Who Was Marjorie? The Inspiration For Taylor Swift’s Evermore Song & Lyrics Meaning Explained

Taylor Swift’s song “Marjorie” is featured in Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) on Disney+, but who is the titular woman to whom this number pays tribute? Featured in Swift’s 2020 album Evermore, “Marjorie” is an exceptionally sentimental song since it’s dedicated to someone who significantly impacted the popstar’s career. Therefore, the piece is an unavoidable addition to The Eras Tour, especially the extended “Taylor’s Version” that streams on Disney+ as of March 14, 2024.

Swift’s The Eras concert tour kicked off in March 2023 and has quickly become the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning over $1 billion. Of course, the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie documentary only increased these profits when it hit theaters in October 2023, earning $261.7 million worldwide. The magic only continues with Disney+’s Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version), which, like her album recordings, features some extras from the artist for fans to enjoy. Naturally, this means some attention on Marjorie Finlay, the inspiration for “Marjorie.”

Related

Why The Eras Tour Is Called “Taylor’s Version” On Disney+ & How It’s Different

There’s an explanation for why the title of the documentary Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) has been altered for its Disney+ release.

“Marjorie” Is Dedicated To Taylor Swift’s Grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, Who Was An Opera Singer

Swift wrote Everlong‘s “Marjorie” as a tribute to her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who had been an opera singer and a significant inspiration for the Eras Tour star’s passion for music. Born in 1928 in Memphis, Tennesee, Finlay’s career was jumpstarted in 1950 when she won an ABC radio program called Music With The Girls and went on tour for 15 months. It was around this time that Finley met her husband, Robert Finley, and the couple later moved to Puerto Rico, where Swift’s young grandmother starred in her own television program, El Show Pan Americano.

Finlay’s career never continued far beyond this, but music remained a key aspect of her life. Swift shared that some of her earliest memories are of standing beside her grandmother in church and listening to her sing. The singer and songwriter credits Finlay for her musical passion and became determined to find success in the industry for her grandmother’s sake. Unfortunately, when Swift set out in search of a record deal in 2003, Finley passed away at 75, so she never had a chance to see the timeless star that her granddaughter would become. Ultimately, this makes the song “Marjorie” being included in Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour that much more impactful.

Marjorie Finlay’s Real Vocal Recordings Are Featured In “Marjorie”

“Marjorie” is a touching tribute to Finlay, but the depth of the Everlong song goes much further than only this. While Swift was writing the song with Aaron Dessner, her mother, Andrea Swift, found some old records of Finley singing opera. Dessner was able to compile some of the vocals from these records and include them in the background of “Marjorie,” which is why the name Marjorie Finley is included in the song’s credits. Naturally, this made the number even more emotional for Swift, especially since the line, “And if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were singing to me now,” is immediately followed by Finlay’s angelic vocals.

2:41

Related

Eras Tour Movie Title Explained: All 9 Taylor Swift Eras Featured In The Concert

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has quickly become a cultural and economic phenomenon, but not everyone knows what her nine featured eras in the tour are.

This addition made Everlong an even better album, but the Eras Tour benefits even more from Finlay’s voice. As Swift tours the world and performs “Marjorie” live on stage, the track of her grandmother singing plays in the background. It makes for a touching moment on the stage among Swift’s ending eras in Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and, in a way, gives Finlay the kind of worldwide renown in a way the woman herself hadn’t had the opportunity to achieve.

The Lyrics Of “Marjorie” Explained: How They Connect To Taylor Swift’s Grandmother

Swift has said time and time again that what she is most proud of as an artist is her songwriting, and “Marjorie” is an excellent representation of this. Swift’s songs are often about real people, but these lyrics are unique in that they outline a combination of her memories of her grandmother, her regrets and wishes regarding her death, and the profound belief that Marjorie is still with her. Find the full lyrics for Taylor Swift’s “Marjorie” from the 2020 album Everlong below:

Never be so kind, you forget to be clever

Never be so clever, you forget to be kind

And if I didn’t know better

I’d think you were talking to me now

If I didn’t know better

I’d think you were still around

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, you’re alive in my head

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, so alive

Never be so polite, you forget your power

Never wield such power, you forget to be polite

And if I didn’t know better

I’d think you were listening to me now

If I didn’t know better

I’d think you were still around

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, you’re alive in my head

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, so alive

The autumn chill that wakes me up

You loved the amber skies so much

Long limbs and frozen swims

You’d always go past where our feet could touch

And I complained the whole way there

The car ride back and up the stairs

I should’ve asked you questions

I should’ve asked you how to be

Asked you to write it down for me

Should’ve kept every grocery store receipt

‘Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me

Watched as you signed your name Marjorie

All your closets of backlogged dreams

And how you left them all to me

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, you’re alive in my head

What died didn’t stay dead

What died didn’t stay dead

You’re alive, so alive

And if I didn’t know better

I’d think you were singing to me now

If I didn’t know better

I’d think you were still around

I know better

But I still feel you all around

I know better

But you’re still around

Two verses in “Marjorie” seem to outline lessons that Swift’s grandmother had taught her— “Never be so kind, you forget to be clever. Never be so clever, you forget to be kind,” and “Never be so polite, you forget your power. Never wield such power, you forget to be polite.” Then, the song repeats several choruses containing different versions of the line, “And if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were listening to me now,” which notes Swift’s awareness of her grandmother’s continued presence. However, the middle segment of “Marjorie” holds the most weight.

At the song’s halfway point, Swift dives into a poetic series of lyrics that stand out from the established meter of the piece. The words describe a few of the singer’s memories with her grandma, such as “frozen swims” where their feet couldn’t touch the bottom. Swift laments that she complained the whole way to such outings and didn’t ask Finlay enough questions or watch how she signed her name, Marjorie.

This section of “Marjorie” ends with the line,” all your closets of backlogged dreams and how you left them all to me,” heartbreakingly revealing Swift’s feeling that she had carried on her grandmother’s musical dreams and legacy. Considering the pop icon has now performed this song to countless audiences, especially with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) on Disney+, it certainly seems that this lyric is beautifully accurate.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is a film rendition of the colossal worldwide event that sees the legendary pop star hit the stage in a specially curated film event. Performing the hits of her over seventeen-year career in music, The Eras Tour highlights Taylor Swift and her team as they put on a show of a lifetime.

Director

Sam Wrench

Release Date

October 13, 2023

Runtime

170 Minutes