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.
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.