Honey

“Honey” is a track from Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl (2025). The song is a country pop and synth-pop ballad co-written and produced by Swift with Max Martin and Shellback.

Lyrically, the song contrasts the way terms of endearment like “honey,” “sweetheart,” and “lovely” were used in the narrator’s past with how they are used in the present. Earlier in the lyrics, those words appear in contexts where they carry sarcasm, judgment, or criticism — for example, being used in passive-aggressive remarks or as thinly veiled insults — which left negative associations.

The core of the song is to reclaim the intention of those same words. In the chorus and verses, the narrator describes how a current romantic partner uses “honey” sincerely and affectionately, giving the word a new, positive meaning that contrasts with past experiences. The repetition of the term underscores this shift from hurtful usage to genuine endearment.

While Swift has not officially confirmed specific real-life references, many commentators note that the song’s portrayal of affection and authenticity fits the thematic content of the album and its focus on close personal relationships.

“Honey” is certified Gold in Australia and Platinum in Canada.

*All information accurate at the time of publishing (January 2026).