Welcome to New York: Welcome to Catholicism

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ approximately two-thousand years ago. It was created in order to continue  his divine mission of preaching the Gospel and to provide a source of divine authority. Catholics have a responsibility to live lives that are in accordance with both the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. This process is often difficult. The modern world is saturated with temptations and opinions that are contrary to the beliefs of a Catholic. Help during this journey is not only desired it is required. This help is attained in large part through supernatural grace and the sacraments. However, in addition to these methods, the songs of Taylor Swift are most helpful. Throughout her work Taylor echos many of the very sentiments that Catholics cherish. Because of this, we should embrace Taylor's work and use it as a means for attaining spiritual perfection.

The song "Welcome to New York" captures both the universality and majesty of the Catholic Church. Once again Taylor succeeds in expressing true Christian doctrine in a manner that is both breathtaking and astounding.  "Welcome to New York" is perhaps the most condensed and edifying discourse on the qualities of the Catholic Church ever written. It is my most sincere recommendation that "Welcome to New York" is used as a secondary source when reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The analysis of this particular song is perhaps the simplest that I have yet encountered. One merely needs to replace the phrase "Welcome to New York" with the phrase "Welcome to Catholicism". Once this is completed, the remainder of the song merely consists of listing particular characteristics and traits that are unique solely to "New York" i.e. the Catholic Church. 

For example, the phrases "Everybody here wanted something more" and "Searching for a sound we hadn’t heard before" are both clear references to the Church's ability to provide a greater level of spiritual fulfillment and guidance than other religions. The line "It’s been waiting for you" is meant to signify the Catholic Church's universality and openness to all people. The section "It’s a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat, Forevermore" illustrates the unique qualities that the Catholic Church possesses, and is also a backhanded reference to the superiority of traditional Catholic "beat" (music). The verse "Like any true love, It drives you crazy, But you know you wouldn’t change Anything, anything, anything" is alluding to the many difficult moral choices that Catholics must face as a result of being faithful to the Church. However, a true understanding Christian morality will lead one to appreciate the Church and to support her unchanging nature. 

The theological truths contained within this song are almost too obvious. Little help is needed to unlock these mysteries; therefore, little help will be given. I will trust the reader to uncover the remaining pearls of wisdom and to reflect upon them. When attempting this interpretation, the reader must note that any apparent discrepancies in this song are a result of his limited understanding and are not actually real.                      


   
Taylor Swift: Welcome to New York

Walking through a crowd
The village is aglow
Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats
Under coats
Everybody here wanted something more
Searching for a sound we hadn’t heard before
And it said

Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York

It’s a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat
Forevermore
The lights are so bright
But they never blind me, me
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York

When we first dropped our bags
On apartment floors
Took our broken hearts
Put them in a drawer
Everybody here was someone else before
And you can want who you want
Boys and boys and girls and girls

Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York

Like any great love
It keeps you guessing
Like any real love
It’s ever changing
Like any true love
It drives you crazy
But you know you wouldn’t change Anything, anything, anything…

Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York

Source:http://www.directlyrics.com/taylor-swift-welcome-to-new-york-lyrics.html