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Forever & Always (Piano Version)

Fearless [Platinum Edition] (2009) | Fearless (Taylor's Version) [2021]

This article is about the piano version of the song. For the standard version, see “Forever & Always.”

“Forever & Always (Piano Version)” is an acoustic version of Taylor’s song “Forever & Always” from her second studio album, Fearless (2008). It was released on the album’s Platinum Edition. The re-recording of the song, “Forever & Always (Piano Version) (Taylor’s Version)”, was released on April 9, 2021, on Fearless (Taylor’s Version).

Background

Taylor decided to show a different side to “Forever & Always”, one of the fan-favorite songs on Fearless, and recorded a version of it that captures the raw emotions behind the lyrics. During an interview with iTunes in 2009, she said the new rendition is one of her favorites on the Platinum Edition of the album:

«There's a version of my song 'Forever & Always' that's just piano and cello. It's a song on the record that I feel has a lot of different sides and it has a lot of different emotions all poured into one song. And so this version of the song really addresses the sad parts of that song. On the record the way it is, it's produced and it seems angry and frustrated and confused. But this version of the song is just really sad.»

Taylor Swift

Taylor wrote “Forever & Always” near the end of the recording process, after the break up with Joe Jonas. She had to plead with the president of her former record label, Scott Borchetta, to let her add the standard version of the song to the album a day before the final version was due to be turned in.

Lyrical Theme

“Forever & Always” talks about Taylor holding on to every moment with her ex-boyfriend, since things didn’t last. She said: “’Forever & Always’ is about when I was in a relationship with someone and I was just watching him slowly slip away. I didn’t know why, because I wasn’t doing anything different. I didn’t do anything wrong. He was just fading. It’s about the confusion and frustration of wondering why? What changed? When did it change? What did I do wrong? In this case, the guy I wrote it about ended up breaking up with me for another girl. Guess now I know why he was fading.”

Taylor's Version

Taylor took some liberties for her re-recording of the “Forever & Always (Piano Version).” It is probably the song that differentiates the most from the original version. Taylor’s longtime band member Paul Sidoti plays the piano:

«When Taylor asked me to be a part of her re-record of 'Fearless', it brought back so many memories of what seemed like a lifetime ago. The music contained in this record exploded to all ends of the Earth and forever changed my life and many of my band mates’ who are also represented here. Getting to play these songs in the studio was like opening up a yearbook and fondly remembering the unbelievable times that were had during those couple years. I’m so thankful Taylor chose me to recreate that magic once again and to also do one of my favorite things which is play acoustic piano. Getting to play the ballad version of 'Forever & Always' will go down as a personal highlight for me.»

Paul Sidoti

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Once upon a time, I believe it was a Tuesday when I caught your eye
And we caught onto something
I hold onto the night you looked me in the eye and told me you loved me
Were you just kidding?
‘Cause it seems to me, this thing is breaking down
We almost never speak
I don’t feel welcome anymore
Baby what happened, please tell me
‘Cause one second it was perfect now you’re halfway out the door

[Chorus]
And I stare at the phone, he still hasn’t called
And then you feel so low you cant feel nothing at all
And you flashback to when he said forever and always
Oh, and it rains in your bedroom
Everything is wrong
It rains when you’re here and it rains when you’re gone
‘Cause I was there when you said forever and always

[Verse 2]
Was I out of line?
Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide
Like a scared little boy
I looked into your eyes
Thought I knew you for a minute, now I’m not so sure
So here’s everything coming down to nothing
Here’s to silence that cuts me to the core
Where is this going? Thought I knew for a minute, but I don’t anymore

[Post-Chorus]
You didn’t mean it baby
I don’t stink so

[Bridge]
Back up, baby, back up
Did you forget everything?
Back up, baby, back up
Did you forget everything?

[Chorus Variation]
‘Cause it rains in your bedroom
Everything is wrong
It rains when you’re here and it rains when you’re gone
‘Cause I was there when you said forever and always

[Final Chorus]
And I stare at the phone, he still hasn’t called
And then you feel so low you cant feel nothing at all
And you flashback to when he said forever and always
Oh, and it rains in your bedroom
Everything is wrong
It rains when you’re here and it rains when you’re gone
‘Cause I was there when you said forever and always

[Outro]
Didn’t mean baby
You said forever and always, yeah