All Too Well (10 Minute Version) Lyrics
But something 'bout it felt like home somehow and I
Left my scarf there at your sister's house
And you still got it in your drawer even now
We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate
Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place
And I can picture it after all these days
That magic's not here no more
And I might be okay
But I'm not fine at all
Oh, oh, oh
You almost ran the red 'cause you were looking over at me
Wind in my hair, I was there, I remember it all too well
You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-sized bed
And your mother's telling stories 'bout you on the tee ball team
You tell me 'bout your past, thinking your future was me
"Fuck the patriarchy" keychain on the ground, we were always skipping town
And I was thinking on the drive down
Any time now, he's gonna ay "It's love", you never called it what it was
'Til we were dead and gone and buried
Check the pulse and come back swearing it's the same,
After three months in the grave
And then you wondered where it went to,
As I reached for you but all I felt was shame
And you held my lifeless frame
There was nothing else I could do
And I forget about you long enough
To forget why I needed to
We're dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light
Down the stairs, I was there, I remember it all too well
You kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath
Sacred prayer and we'd swear to remember it all too well
But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up
Running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well
And, you call me up again just to break me like a promise
So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
'Cause I remember it all, all, all
But I'm in a new hell every time you double cross my mind
You said if we had been closer in ages, maybe it would have been fine
And that made me want to die
The idea you had of me, who was she?
An ever needy, ever lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you
Not weeping in a party bathroom, some actress asking me what happened
You, that's what happened, you
You who charmed my dad with self-effacing jokes
Sipping coffee like you're on a late night show
But then he watched me watch the front door all night, willing you to come
And he said, "It's supposed to be fun turning twenty-one"
I'd like to be my old self again, but I'm still trying to find it
After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own
Now you mail back my things and I walk home alone
But you keep my old scarf from that very first week
'Cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me
You can't get rid of it, 'cause you remember it all too well, yeah
Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
Down the stairs, you were there, you remember it all
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
But the punchline goes "I'll get older but your lovers stay my age"
From when your Brooklyn broke my skin and bones
I'm a soldier who's returning half her weight
And did the twin flame bruise paint you blue?
Just between us, did the love affair main you too?
'Cause in this city's barren cold, I still remember the first fall of snow
And how it glistened as it fell
I remember it all too well
Just between us, do you remember it all too well?
Just between us, I remember it (Just between us) all too well
Down the stairs, I was there, I was there
Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there
It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Down the stairs, I was there, I was there
Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there
It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Down the stairs, I was there, I was there
Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there
It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Down the stairs, I was there, I was there
Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there
It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
I walked through the door with you, the air was cold But something 'bout it felt like home somehow and I Left my scarf there at your sister's house And you still got it in your drawer even now
Oh, your sweet disposition and my wide-eyed gaze We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place And I can picture it after all these days
And I know it's long gone and That magic's not here no more And I might be okay But I'm not fine at all Oh, oh, oh
'Cause there we are again on that little town street You almost ran the red 'cause you were looking over at me Wind in my hair, I was there, I remember it all too well
Photo album on the counter, your cheeks were turning red You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-sized bed And your mother's telling stories 'bout you on the tee ball team You tell me 'bout your past, thinking your future was me
And you were tossing me the car keys, "Fuck the patriarchy" keychain on the ground, we were always skipping town And I was thinking on the drive down Any time now, he's gonna ay "It's love", you never called it what it was 'Til we were dead and gone and buried Check the pulse and come back swearing it's the same, After three months in the grave And then you wondered where it went to, As I reached for you but all I felt was shame And you held my lifeless frame
And I know it's long gone and There was nothing else I could do And I forget about you long enough To forget why I needed to
'Cause there we are again in the middle of the night We're dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light Down the stairs, I was there, I remember it all too well
And there we are again when nobody had to know You kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath Sacred prayer and we'd swear to remember it all too well
Well maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up Running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well And, you call me up again just to break me like a promise So casually cruel in the name of being honest I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here 'Cause I remember it all, all, all
They say all's well that end's well But I'm in a new hell every time you double cross my mind You said if we had been closer in ages, maybe it would have been fine And that made me want to die The idea you had of me, who was she? An ever needy, ever lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you Not weeping in a party bathroom, some actress asking me what happened You, that's what happened, you You who charmed my dad with self-effacing jokes Sipping coffee like you're on a late night show But then he watched me watch the front door all night, willing you to come And he said, "It's supposed to be fun turning twenty-one"
Time won't fly, it's like I'm paralyzed by it I'd like to be my old self again, but I'm still trying to find it After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own Now you mail back my things and I walk home alone But you keep my old scarf from that very first week 'Cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me You can't get rid of it, 'cause you remember it all too well, yeah
'Cause there we are again, when I loved you so Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
Wind in my hair, you were there, you remember it all Down the stairs, you were there, you remember it all It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well
And I was never good at telling jokes, But the punchline goes "I'll get older but your lovers stay my age" From when your Brooklyn broke my skin and bones I'm a soldier who's returning half her weight And did the twin flame bruise paint you blue? Just between us, did the love affair main you too? 'Cause in this city's barren cold, I still remember the first fall of snow And how it glistened as it fell I remember it all too well
Just between us, did the love affair maim you all too well? Just between us, do you remember it all too well? Just between us, I remember it (Just between us) all too well
Wind in my hair, I was there, I was there Down the stairs, I was there, I was there Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Wind in my hair, I was there, I was there Down the stairs, I was there, I was there Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Wind in my hair, I was there, I was there Down the stairs, I was there, I was there Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
Wind in my hair, I was there, I was there Down the stairs, I was there, I was there Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there It was rare, you remember it (All too well)
[Edit: Corrected lyrics, as they are missing verses.]
