15 Star Wars Characters As Taylor Swift Songs

One of the most beloved aspects of the Star Wars franchise is its complex characters, many of whom can be defined by a single song from Taylor Swift’s discography. Ever since its inception in 1977, Star Wars movies and TV shows have been creating stories that are character-centric, allowing their audience to see these beloved characters both at their highest highs and at their lowest lows. From the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader to the triumph of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, these characters have just as many human moments as they do heroic.

Likewise, Swift’s impressively broad discography is known for being highly relatable, showcasing moments of elation alongside moments of strong sorrow. She accomplishes this in her songs while spreading her work across various genres, something Star Wars itself has also accomplished through visual media. This means Swift certainly has music that can help to define the characters of the Star Wars franchise, and these are 15 of the best pairs between characters and Swift’s songs.

15
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

“this is me trying” (folklore, 2020)

As said by George Lucas himself, the story of Star Wars is the tragedy of Darth Vader, a man who fell into darkness because of his own fears, attachments, and unresolved trauma. In “this is me trying,” Swift tells a story from the perspective of someone who is constantly trying to act as if there’s no darkness left within them, particularly after losing someone they love – which applies to both Anakin after losing his mother and Vader after losing Padmé. Swift’s lyrics about feeling “like an open wound” and having regrets perfectly define the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker.

14
Obi-Wan Kenobi

“The Great War” (Midnights (3am Edition), 2022)

Obi-Wan Kenobi is another Star Wars character whose story is wrapped in tragedy. Though Obi-Wan has experienced the loss of both his master and his lover, no loss is quite as painful for him as the betrayal of his former Padawan and friend-turned-brother. In “The Great War,” Swift sings “Somewhere in the haze, got a sense I’d been betrayed,” a line that resonates well with Obi-Wan’s feelings towards Anakin after Order 66. The song ends with a hopeful resolution of peace, something Obi-Wan no doubt experienced when he and Anakin later became one with the Force.

13
Ahsoka Tano

“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” (Midnights (3am Edition), 2022)

Much like Anakin and Obi-Wan, much of Ahsoka’s story is defined by tragedy, particularly the trauma of experiencing the Clone Wars and surviving Order 66. Ahsoka, however, was just a teenager during the Clone Wars, which meant she was a child fighting alongside her master and the clone army. The heartbreaking line “Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first” in Swift’s song “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” echoes this sentiment from Ahsoka’s past, a devastating plea to get back the true girlhood she deserved to experience.

Swift also sings “And now that I’m grown, I’m scared of ghosts / Memories feel like weapons,” which perfectly describes Ahsoka’s struggles later on in her life. Ahsoka season 1 sees her constantly wrestling with her past, from fighting in the Clone Wars to walking away from her Padawan Sabine Wren. The Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker appears to her in the World Between Worlds and helps to free her from her past, but this line by Swift epitomizes what the initial struggle was like for Ahsoka – even down to referencing the “ghosts” of her former master.

12
Padmé Amidala

“The Man” (Lover, 2019)

Padmé has long since stood as a female icon, particularly for her strength and the ways in which she uses her platform as queen and senator of Naboo to call out injustice. In “The Man,” Swift sings about the stark difference in perception between men and women when they make the same choices, which is something Padmé has no doubt experienced within the Star Wars galaxy – and outside it, when Padmé’s key scenes in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith were deleted. Padmé always had to work twice as hard for her voice to be heard.

11
Emperor Palpatine

“Mastermind” (Midnights, 2022)

As the true mastermind behind the Clone Wars, the creation of Darth Vader, and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Emperor Palpatine matches this Swift song on the basis of its title alone. In a chorus that could easily be Palpatine raving about the success of his conniving schemes, Swift sings “What if I told you none of it was accidental” and “I laid the groundwork and then, just like clockwork / The dominoes cascaded in a line,” which is precisely what Palpatine did to become the galaxy’s emperor. Palpatine may be sheer evil, but he is also frighteningly brilliant.

10
Leia Organa

“the last great american dynasty” (folklore, 2020)

While Swift tells a true story set in the real world in “the last great american dynasty,” the sentiment behind this story matches up with the legacy of Leia Organa. Swift’s story follows a woman who is considered the “maddest,” “most shameless,” and “loudest” the town has ever seen, which are descriptors many of Leia’s adversaries no doubt attributed to her as well, due to her being unapologetically vocal. She goes on to say she “had a marvelous time ruinin’ everything,” a sarcastic rebuttal that could easily be Leia’s own feelings about transforming the galaxy with two different rebellions.

9
Luke Skywalker

“The Archer” (Lover, 2019)

The story of Luke Skywalker is one of vast heroics that sadly falls into dark shadows due to his self-imposed exile. A man who, in Star Wars canon, leads a rather lonely life, Swift’s “The Archer” matches the push-and-pull of Luke in his relationships with others. Swift sings, “They see right through me / Can you see right through me?” before asking, “Who could stay?” – which is reminiscent of the worry Luke fostered after failing to save Ben Solo from the dark side. He wants to be close to the ones he loves, but he’s too afraid to keep them there.

