to spend all her time with her boyfriend. Swift sings about counting stars and getting home too late with her partner, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The song would have been the best fit for Swift’s debut album. However, it was left on the cutting room floor and didn’t see the light of day for about a decade. Of the older unreleased songs Swift sold to other artists, “Bein’ With My Baby” stayed in Swift’s vault the longest. Australian singer Shea Fisher wouldn’t release “Bein’ With My Baby” until 2015, the year after Swift released 1989 and officially left country music behind.
Fisher’s recording is much more polished than Swift’s acoustic demo, with added production and backing vocals. Fisher’s vocals also sound stronger on the track than Swift’s, as the Australian artist was older than Swift was when she recorded her version. Even if it took over a decade, it was smart of Swift to give the song to Fisher to put her own twist on things.
Taylor Swift may have a plethora of songs in her own catalog, but she also puts her best foot forward when writing for other artists. While Swift may have given these songs away, there’s always a chance they’ll end up on one of her vault track lists, as she seems to like eventually releasing her own recordings.