@Abbie96 one time Taylor Swift said some of her songs could be for more than one person. I think this song started off about Jake but the love affair reference? I think that is related to the song “illicit affairs” in which she also says the line “don’t call me kid. Don’t call me baby.” That indicates that she had a love affair with an older person and I think it’s John Mayer. Just like in this song where she says “Just between us did the love affair maim you too” and “you said that if we had been closer...
@Abbie96 one time Taylor Swift said some of her songs could be for more than one person. I think this song started off about Jake but the love affair reference? I think that is related to the song “illicit affairs” in which she also says the line “don’t call me kid. Don’t call me baby.” That indicates that she had a love affair with an older person and I think it’s John Mayer. Just like in this song where she says “Just between us did the love affair maim you too” and “you said that if we had been closer in age we would have been fine”. There’s more there than meets the eye.
A casual Taylor Swift listener, a stretch to describe me as a fan. Was driving home in the truck and something in this song struck a memory. So I downloaded it.\n\nLater this night, looking up at cold stars, after listening to this song dozens of times… Could this guy in the song be me? Am I that guy? But, wait, there were reasons… \n\nYeah. It’s me. No way to deny, no place to run. It’s me.\n\n\nI was spent some in the military, and it nothing else, the experience teaches that you can BS everybody else, but you can’t ever BS yourself. You can’t deny truth, even it if isn’t pretty. You have to own it.\n\n\nTaylor: “Maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up.”\n\nYeah. Me. Without doubt, I screw up a perfectly good relationship, a pure love. Because I was arrogant. Because I was reckless. Because I was “smart.” Because I could.\n\n\nTaylor: “Runnin’ scared, I was there, I remember it all too well.” \n\nYeah. Me again. I solemnly promised to protect you with my life. I swore to God to never allow anything to hurt you. I promised that you would not fear for anything. I promised you that the only tears to fall would be tears of joy. And all that was in my control to do so.\n\nBut I was that one that caused you to run scared for our love. I was the one to allowed you to live in fear, confusion, in doubt of yourself. Your tears fell because of me. I watched it happen, allowed it to happen.\n\nI envisioned myself as the man. The one to protect, to support, to uplift, to safeguard, to make my love happy. No one to cause sad and fearful tears to fall from an innocent and loving person that was guilty only of loving me. \n\nNice illusion, great way to characterize myself. However, deeds speak louder than words. A lie, not only to her. I lied to myself. I failed her. I failed myself. \n\n\nTaylor: “And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of bein’ honest.” \n\nMe. Despite alluding [actually, lying] to myself that I was being straightforward and kind, I was so ruthless, so cruel, so focused solely on my life wants and needs. Casually cruel. That was me\n\n\nTaylor: “Some actress askin’ me what happened, you. That’s what happened, you.” \n\nMe. Yeah, I happened. An unfocused wrecking ball, arrogantly and confidently believing what I thought was for the best (as it would, as I am so damn smart). Too shallow to understand your dismay, your fear, your joyful world was being crushed by my casual indifference. Self-awareness, situational awareness, simple respect and concern for an innocent loving soul – a horrible failure in all regards equates to unforgivable sins to not realize the deep pain I caused for someone guilty only of loving me unconditionally, loving me too much. \n\n\nTaylor: “Cause there we are again when I loved you so. Back before you lost the one real thing you’ve ever know.”\n\nReflecting on this specific verse, I sought truth. Told my story to my Soldier brothers, people I deployed to combat with, opinions that I value. Their feedback - yeah. Yeah. It’s you.\n\nAn irreplaceable love, a person who would love me without end. A pure love that comes once in a lifetime if you are lucky. A Golden love. \n\nAnd I lost it because of my actions, and failure to act. I lost something of unmeasurable value, irreplaceable virtue. Lost to ignorance, recklessness, lack of maturity. Lost because I could not see what was plainly right in front of me, despite the brilliance of its honesty, the blinding light of its love. \n\nMy Brothers told me the obvious cold and hard fact - my heart that failed to see the true, faithful, pure love right in front of it. And that failure can’t be resolved, the mistake can’t be fix. Like combat, something once done can never to be undone. Too late for enlightenment. They also helpfully pointed out that this relationship, this love, did not need to be maneuvered through like a combat situation, but somehow it was. \n\n\nIt was some 25 years ago. I was young, so smart, so mature, so right about everything.