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I Almost Do

RED (2012) | RED (Taylor's Version) [2021]

“I Almost Do” is track seven on Taylor’s fourth studio album, RED (2012). It describes the internal conflict that goes on when reminiscing about a failed romance. The re-recording of the song, “I Almost Do (Taylor’s Version),” was released on RED (Taylor’s Version) [2021].

Background and Lyrical Theme

The song was written by Taylor and produced by her long time collaborator Nathan Chapman, with additional production by her. The lyrics find her reaching for the phone to reconnect with a former boyfriend before deciding she dare not “risk another goodbye.” Taylor commented on the song, saying:

«'I Almost Do' is a song I wrote about the conflict that you feel when you want to take someone back, and you want to give it another try, but you know you can’t. And you can’t because you know it’s hurt you so deeply that you know that you couldn’t bear to go through that again. So you’re sitting there, and wondering where they are, and hope that they think about you, and that you’re almost picking up the phone call, but you just can’t. I think I needed to write this song in order to not call that person, actually. I think that writing the song was what I did instead of picking up the phone.»

Taylor Swift

Fittingly, the hidden message for “I Almost Do” reads, “Wrote this instead of calling.”

Live Performances

Taylor didn’t include “I Almost Do” on the regular setlist for “The RED Tour” (2013-2014). However, she performed the track as the acoustic surprise song twice: the first time being on the tour’s opening night in Omaha (Nebraska) on March 13, 2013, and the second being her show in Tampa (Florida) on April 20, 2013. She didn’t sing it again for ten years, until she chose it as the second surprise song for her show on June 9, 2023, on “The Eras Tour” in Detroit (Michigan). She performed “I Almost Do” acoustically on piano.

Critical Reception

“I Almost Do” received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Taylor’s talent in country music. Rolling Stone wrote, “For almost any other artist, ‘I Almost Do’ would have been a career peak. A RED slow jam that could have worked even better sped up into a punked-out rocker — though it’s plenty affecting as is.” Billboard wrote, “Unlike the slices of radio fodder that sandwich “I Almost Do” on the album, the mid-tempo ballad is a slow grower, with shards of ace songwriting presenting themselves over time.”

Commercial Performance

Due to strong digital download sales upon the release of RED, “I Almost Do” debuted and peaked at No. 65 and 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100, respectively. It also charted on the US Hot Country Songs, peaking at No. 13. “I Almost Do (Taylor’s Version)” debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending November 26, 2021.

Taylor's Version

On August 6, 2021, Taylor announced that a re-recorded version of “I Almost Do”, titled “I Almost Do (Taylor’s Version)”, would be included as the sixth track on her second re-recorded album RED (Taylor’s Version), which was released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I bet this time of night you’re still up
I bet you’re tired from a long hard week
I bet you’re sittin’ in your chair by the window
Looking out at the city and I bet
Sometimes you wonder about me

[Chorus]
And I just want to tell you
It takes everything in me
Not to call you
And I wish I could run to you
And I hope you know that
Every time I don’t, I almost do
I almost do

[Verse 2]
I bet you think I either moved on or hate you
Cause’ each time you reach out, there’s no reply
I bet it never, ever occurred to you
That I can’t say hello to you and risk another goodbye

[Chorus]
And I just want to tell you
It takes everything in me
Not to call you
And I wish I could run to you
And I hope you know that
Every time I don’t, I almost do
I almost do

[Bridge]
We made quite a mess, babe
It’s probably better off this way
And I confess, baby
In my dreams you’re touching my face
And asking me if I’d want to try again with you
And I almost do

[Chorus]
And I just want to tell you
It takes everything in me
Not to call you
And I wish I could run to you
And I hope you know that
Every time I don’t, I almost do
I almost do

[Outro]
I bet this time of night you’re still up
I bet you’re tired from a long hard week
I bet you’re sittin’ in your chair by the window
Looking out at the city and I hope
Sometimes you wonder about me