How many songs has Taylor Swift written, including all her co-writes?
How many songs has Taylor Swift written? As of January 2025, Taylor Swift has written or co-written a total of 252 songs. This list, which includes everything from her early acoustic ballads to global chart-toppers and re-recorded masterpieces, has culminated in a remarkable career that has shaped the sound of modern pop and country music.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- As of January 2025, Taylor Swift has written or co-written a total of 252 songs.
- Swift has penned 124 songs entirely on her own, showcasing her strong personal voice and lyrical talent throughout her career.
- She is actively rerecording her first six studio albums as Taylor’s Version to regain ownership of her original music following a dispute with her former label.
Taylor Swift’s profile summary
| Full name | Taylor Alison Swift |
| Age | 35 (as of May 2025) |
| Date of birth | December 13, 1989 |
| Place of birth | West Reading, Pennsylvania, US |
| Parents | Scott Kingsley Swift, Andrea Gardner Swift |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Single |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, director |
How many songs has Taylor Swift written?
Taylor Swift has written or co-written a total of 252 songs, a number that includes her solo work, co-writing credits, and contributions to soundtracks and other artists' projects. This impressive figure is thanks to her long and distinguished journey in the music industry, which began in 2003.
Over the years, Swift has matured from a teenage country singer with a guitar and a dream into one of the world’s most recognisable pop icons. Her ability to reinvent herself musically while maintaining deeply personal songwriting has helped her achieve global success.
Does Taylor Swift write her own songs?
Yes, Taylor Swift writes her own songs. Despite frequently collaborating with other songwriters throughout her career, she has penned 124 songs entirely on her ow
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Swift’s journey as a songwriter began early. She wrote her first song at just 12. By the time she released her debut album, Taylor Swift, on 24 October 2006, she was only 16. That album alone featured three tracks solely written by her, setting the tone for a career built on personal storytelling and lyrical authenticity.
Below is a list of some songs Taylor Swift has written by herself:
- The Outside
- Should’ve Said No
- Our Song
- Christmas Must Be Something More
- Beautiful Eyes
- Hey Stephen
- Mine
- Sparks Fly
- Back to December
- Speak Now
- Dear John
- Forever & Always
- Change
- The Other Side of the Door
- Jump Then Fall
- Today Was a Fairytale
- Mr. Perfectly Fine
Has Taylor Swift written songs for other people?
Yes. In addition to her extensive personal catalogue, Taylor Swift has also written songs that other artists have gone on to perform. This is a common practice in the music industry, particularly when a songwriter envisions a certain style or vibe for a track that doesn’t quite align with their own artistic identity.
Among the songs written by Taylor Swift but not sung by her are several notable contributions to other artists’ repertoires. For instance, she wrote Better Man for the country group Sugarland, a heartfelt ballad that earned critical acclaim.
Another example of a song with Taylor Swift's writing credits is You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home. It was performed by Miley Cyrus for the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack.
Taylor Swift’s songwriting controversy
Despite her well-documented songwriting achievements, Taylor Swift has not been immune to controversy over her authorship. Over the years, some critics have questioned the extent of her involvement in the songwriting process.
One infamous instance occurred in January 2022, when Damon Albarn, the frontman of Blur and Gorillaz, sparked backlash during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. When Swift was brought up as an example of an “excellent” songwriter in a broader conversation about modern music, Albarn dismissed the claim, saying that she doesn’t write her own songs.
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He reportedly argued that co-writing didn’t count as true songwriting, suggesting there was a significant difference between someone who writes alone and someone who collaborates. While he clarified that he wasn’t criticising anyone in particular, he maintained that the distinction was important, even if the final product could still be strong.
Swift responded publicly via Twitter, saying she had been a fan of Albarn until she saw the interview, and asserted that she wrote all of her own songs. She described his comments as completely false and damaging. Her response sparked a wave of support from her collaborators, fans, fellow artists, streaming platforms, bestselling authors, and even the then-president-elect of Chile.
In the face of the backlash, Albarn issued a public apology, stating:
“I totally agree with you. I had a conversation about songwriting and sadly was reduced to clickbait.”
While the incident stirred debate, it ultimately reinforced Swift’s strong standing in the songwriting world, with many rallying to defend her creative credibility.
Is Taylor Swift rerecording her music?
Taylor Swift is indeed rerecording her first six studio albums under the title Taylor’s Version. This move comes as a response to a long-standing dispute with her former record label, Big Machine Records, over the ownership of her original master recordings. By creating and releasing new versions of these albums, Swift is reclaiming control over her early work and ensuring that she owns the rights to the music that helped launch her career.
So far, the re-recorded albums include Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Each release not only includes remastered versions of the original tracks but also previously unreleased songs “From the Vault,” offering fans new material.
FAQS about Taylor Swift’s songwriting
- Which songs have Taylor Swift’s writing credits, but she hasn’t recorded them? Taylor Swift has writing credits on songs she hasn’t recorded herself, including Better Man by Little Big Town and You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home by Miley Cyrus.
- How many songs has Taylor Swift written? Taylor Swift has written or co-written a total of 252 songs.
- Does Taylor Swift write her own songs? Yes, Taylor Swift writes her own songs. She has written 124 songs entirely on her own, without any co-writers.
- Why is Taylor Swift rerecording her old albums? Taylor Swift is rerecording her old albums to regain ownership of her music after a dispute with her former label, Big Machine Records.
- When did Taylor Swift start writing songs? Taylor Swift started writing songs at the age of 12, showing early talent and a strong passion for storytelling through music.
- What is Taylor Swift’s full name? Taylor Swift’s full name is Taylor Alison Swift.
- How many Grammy Awards has Taylor Swift won? As of 2025, Taylor Swift has won 14 Grammy Awards.
Final word
How many songs has Taylor Swift written? The answer stands at an impressive 252, a figure that includes both her solo-written tracks and co-writes, along with songs penned for other artists and soundtracks. From early hits like Our Song to emotionally complex ballads and genre-defying pop anthems, Swift’s songwriting evolution is as remarkable as her career itself.
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