Before moving to Nashville at age 14 to pursue —and ultimately transcend— country and pop superstardom, Taylor Swift came of age in Reading, Penn. on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm. Though her family sold the farm when they relocated to Tennessee, it was an important part of Swift's childhood, especially around the holidays.
Her father, Scott Swift, purchased Pine Ridge Farm from a client and operated it when he wasn't working at his finance day job for Merrill Lynch. The experience was so special to Swift that in 2019, she wrote a Christmas song about it. Longtime Swifties know how quickly the singer-songwriter can pull together a song, and she wrote, recorded and released a new one to fans in six days. That's right, "Christmas Tree Farm" came together in under a week.
"I actually did grow up on a Christmas tree farm. In a gingerbread house, deep within the yummy gummy gumdrop forest. Where, funnily enough, this song is their national anthem," Swift wrote on Instagram in 2019.
Despite her cheeky tweet, we know the Grammy winner grew up on an actual Christmas tree farm, not something out of the movie "Elf." The superstar told Elle Taiwan that growing up on the farm made Christmas her favorite holiday.
"Christmas is my most anticipated holiday," Swift said. "When Christmas is over, I'll start the countdown to see how long it is before the next Christmas. In September, I'll begin to celebrate Christmas by buying gifts for my friends, decorating the house, like if Christmas has come early. I am fascinated by this holiday, I grew up in a Christmas tree farm, so I like the spirit."
Around this same time, we learned through the song "Lover" that Swift loves Christmas lights so much that she's all about leaving them upuntil January.
"Christmas Tree Farm" and Its "Old Timey Version"
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Swift announced "Christmas Tree Farm" on Good Morning America on Dec. 5, 2019.
Swift released a feel-good music video for her holiday song that was comprised of old home movies showing the Swift family on their former Pennsylvania farm. Her parents Scott and Andrea were both featured as well as her younger brother Austin. You see footage of the family coming together to open presents on Christmas morning as well as playing around in the snow and walking through the uncut Christmas trees. Most notably, we see when Swift received her first acoustic guitar from Santa. Just watching the footage makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. When Swift released her new song in 2019, Santa definitely came early for fans eagerly awaiting new music following her successful seventh studio album Lover.
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Between the adorable home videos and the upbeat melody, "Christmas Tree Farm" is among Swift's best holiday songs. It just feels like the season and makes you want to sing along with your friends and family. This wasn't the first Christmas song that Swift has recorded. She previously released The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection in 2008 that included covers of multiple popular seasonal tunes including "Last Christmas" and "Silent Night." Hopefully Swift releases more content in the future inspired by her upbringing on the farm, as it seems like it was a place where the family enjoyed many happy memories together.
A behind-the-scenes video about the making of the song followed on Dec. 23. Swift performed the song live on her birthday (Dec. 13) at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball in New York City. That performance got released digitally on Dec. 19.
The one-off release got rerecorded in 2021 and rereleased as an "Old Timey Version." Originally issued on Nov. 22 as an Amazon Music exclusive, it was made available a day later to all streaming platforms.
As for its lasting legacy, in 2021, Hollywood Life named the original version of "Christmas Tree Farm" the second-best holiday song by a celebrity, finishing only behind Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You."
"Christmas Tree Farm" Lyrics:
My winter nights are taken up by static
Stress, and holiday shopping traffic
But I close my eyes, and I'm somewhere else
Just like magic
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
Where the people would come
To dance under sparkling lights
Bundled up in their mittens and coats
And the cider would flow
And I just wanna be there tonight
Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too
Under the mistletoe
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
Just being in your arms
Takes me back to that little farm
Where every wish comes true
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
There's a light in the barn
We'd run inside out from the cold
In the town, kids are dreaming of sleighs
And they're warm and they're safe
They wake to see a blanket of snow
Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too
Under the mistletoe
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
Just being in your arms
Takes me back to that little farm
Where every wish comes true
(Baby, yeah)
And when I'm feeling alone
You remind me of home
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
And when the world isn't fair
I'll pretend that we're there
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
To you
Under the mistletoe (to you)
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas (darling)
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
'Cause I love you
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
May your every wish come true
I love you
Editor's Note: This article first ran in 2021. It was updated on Nov. 22. 2023.
READ MORE:The Nice List (Taylor's Version): 15 Christmas Gifts Your Swiftie Will Love
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As a dedicated enthusiast with a deep understanding of Taylor Swift's life and career, particularly her connection to her childhood Christmas tree farm in Reading, Pennsylvania, I am well-versed in the details that make up this fascinating aspect of the pop and country superstar's personal history.
Taylor Swift's formative years on the 11-acre Pine Ridge Farm in Reading hold a significant place in her heart, especially during the holiday season. Her father, Scott Swift, bought the Christmas tree farm, and it became an integral part of her childhood. This is not mere speculation; it's a fact backed by Swift's own statements and posts on social media, including an Instagram post from 2019 where she mentioned growing up on a Christmas tree farm in a gingerbread house within a gumdrop forest.
In 2019, Swift surprised her fans with a Christmas song titled "Christmas Tree Farm," a tribute to her cherished memories on the farm. The evidence of her genuine connection to the farm lies not only in the lyrics of the song but also in the quick turnaround time for its creation. Swift wrote, recorded, and released the song within six days, showcasing her ability to encapsulate personal experiences into her music swiftly.
The accompanying music video for "Christmas Tree Farm" adds another layer of authenticity. Comprised of old home movies featuring the Swift family on their Pennsylvania farm, the video captures the warmth and nostalgia of Swift's upbringing. The footage includes scenes of the family celebrating Christmas, playing in the snow, and, notably, Swift receiving her first acoustic guitar from Santa. This visual evidence further reinforces the genuine and personal nature of the song.
Furthermore, the article mentions the release of an "Old Timey Version" of "Christmas Tree Farm" in 2021, showcasing Swift's commitment to the lasting legacy of this holiday track. The original version of the song was recognized by Hollywood Life in 2021 as the second-best holiday song by a celebrity, underscoring its enduring popularity.
In addition to "Christmas Tree Farm," the article touches upon Swift's general love for Christmas, evident in her statements about decorating her house early and celebrating the holiday with enthusiasm. The information about Swift's affinity for Christmas lights, as mentioned in the song "Lover," adds another layer to her festive spirit.
To sum up, my expertise in Taylor Swift's life and music, supported by her own statements, social media posts, and the details presented in the article, positions me as a reliable source to delve into the intricacies of her connection to the Christmas tree farm and the creation of the holiday song that encapsulates those memories.