8
Han Solo

“cowboy like me” (evermore, 2020)

Han Solo is known as a scoundrel who makes empty promises, but over time, he’s revealed to have a big heart. Han’s relationship with Leia shows how cautious he is about revealing the heart on his sleeve, but how he’s willing to make the sacrifice for someone he truly cares for. In “cowboy like me,” Swift sings about this concept, that “We could be the way forward / And I know I’ll pay for it,” – but the risk is worth it for this particular love. He knows this love is dangerous due to their shared nature, but he pursues it anyway.

7
Rey Skywalker

“mad woman” (folklore, 2020)

Rey is a character who’s always fighting an uphill battle, both within and outside her Star Wars story. She’s underestimated by Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and once he realizes her potential, he wants to use it for his own gain. Rey, however, never lets down, instead allowing those feelings to fuel her fight towards making him and the galaxy better. Swift’s “mad woman” is a satirical take on how “No one likes a mad woman” even though she has every right to be angry, since they “made her like that“ – much like Rey and her fight.

6
Finn

“mirrorball” (folklore, 2020)

Finn’s story is mainly criticized for the way he’s always following in Rey’s footsteps, eager to protect her and be approved by her – much of what his arc in The Force Awakens sets out to accomplish. In “mirrorball,” Swift details what it’s like to lead a life spent seeking approval, particularly from someone she cares about. Even when everything is seemingly coming to an end, Swift insists “I’m still trying everything / To keep you looking at me,” much like what Finn does throughout the story of the sequel trilogy. Rey’s friendship and opinion means everything to him.

5
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren

“my tears ricochet” (folklore, 2020)

The tragedy of Ben Solo and Kylo Ren is similar to that of his grandfather’s, but also the opposite: he only gets more evil before his redemption. Manipulated for years by the voice of Palpatine and Supreme Leader Snoke, Ben’s transformation into Kylo Ren was inevitable. One of the most heartbreaking outcomes of this was Ben turning his back on his family as Kylo. Swift laments in “my tears ricochet” that “I can go anywhere I want / Anywhere I want, just not home,” something that perfectly defines Ben’s predicament both before and after his redemption.

4
Din Djarin

“You’re on Your Own, Kid” (Midnights, 2022)

Din Djarin is known for quite literally hiding himself within his iconic beskar armor, a physical symbol of the protection the Mandalorians offered him after the devastating trauma of losing his parents on his homeworld of Aq Vetina. This orphaned him at a young age, and while the Mandalorians took him in and raised him as their own, there’s no doubt the pain of that loneliness followed Din for much of his life – until he met Grogu. Swift’s “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” then, is a description of Din’s life up until he finally adopted his son.

Swift sings “Everything you lose is a step you take,” a concept Din is tragically familiar with – from losing his parents and two of his homeworlds to various allies and, for a brief time, even Grogu. Yet Din always pushed ahead, knowing that there was something greater he was always working towards amidst it all. In one of the final lines, Swift sings, “You’ve got no reason to be afraid,” which is almost exactly what Din tells Grogu before he lets him go with Luke. Din knows he can face life on his own, but now, he doesn’t have to.

3
Bo-Katan Kryze

“Anti-Hero” (Midnights, 2022)

Bo-Katan Kryze certainly isn’t the conventional Star Wars hero, with her introduction to the galaxy showing her as a part of the Mandalorian terrorist group Death Watch. As her story goes on, however, Bo-Katan grows as a person and as a leader, particularly after Mandalore falls to Moff Gideon in the Great Purge – but it still takes time for Bo-Katan to believe in herself. This is echoed in Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” in which she insists, “I’m the problem, it’s me.” These are Bo-Katan’s fears before Din Djarin eventually convinces her to trust herself and take her rightful place as ruler.

2
Boba Fett

“Vigilante Sh*t” (Midnights, 2022)

Boba Fett has always been iconic, not just for his signature armor, but also as the first notable bounty hunter in Star Wars. The term “vigilante” could easily be used for bounty hunters who, like Boba, catch those who have fallen from someone’s grace. Swift’s “Vigilante Sh*t,” then, is a perfect theme for Boba, particularly because “I don’t start sh*t, but I can tell you how it ends.” Swift’s storytelling about going after those who have wronged her is akin to Boba exacting revenge on his former employers, the Nikto bikers, and the Pykes – a perfect theme for his adventures.

1
Cassian Andor

“Safe & Sound (feat. Joy Williams and John Paul White) (Taylor’s Version)” (Red (Taylor’s Version), 2021)

Though he is remembered as one of the Rebel Alliance’s finest intelligence officers, Cassian Andor wanted nothing to do with the growing rebellion at first. Cassian fought the Empire in his own way, but it took witnessing the Empire’s cruelty firsthand in prison to convince him to dedicate himself to the cause. “Safe & Sound,” originally written in 2013 for The Hunger Games, tells a similar story of how “The war outside our door keeps raging on” – though in Star Wars, Cassian soon abandons the comfort of a home described in this song to fight the good fight.

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