\n\nBut tonight, the cold stars gave me their verdict. This is no forgiveness, no absolution, no justification, no amends, no takebacks for what I did. Nor will there be mercy for a foolish man whose heart knew the truth, but was not brave nor smart enough to see and cherish a once in a lifetime love. \n\nHow do I go forward? I can love, cherish, and remain true to the ones with me now. My solemn promise, if my promise is worth anything anymore to anyone, is to do just that. But that it. I can’t fix what I have done, I can only live with it.\n\n\n“Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there, it was rare.” \n\nYes, it was rare, I was there too. Our love is never to repeat, to great loss. My loss.\nI do remember it all too well. I do remember you. \n\nMy love for you was, and is true. It is no longer distorted by my own “smart stupidity.” All of this is much too late. No going backwards. My life will end knowing that through my own actions I destroyed a pure love with the one I was meant to be with. \n\nTo the one I failed so long ago, I can’t even beg for your forgiveness. But I pray your life is full of love, trust, security, happiness, all the things your heart deserved, and never got from me.\n\nBack to the Song Meaning. I have no idea how Taylor Swift conceived this beautiful, painful, and way too accurate description of the worst thing I ever did, worst mistake I ever made. But she did. She did.
A casual Taylor Swift listener, a stretch to describe me as a fan. Was driving home in the truck and something in this song struck a memory. So I downloaded it.\n\nLater this night, looking up at cold stars, after listening to this song dozens of times… Could this guy in the song be me? Am I that guy? But, wait, there were reasons… \n\nYeah. It’s me. No way to deny, no place to run. It’s me.\n\n\nI was spent some in the military, and it nothing else, the experience teaches that you can BS everybody else, but you can’t ever BS yourself. You can’t deny truth, even it if isn’t pretty. You have to own it.\n\n\nTaylor: “Maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up.”\n\nYeah. Me. Without doubt, I screw up a perfectly good relationship, a pure love. Because I was arrogant. Because I was reckless. Because I was “smart.” Because I could.\n\n\nTaylor: “Runnin’ scared, I was there, I remember it all too well.” \n\nYeah. Me again. I solemnly promised to protect you with my life. I swore to God to never allow anything to hurt you. I promised that you would not fear for anything. I promised you that the only tears to fall would be tears of joy. And all that was in my control to do so.\n\nBut I was that one that caused you to run scared for our love. I was the one to allowed you to live in fear, confusion, in doubt of yourself. Your tears fell because of me. I watched it happen, allowed it to happen.\n\nI envisioned myself as the man. The one to protect, to support, to uplift, to safeguard, to make my love happy. No one to cause sad and fearful tears to fall from an innocent and loving person that was guilty only of loving me. \n\nNice illusion, great way to characterize myself. However, deeds speak louder than words. A lie, not only to her. I lied to myself. I failed her. I failed myself. \n\n\nTaylor: “And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of bein’ honest.” \n\nMe. Despite alluding [actually, lying] to myself that I was being straightforward and kind, I was so ruthless, so cruel, so focused solely on my life wants and needs. Casually cruel. That was me\n\n\nTaylor: “Some actress askin’ me what happened, you. That’s what happened, you.” \n\nMe. Yeah, I happened. An unfocused wrecking ball, arrogantly and confidently believing what I thought was for the best (as it would, as I am so damn smart). Too shallow to understand your dismay, your fear, your joyful world was being crushed by my casual indifference. Self-awareness, situational awareness, simple respect and concern for an innocent loving soul – a horrible failure in all regards equates to unforgivable sins to not realize the deep pain I caused for someone guilty only of loving me unconditionally, loving me too much. \n\n\nTaylor: “Cause there we are again when I loved you so. Back before you lost the one real thing you’ve ever know.”\n\nReflecting on this specific verse, I sought truth. Told my story to my Soldier brothers, people I deployed to combat with, opinions that I value. Their feedback - yeah. Yeah. It’s you.