The Truth About Taylor Swift's Song "Soon You'll Get Better"

After previously stating that she would never perform the song in public, Taylor Swift sang "Soon You'll Get Better" at the virtual One World: Together at Home benefit concert for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which supports local and regional charities helping people through the pandemic. 

The benefit included performances by Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Awkwafina, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, Paul McCartney, John Legend, Pharrell Williams, Idris Elba, Shawn Mendes, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, and more, per The Hollywood Reporter. But it was Swift who stole the show, sitting in front of her piano at home and crooning one of her most personal songs ever. 

And that's saying a lot, given that the performer often writes music about her personal life, whether it's about a fallout between BFFs or a breakup with one of her many boyfriends over the years. But her relationship with her mother is the inspiration behind the moving tune she performed on Saturday, April 18, 2020 in the name of charity. 

Taylor Swift's performance of "Soon You'll Get Better" from her most recent album, Lover, was one of the more moving performances of the evening. The song is actually about her mother Andrea Swift's ongoing battle with cancer, per People. "And I hate to make this all about me / But who am I supposed to talk to? / What am I supposed to do? / If there's no you," the 30-year-old pop star sings. 

As opposed to the moving tribute to her mother in her song "The Best Day" from Fearless, "Soon You'll Get Better" is much more somber and emotional for Swift. Before Lover's release, she said in a YouTube Live that she and her family decided to add the track to the album and although she's proud of it, it's hard to revisit.

"I can't sing it. It's hard to just emotionally deal with that song. You'll understand what I mean in a couple hours," she said at the time. Given that she said that it was so hard to sing, Swifties were floored that she decided to croon the song at the One World: Together at Home concert. 

During the One World Together benefit on April 18, 2020, fans were shocked that Taylor Swift performed the one song she said she likely never would. After the performance of "Soon You'll Get Better," Swifties flooded Twitter with praise, heart emoji, and shoutouts to their fave performer. 

One fan tweeted their feels in all caps, writing, "TAYLOR PLAYED SOON YOULL GET BETTER AFTER SAYIN SHE'LL NEVER PLAY IT LIVE BC IT'S TOO EMOTIONAL ABT HER MUMS SICKNESS BUT MUSTVE FELT THIS SONG WOULD HELP SO MANY PEOPLE RN YALL IM WEAK." Another fan, full of heart-eyes, tweeted, "Cant tell you how proud i am of @taylorswift13 for singing soon youll get better last night," showing just how much her fans understand how important the song is to her.

Amid all the other tweets about being in tears listening to the performance, another fan tweeted their gratitude for Swift having the courage to sing such a difficult song at a time when the world needed it most. "Thank you for sharing a healing message to the world," they wrote. As any true Swiftie knows, her mother's ongoing illness is a source of anguish for the singer.

Taylor Swift first announced that her mother Andrea, 62, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Per People, the singer wrote that she wanted to keep the "details of her condition and treatment plans private," but her mother wanted fans to know, given that she's always been a presence throughout Swift's rise to fame. Swift added in the 2015 message to fans, "She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She's got an important battle to fight."

More recently, Swift wrote about her and her family's experience with cancer in a personal essay published at Elle. She shared, "I've had to learn how to handle serious illness in my family. Both of my parents have had cancer, and my mom is now fighting her battle with it again. It's taught me that there are real problems and then there's everything else." 

Although dealing with her mother's cancer and performing a song as emotional as "Soon You'll Get Better" are difficult things to take on, Swift made fans — both new and old — feel a little bit better during the One World Together benefit, if only because it's a reminder that everyone is going through something during these uncertain times.