Songs from Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” as Historical Moments
Only speak Swiftie? Here’s a mini history class just for you.
Follow @historymadebyus on Instagram for a visual tour.
At midnight on October 21st, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, Midnights. Swift writes that the songs each capture different midnights throughout the course of her life. It was quickly named an “instant classic” by Rolling Stone Magazine and had fans staying up until 3 a.m. to hear a special announcement (which turned out to be an additional seven tracks).
Swift is known for bringing literary and historical references into her lyrics, but we’re going one step further — finding key moments in our vast and complex history that have all the makings of all the Midnights. After all, every midnight has happened before.
Press play, and let us know what moments you’d add!
Lavender Haze
Moment: The Construction of Bomb Shelters
When: 1950s-1960s
What Happened: During the Cold War, many American families constructed bomb shelters due to fear of a Soviet nuclear attack. It was their way of ensuring their own protection at home.
Maroon
Moment: Elizabeth Taylor Selling Richard Burton’s Diamond
When: 1978
What Happened: Actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a serious on-again-off-again relationship. During an on-again moment, Burton gifted Taylor a 68-carat diamond. But after a bitter divorce, she sold it for between $3–5 million.
Anti-Hero
Moment: Author George Eliot’s Self Doubt
When: 1819–1880
What Happened: Although she was a prolific writer, female author George Eliot struggled with self-doubt and crippling anxiety throughout her career. She once wrote, “What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?”
Snow on the Beach
Moment: Inventing the Lightbulb
When: 1879
What Happened: As one of the most impactful inventions of human history, the lightbulb brought massive changes to our lives, for better (like cleaner energy) or for worse (longer work hours). Weird, but beautiful.
You’re On Your Own, Kid
Moment: The Life of Sylvia Rivera
When: 1951–2002
What Happened: As a trans Latina activist, Sylvia Rivera struggled to find community even within the gay liberation movement in the 1960s. But close friends, like fellow trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, helped her overcome the barriers in her way.
Midnight Rain
Moment: The Women Who Mapped the Stars at Harvard’s Observatory
When: 1880s
What Happened: The director of the Harvard Observatory relied on ambitious young women to analyze what would become the largest photographic plate collection of stars. These women paved the way for others in fields like computing and astrophysics.
Question…?
Moment: When Wallis Simpson Left Her Husband for King Edward VIII
When: 1936–1986
What Happened: American socialite Wallis Simpson divorced her non-royal husband after falling for Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. Edward eventually abdicated his throne to be with Wallis.
Vigilante Shit
Moment: The Lavender Panthers
When: 1973–1974
What Happened: The Lavender Panthers were a San Francisco vigilante group that exacted revenge against individuals who violently attacked members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Bejeweled
Moment: The Rise of Rita Hayworth
When: 1934–1987
What Happened: Rita Hayworth was an Hispanic-American star in the 1940s known for her fantastic dancing and acting abilities. She became a beloved entertainer and was the favorite dance partner of Fred Astaire, one of America’s most popular celebrities at the time.
Labyrinth
Moment: Carole Lombard and Clark Gable’s Romance
When: 1932–1942
What Happened: Although they were both in unhappy marriages when they met, actors Lombard and Gable would later become one of the most glamorous couples in Hollywood. But trouble with infertility, Gable’s infidelity, and Lombard’s tragic death in 1942 led to catastrophe for the couple.
Karma
Moment: John Wilkes Booth Breaking His Leg After Assassinating Lincoln
When: 1865
What Happened: After shooting President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, the assassin John Wilkes Booth leapt from the balcony, but the spur of his boot got caught on a hanging flag. He fell and broke his leg on impact.
Sweet Nothing
Moment: The Romance Between Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas
When: 1907–1946
What Happened: Writer Gertrude Stein and avant-garde Alice B. Toklas met as expats in Paris and quickly bonded. They became lovers and lifelong partners until Stein’s death in 1946.
Mastermind
Moment: The Marriage of Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Brown
When: 1947
What Happened: Ella Fitzgerald, an iconic jazz singer, married her collaborator Ray Brown after spending a year touring together. Although they later divorced, Ella and Ray continued working together.