\n\nAn irreplaceable love, a person who would love me without end. A pure love that comes once in a lifetime if you are lucky. A Golden love. \n\nAnd I lost it because of my actions, and failure to act. I lost something of unmeasurable value, irreplaceable virtue. Lost to ignorance, recklessness, lack of maturity. Lost because I could not see what was plainly right in front of me, despite the brilliance of its honesty, the blinding light of its love. \n\nMy Brothers told me the obvious cold and hard fact - my heart that failed to see the true, faithful, pure love right in front of it. And that failure can’t be resolved, the mistake can’t be fix. Like combat, something once done can never to be undone. Too late for enlightenment. They also helpfully pointed out that this relationship, this love, did not need to be maneuvered through like a combat situation, but somehow it was. \n\n\nIt was some 25 years ago. I was young, so smart, so mature, so right about everything.\n\nBut tonight, the cold stars gave me their verdict. This is no forgiveness, no absolution, no justification, no amends, no takebacks for what I did. Nor will there be mercy for a foolish man whose heart knew the truth, but was not brave nor smart enough to see and cherish a once in a lifetime love. \n\nHow do I go forward? I can love, cherish, and remain true to the ones with me now. My solemn promise, if my promise is worth anything anymore to anyone, is to do just that. But that it. I can’t fix what I have done, I can only live with it.\n\n\n“Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there, it was rare.” \n\nYes, it was rare, I was there too. Our love is never to repeat, to great loss. My loss.\nI do remember it all too well. I do remember you. \n\nMy love for you was, and is true. It is no longer distorted by my own “smart stupidity.” All of this is much too late. No going backwards. My life will end knowing that through my own actions I destroyed a pure love with the one I was meant to be with. \n\nTo the one I failed so long ago, I can’t even beg for your forgiveness. But I pray your life is full of love, trust, security, happiness, all the things your heart deserved, and never got from me.\n\nBack to the Song Meaning. I have no idea how Taylor Swift conceived this beautiful, painful, and way too accurate description of the worst thing I ever did, worst mistake I ever made. But she did. She did.
New to this - see my full interpretation below\n\nA casual Taylor Swift listener, a stretch to describe me as a fan. Was driving home in the truck and something in this song struck a memory. So I downloaded it.\n\nLater this night, looking up at cold stars, after listening to this song dozens of times… Could this guy in the song be me? Am I that guy? But, wait, there were reasons… How could Taylor sum it up like this?\n\nYeah. It’s me. No way to deny, no place to run. It’s me.\n\nTaylor: “Maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up.”\n\nYeah. Me. Without doubt, I screw up a perfectly good relationship, a pure love. Because I was arrogant. Because I was reckless. Because I was “smart.” Because I could.\n\nTaylor: “Runnin’ scared, I was there, I remember it all too well.” \n\nYeah. Me again. I solemnly promised to protect you with my life. I swore to God to never allow anything to hurt you. I promised that you would not fear for anything. I promised you that the only tears to fall would be tears of joy. And all that was in my control to do so.\n\nBut I was that one that caused you to run scared for our love. I was the one to allowed you to live in fear, confusion, in doubt of yourself. Your tears fell because of me. I watched it happen, allowed it to happen. Nice illusion, great way to characterize myself. However, deeds speak louder than words. A lie. To her. To myself. I failed her. I failed myself. \n\nTaylor: “And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of bein’ honest.” \n\nMe. Despite alluding [actually, lying] to myself that I was being straightforward and kind, I was so ruthless, so cruel, so focused solely on my life wants and needs. Casually cruel. That was me\n\nIt was some 25 years ago. I was young, so smart, so mature, so right about everything.\n\nBut tonight, the cold stars gave me their verdict. This is no forgiveness, no absolution, no justification, no amends, no takebacks for what I did. Nor will there be mercy for a foolish man whose heart knew the truth, but was not brave nor smart enough to see and cherish a once in a lifetime love. \n\nHow do I go forward? I can love, cherish, and remain true to the ones with me now. My solemn promise, if my promise is worth anything anymore to anyone, is to do just that. But that it. I can’t fix what I have done, I can only live with it.\n\n“Sacred prayer, I was there, I was there, it was rare.” \n\nYes, it was rare, I was there too. Our love is never to repeat, to great loss. My loss.\nI do remember it all too well. I do remember you.