“Safe And Sound” Lyrics & Meaning (Taylor Swift)

Safe And Sound features on the Hunger Games Soundtrack.

Taylor Swift used the novel as inspiration when writing the song.

And a major theme from The Hunger Games infomed the Safe And sound lyrics meaning.

But if you missed it while watching the movie, you’re not alone.

The song may have featured on the soundtrack, but it did not appear in the actual film.

Why not? Who knows.

That’s a question for another day. Today, we’re tackling the meaning of the lyrics. Care to take a guess before reading on?

 

Safe And Sound Lyrics And Meaning

Taylor Swift wrote Safe and Sound in 2012. It was featured on the Hunger Games Soundtrack. The song did not actually play in the movie, but this didn’t stop it from becoming a hit and a key song on the soundtrack.

Even though the genre is pop, it has a soft and folky sound to it that almost makes the song feel eerie.

Along with Safe and Sound, Swift also contributed Eyes Open to the Hunger Games Soundtrack. While neither song actually featured in the movie, it gave Swift the chance to write songs about the strength needed during hard times that also take the essence of the film into consideration.

In March 2023, Swift released her Taylor’s Version of the song. This is a rerecorded version that Swift now owns and she added it to her album Red (Taylor’s Version).

The rerecorded version of this song did much better than the original version. It reached number 16 on the charts in the U.K. and number 5 on the US billboard charts.

The song also features vocals from The Civil Wars. Their background vocals add to the haunting feel of the song.

The song received positive reviews from critics who especially lauded the haunting theme. Rolling Stones even gave the song four out five stars.

It also went on to win awards, like a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Top 100, which is a great achievement for a song to accompany a film.

The song may have seen more critical praise than usual because it was also a step away from Swift’s popular pop and country genre.

The music video for Safe and Sound was filmed in a graveyard and features clips from the film to promote it. The visual elements from the film helped to resonate the overall feeling of the song, such as the haunting, folky feel. The Civil Wars also featured in the music video, helping to boost their popularity in the worlds of pop and film.

 

Safe And Sound Lyrics

 

Verse 1

I remember tears streaming down your face when I said, “I’ll never let you go”
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, “Don’t leave me here alone”
But all that’s dead and gone and passed tonight

Chorus

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

Verse 2

Don’t you dare look out your window
Darling, everything’s on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when (the) music’s gone
Gone

Chorus

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

Just close your eyes
You’ll be alright
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

 

Safe And Sound Meaning

The intention of this song is to create a sense of comfort during times of adversity. The quietness of the song and its eerie feel help to reflect that you don’t need to be loud to be strong. Strength can also show itself through silence and be just as powerful.

The song is also about wanting to feel safe in a place, even if that place unknown and feels dangerous. Themes that can be extracted from the song include love, survival and the need to feel safe.

Swift stated that she wrote the song with The Hunger Games protagonist, Katniss Everdeen in mind. She wanted the song to reflect the sadness and emotion that came from the book, so that it would also resonate with the audience of the film.

Not only can the lyrics of the song relate to the fictional world of the film, but you can also relate them to some of the realities that we’re faced with today.

For example, the lyric “the war outside our door keeps raging on” describes also a real situation in today’s world in many countries. If you’re in a war-torn country, then you’re also going to want to try your best to stay safe and that’s what this song is all about.

 

Safe And Sound Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts

Safe and Sound is a reminder of our shared humanity. No matter how isolated we may feel during hard times, we all seek comfort, protection, and the hope of brighter days ahead.

Through her emotional songwriting, Taylor Swift is able to tap into deeply human experiences and bring comfort to millions who connect with her words. The Safe and Sound lyrics meaning is no exception.

This songs leaves us feeling, as the lyrics say, that “darkness will shine in the light.” Whether you’re a longtime Swift fan or just discovering her talents, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

And if you’ve been a fan forever or are new to her music and want more, we’ve analyzed the lyrics of two other Swift songs: All Too Well and Afterglow.

If you like Safe And Sound, you should also check out our analysis of the Kiss From A Rose lyrics meaning. I have always felt those two songs share a similar feel.

A large part of the Hunger Games movies dealt with young love. For the quintessential song about young love, check out our discussion of the Jack And Diane lyrics meaning. Few songs describe young love in small-town American any better than this John Mellencamp hit.

Finally, our article of songs about bullying and mean people in general contains one entry from Swift, as does our article of the best songs about abandonment. Can you guess which songs of hers we included on those lists?