Summary
- Taylor Swift won't play "Soon You'll Get Better" live.
- The song is dedicated to Swift's mother, who has battled breast cancer.
- The only time Swift performed the song was during a live stream event in 2020.
Taylor Swift is the biggest musician on the planet. There's no two ways about it. She has taken over pop music in ways previously unseen thanks to her string of rerecorded albums and The Eras Tour, which has broken records around the world and spawned a hit concert film.
The Eras Tour was so successful because it was a catch-all for Taylor Swift fans. Regardless of what album you liked the most, or single you wanted to hear, the epic show was guaranteed to deliver. Unless, of course, you wanted to hear a particularly emotional song from her 2018 blockbuster album "Lover." It's the one song that the pop star has scratched from the set list.
Taylor Swift Won't Play 'Soon You'll Get Better' Live Because Of How Emotional It Makes Her
From the beginning, Taylor Swift knew "Soon You'll Be Better" would be a tough song to get through. During a YouTube Originals live stream to celebrate the release of her 2018 album "Lover", the singer stated that the decision to put the song on the album was something she talked over with both of her parents to make sure they were comfortable with it.
Swift's parents haven't always been on the best of terms, but the decision was unanimous. “We as a family decided to put this on the album," the singer noted. "And it’s something that I am so proud of."
Furthermore, Entertainment Weekly reported that Swift left the room during listening sessions when the song was played. It was something the singer eventually spoke about during a Town Hall panel with Sirius XM, in which she admitted "Soon You'll Be Better" won't be a song she plays often at her concerts.
"I don't know if I'll ever play it live. It's just really difficult for me. It was hard to write. It's hard to sing. It's hard to listen to for me. But sometimes, music is like that. Sometimes it's not just about stuff that was pleasant to feel."
The pop star has kept her word. She hasn't played "Soon You'll Get Better" on any of her tours since 2018, and she admitted in the aforementioned Elle Magazine essay that she tailored her "Lover" tour around her mother's availability, due to the fact that her mother was sick at the time.
"I wanted to be able to perform in places that I hadn’t performed in as much, and do things I hadn’t done before, like Glastonbery," Swift wrote. "But I also wanted to be able to work as much as I can handle right now, with everything that’s going on at home. And I wanted to figure out a way that I could do both those things."
Taylor Swift Says The Song Reminds Her Of Her Mother's Battle With Breast Cancer
After the musical and lyrical left turn that was "Reputation" (2017), Taylor Swift decided to return to her pop wheelhouse and make "Lover" (2018) an album about healing and peace. "Soon You'll Get Better" wound up being a crucial part of this overarching theme. The song is dedicated to Swift's mother, Andrea, and details their relationship, as well as Andrea's battle with breast cancer.
Andrea was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, and then re-diagnosed in 2018, shortly before the release of "Lover." The lyrics detail Taylor Swift's struggle to stay strong for her mother despite her fears, and the hope that her mother will "get better." This is the second song that Swift has dedicated to her mom, with the first being "The Best Day" from her 2008 self-titled album. Both songs appear as track number 12 on their respective albums. Swift elaborated on her mother's health during a 2019 essay she penned for Elle Magazine:
“Both of my parents have had cancer, and my mom is now fighting her battle with it again. It’s taught me that there are real problems and then there’s everything else. My mom’s cancer is a real problem. I used to be so anxious about daily ups and downs. I give all of my worry, stress, and prayers to real problems now."
The inclusion of The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, on "Soon You'll Get Better" also has a significant meaning. During a 2019 interview with BBC Radio 1, Swift revealed that The Dixie Chicks are her mother's favorite band, and one of the crucial inspirations for Swift to get into songwriting as a child.
Taylor Swift Only Played "You'll Get Better Soon" One Time During A 2020 Live Stream
Taylor Swift has never played "You'll Get Better Soon" on tour, but she did make an exception when she was asked to perform during the 2020 special One World: Together At Home. As the title of the special suggests, it was a live stream event meant to raise money for frontline healthcare workers during the 2020 pandemic, and it featured contributions from musicians like Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney.
Swift decided to play a stripped down, piano version of "You'll Get Better Soon", which took on even more emotional significance when placed in the context of the global pandemic that was going on at the time. The performance was streamed live, and introduced by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, making it the closest the fans will ever come to hearing it in person.
The studio version of "You'll Get Better Soon" peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it one of the lowest-charting songs on "Lover." It was positively received by critics, but the version that Swift performed for the One World special was universally adored. Many commended the singer for her bravery in choosing such an emotionally-charged song, while at the same time praising the vocals and minimal instrumentation.
| Highest Charting "Lover" Singles | Hot 100 Position (According to Billboard) |
| "ME!" | 2 |
| "You Need to Calm Down" | 2 |
| "Lover" | 10 |
| "The Man" | 23 |
| "Cruel Summer" | 29 |
Taylor Swift won't be performing "You'll Get Better Soon" at any concerts, but its omission has allowed it to develop a cult status in her catalog. The fact that it means so much to the singer means it will only continue to accrue meaning for the listener over the years.
