Taylor Swift doesn’t so much release albums as she does break the Internet. When Midnights, her 10th studio album, was released on October 21, social media was ablaze with screenshots and shared tunes. Suddenly, a platform that otherwise feels somewhat competitive and inauthentic as a finely curated highlight reel, somehow got back to its roots as one of uniting people around the world with formative connections, as avid Swift fans and listeners shared their favourite songs and lyrics off the new album.
Records were instantly broken. Rolling Stone gave it a perfect review with five stars as critics were quick to praise the singer’s return to pop and autobiographical songwriting, while Spotify revealed that the album became the streaming platform’s most-streamed album in a single day. Similarly, Midnights broke Apple Music’s record for biggest album ever released globally in Spatial Audio, while Billboard reports that the album had the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s own Reputation earned 1.216 million sales in 2017.
While the accolades are certainly something to be proud of for Swift, the nature of her songwriting surpasses any award as her words capture feelings and a moment in time others often struggle to articulate. More than that, her words allow many to feel seen and validated in their emotions and feelings, and for those who have experienced miscarriage it’s exactly this that they are finding in the song, “Bigger Than The Whole Sky.”
Released as part of Midnights, the 3am extended version, the song offers heartfelt lyrics that speak of a resounding loss. The chorus sees Swift sing: “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye/You were bigger than the whole sky/You were more than just a short time/And I’ve got a lot to pine about/I’ve got a lot to live without/I’m never gonna meet you/What could’ve been, would’ve been/What should’ve been you.”
The song’s heartfelt story of loss is one anyone can relate to, be it in a breakup, loss of a loved one, continental move that sees you fall out of touch with a loved one or group of friends, or personal tragedy. While it’s impossible to speculate on specifics when it comes to Swift’s own songwriting and the heartbreak referred to, those who have experienced miscarriage are taking great comfort from the song and its expression of grief that comes when you feel a sense of loss for a person that “should’ve been.”
As one user expressed on Twitter, “If people who have had a miscarriage can relate to and find comfort in “Bigger Than The Whole Sky,” I think that’s really beautiful and powerful.” Another wrote, “If you can get through bigger than the whole sky without tearing up, you’ve never had a miscarriage.”
Despite its prevalence, there remains a stigma around miscarriage as many rarely speak about it and their personal experience. About 20 per cent of women (1 in 5) who know they are pregnant will experience a miscarriage in the first 20 weeks of their pregnancy, with 80 per cent of these miscarriages occurring in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriage is often devastating and can leave many feeling isolated and alone in their grief. Regardless of the intent behind Swift’s song and its lyrics, the fact remains that it has brought comfort to many who have otherwise felt devastated and alone, and for those who have gone through miscarriage, it’s also helping them to speak up and share their own experiences.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or speak confidentially with someone at Headspace by calling 1800 650 890.
