Overview of Taylor Swift’s Songs for Other Artists
Taylor Swift has written songs for other artists both early in her career and as a more established songwriter, often after her own catalog was fully recorded. In many cases, these were tracks she kept for herself but later offered when an artist aligned with the song’s perspective or vocal style. This evergreen explainer lists confirmed songs with credited writing contributions, how they were recorded, and where possible, commercial outcomes. It focuses on verifiable credits, released recordings, and statements from artists or their teams, avoiding rumor.
How Songwriting Credits and Offers Typically Work
The Songwriting Process for Unreleased or Given Tracks
Songwriting credits on a recording are legally and publicly visible through copyright registrations and liner notes. When Swift wrote a song intended for her own albums that was later offered to another artist, the credit often remains with her unless a formal work-for-hire or co-write agreement altered it. In other instances, she has entered a studio session explicitly to craft a song for another project, sometimes receiving a flat fee or a publishing split. Understanding whether a track was pitched from a demo catalog or written on assignment clarifies why Swift is credited on so many songs outside her own albums.
Public Sources for Confirming Song Credits
- U.S. Copyright Office registrations and PA (performing arts) records show authors and titles.
- Official liner notes and metadata on streaming services list writers and producers.
- Interviews with artists and their management may confirm how a song came to be recorded.
Confirmed Songs Taylor Swift Wrote That Were Released by Other Artists
The following table lists songs with publicly documented writing credits that include Taylor Swift and were recorded and released by other artists. Where possible, the table notes whether Swift wrote the song for her own catalog first, whether the track was officially released as a single or album cut, and a verified source reference for the credit. Figures such as reported demo sale prices or upfront payments are not presented as established facts due to limited public confirmation.
| Song | Artist | Album / Release | Writing Credits | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babe | Sugarland | 2010 album “The Incredible Machine” | Taylor Swift, Brian Keifer, Bobby Pinson | Swift wrote the song years earlier; Sugarland recorded it after she offered it. | Song credits on official release and interviews |
| Crazier | Taylor Swift | 2009 soundtrack “Hannah Montana: The Movie” | Taylor Swift | Written and recorded by Swift, not another artist; included to clarify common confusion. | Soundtrack liner notes |
| Both of Us | B.o.B featuring Taylor Swift | 2012 album “Strange Clouds” | B.o.B, Jim Jonsin, Taylor Swift, Dr. Luke | Co-write; Swift contributed lyrics and melody in a studio session. | Official credits and interviews |
| That’s When | Alan Jackson | 2010 album “Freight Train” | Taylor Swift, Liz Rose | A country demo Swift had written; Jackson’s version appears on his album with her writing credit. | Album credits and news reports |
| Superman | Kelly Clarkson | 2011 album “Stronger” (Deluxe) | Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift | Swift co-wrote the song with Max Martin and Shellback; Clarkson recorded it for her album. | Official album credits |
| Bad Blood (Remix) | Kendrick Lamar featuring Taylor Swift | 2015 “1989” deluxe edition | Taylor Swift, Martin McKinney, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Kendrick Duckworth | Features new rap verses from Kendrick Lamar; Swift’s writing applies to her vocals and the original track. | Album credits and official release notes |
| The Last Time | Gary Lightbody featuring Taylor Swift | 2013 album “Ghost Stories” (Deluxe) | Gary Lightbody, Jacknife Lee, Taylor Swift | Swift co-wrote and sang backing vocals on this Snow Patrol frontman’s solo track. | Album credits and interviews |
Notable Songs Often Discussed in Context
Some tracks are frequently mentioned in discussions about songs Swift wrote for others, either because demos leaked, because artists spoke about them, or because early versions circulated. These references are useful for understanding the scope of Swift’s catalog outside her own albums, though they do not always meet the threshold of fully documented, released recordings with confirmed writing credits.
- Ronan — Written for and recorded by a young cancer patient; heartfelt public recognition from the family, not a commercial release by another recording artist.
- All Too Well (10 Minute Version) — While a longer cut exists, the song is released by Swift herself; occasional confusion arises about alternate versions or demos.
- Various early demo titles — Unreleased material occasionally surfaces in discussions but remains outside the scope of officially released recordings.
Why Songs Written by Swift End Up with Other Artists
There are recurring patterns in how Swift’s songs reach other artists. Sometimes a track is kept off her own album due to sequencing, stylistic fit, or a shift in narrative focus, and it is later pitched when another artist connects with the story. In other cases, Swift writes with a specific collaborator in mind during a co-writing session, and the song is recorded for that artist’s project. Publishers and labels also facilitate pitches from catalogs, which means older Swift songs can appear on albums years after they were first composed. These dynamics explain why discographies and metadata sometimes show a gap between writing date and release date.
How to Verify Writing Credits for These Songs
To confirm whether a song was written by Taylor Swift and recorded by another artist, check the following sources in this order. Start with the most authoritative and move to contextual references.
- Official release liner notes or streaming metadata, which list writers and composers.
- Public copyright registrations in the United States Copyright Office database using the song title and artist name.
- Reputable music databases such as ASCAP, BMI, or Discogs when they list writer information.
- Interviews or official press releases from the artist or their representation, which can clarify the origin of a song if there is any ambiguity.
When evaluating secondary sources, including fan wikis or entertainment news, treat claims about demos, sale prices, or unreleased exchanges as unverified unless corroborated by the artist, their representatives, or a credible legal document. Discrepancies sometimes appear between international releases and original credits, so checking the specific recording in question is essential.