"New Year's Day" is the fifteenth track from Taylor Swift's sixth studio album, reputation. It was released on November 10, 2017, through Big Machine Records. It is the fourth single off the album and released to country radio.
Background
Eight days preceding reputation's release, Good Morning America's Lara Spencer revealed that there will be an exclusive performance of a "never before heard" song by Taylor. A promo video is then showed, which included shots of Taylor's Rhode Island house and a brief shot her playing the piano in that house. On November 9, a day before the album's release, ABC Television Network aired the video and uploaded it to their YouTube channel as well. The song is revealed to be the fifteenth track on her album, "New Year's Day". The video is revealed to be shot during Taylor's Rhode Island secret session, where she handpicks 100 of her fans to get an exclusive listen to her new album. She performs the acoustic version of this song while other fans listen and sing along.
Theme
The song brings images of a New Year's party to life and talks about not erasing memories you want to get rid of, because they won’t get rid of you so you should hold on and learn from them and recognize both the good and the bad times. Usually, people like to think that the person you share a New Year's kiss is the most important one, but in this case, the person who stays after the party and helps you clean up is the most important person.
Lyrics
There's glitter on the floor after the party
Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby
Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor
You and me from the night before, but
Don’t read the last page
But I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared
And you’re turning away
I want your midnights
But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day
You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi
I can tell that it's gonna be a long road
I'll be there if you're the toast of the town, babe
Or if you strike out and you're crawling home
Don't read the last page
But I stay when it’s hard, or it’s wrong
Or we're making mistakes
I want your midnights
But I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
And I will hold on to you
Please don't ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere
Please don't ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere
There’s glitter on the floor after the party
Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby
Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor
You and me forevermore
Don't read the last page
But I stay when it's hard, or it's wrong
Or we're making mistakes
I want your midnights
But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
And I will hold on to you
Please don't ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere
Please don't ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere