Forever & Always
Fearless (2008) | Fearless (Taylor's Version) [2021]
Table of Contents
Background
«I recorded a new song ['Forever & Always'] the other day for Fearless. I think it’s fun to put yourself under crazy pressure to finish a song by a certain deadline. That’s what I did with this last song. And that makes 13 songs on the new album. 13….. I think that’s a good number of songs to end up with….<3»
Taylor Swift
Lyrical Theme
«It’s about watching somebody fade away in a relationship. They said they were going to be with you forever, that they loved you, and then something changed in the relationship and you don’t know what it is, but you’re watching them slowly drift. That emotion of rejection, for me, usually starts out sad and then gets mad. This song starts with this pretty melody that’s easy to sing along with, then in the end I’m basically screaming it because I’m so mad. I’m really proud of that.»
Taylor Swift
Joe Jonas told the June 2009 issue of Seventeen Magazine that he wasn’t bothered about Taylor writing about the break-up of their relationship. He said: “It’s flattering. It’s always nice to hear their side of the story.”
Live Performances
Taylor later performed “Forever & Always” during some select dates of her following world tours. She included it on the set list for her March 22, 2013, show in Columbia as part of “The RED Tour.” She performed the song during her September 15, 2018, show in Indianapolis as part of her “reputation Stadium Tour.” “Forever & Always” was also the first surprise song of the night on May 13, 2023, in Philadelphia on Taylor’s “The Eras Tour“. On February 26, 2024, she sang the song on piano as a mashup with “Maroon” (2022) during her “Eras Tour” show in Sydney.
Critical Reception
Commercial Performance
“Forever & Always (Taylor’s Version” debuted at No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on the week ending April 15, 2021. The song also debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Piano Version
«When I go into the studio, it's really more about portraying the song in a way that gets the feeling across, rather than every phrase being exactly perfect. I think it's the writer in me that's a little more obsessed with the meaning of the song than the vocal technique. All that stuff is like math to me. Over-thinking vocals and stuff – I never want to get to that point.»
Taylor Swift
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
[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
[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
Artist | Taylor Swift | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Albums | Fearless Fearless (Taylor’s Version) | |||
Released | November 11, 2008 | |||
Re-Released | April 9, 2021 | |||
Studios | Kitty Committee (London) Black Bird (Nashville) Prime Recording (Nashville) | |||
Genre | Country Pop | |||
Length | 3:54 | |||
Labels | Big Machine Records Republic Records | |||
Songwriter | Taylor Swift | |||
Producers | Nathan Chapman (original) Christopher Rowe Taylor Swift | |||
FEARLESS CHRONOLOGY | ||||
|