Fearless is a big word. To not be afraid; to be comfortable with fear; to understand that fear is just any other emotion. To Taylor Swift, to be Fearless means to write about a secret crush and use their actual name in a song, like she does on ‘Hey Stephen’.

Likely the most infectious song on the record, ‘Hey Stephen’ is a cheeky ode to a specific crush — Stephen Barker Liles from the country band Love and Theft, which just so happens to be the secret message (“LOVE AND THEFT”) for the song. 

When asked by the record-label-that-shall-not-be-named about the inspiration behind the song Taylor stated, “It’s someone who I’ve always been friends with and always kind of had a thing for...and he doesn’t know. It’s always fun for me to put something on the album that is personal. Something I know I’m going to have to deal with when the record comes out.” 

It’s childish in the best way; knowing she’s spilling her secrets in the most public way possible, but revelling in the thrill of it all. Although the song perfectly illustrates the invigorating feelings any teen has when they have an all-consuming crush it is sad to think about how quickly the media would turn her charming love odes into something to be trivialised and sensationalised; as if she should be ashamed of feeling the same emotions so many of us feel every day. ‘Hey Stephen’ is a perfect glimpse into who Swift was when she had a crush before she started being demeaned and used as a punchline for her (very normal) love life.

Throughout the 2008 version of ‘Hey Stephen’ Swift gives a quiet, innocent plea (“All those other girls/Well, they're beautiful/But would they write a song for you?”), breathlessly declaring the reasons why she should be the one he chooses. On the freshly released re-recording, Swift seems more sure of herself (just listen to that hearty laugh!) which is because she doesn’t exactly need to worry about her crush discovering the more than decade-old song.

When listening, it’s clear the same emotions are bubbling on the surface — she still has a strong desire to be seen, loved, and accepted by those she’s daydreaming about. Being ‘seen’ for who she is by the people she loves (or wants to love) is a theme that would become a through-line to so many of her songs, romantic or not, in tracks like Speak Now's 'Long Live', Red's 'Come Back... Be Here' or Folklore's 'Peace'.

It's arguable to say there is a string tying songs like ‘Hey Stephen,’ ‘'Delicate’, and ‘Daylight’ together — a perfect three-part love story. Although ‘Hey Stephen’ isn’t always on fans & critics top TS tracks, it does serve as a perfect glimpse into the narratives and themes she would go on to explore throughout the rest of her discography: the hope we all carry that one day we will be seen, understood, and loved by others. 

Fearless (Taylor's Version) is out now.