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The Last Time

Feat. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol | Single (UK) | RED (2012) | RED (Taylor's Version) [2021]

“The Last Time” is track ten on Taylor’s fourth studio album, RED (2012). It captures the moment of deciding whether to give a relationship marked by miscommunication and repeated cycles of disappointment one final chance or to let it go. The re-recording of the song, “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version),” was released on RED (Taylor’s Version) [2021].
“The Last Time” marks the middle point of the story Taylor tells on RED and has connections to songs like “I Almost Do” or “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. Taylor’s boyfriend has already broken things off multiple times but keeps on coming back to her, even though they both know he will eventually break her heart again.
Table of Contents

Background

Taylor released her third studio album, Speak Now, in October 2010. She wrote the album entirely by herself and co-produced it with Nathan Chapman, her longtime collaborator. The album musically followed the country pop sound of her two previous albums, with elements of rock and radio-friendly pop crossover that also been evident on its predecessor, Fearless (2008).

On Speak Now‘s follow-up, RED, Taylor aimed to experiment beyond her previous albums’ country pop sound. One of the resulting collaborations was “The Last Time”, which came about in the span of a day after Taylor’s close friend Ed Sheeran introduced her to Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody in the spring of 2012. The song was eventually produced by Jacknife Lee, who is best known for working with Snow Patrol and U2. When he was asked about working with Taylor, he said:

«She was making her RED album. Her and Ed were recording the song they did on the record together in Santa Monica [...]. Ed invited me, with Taylor's permission, to come into the studio and say, 'Hi.' I'd never met Taylor. She said she was a fan. Apparently, the night before, she and Ed had been playing and singing 'Set the Fire to the Third Bar' together. It was lovely to hear that she knew our music, you know. I can't remember if I was bold enough to ask if she wanted to work with me. But it might well have been me. Or if it was her who said, 'Do you want to write a song together?' I can't remember. We wrote 'The Last Time' together and that was great. The three of us collaborated on it really well. I got to go on tour with her for a gig and we did a few TV shows together. She's lovely.»

In 2018, he recalled: “It was so fast. She works really fast. She’s extraordinary. We actually did that song, wrote it and recorded it in a day. And that was the version of it on the record, which is very rare. Normally you write and record something with somebody and then down the line they’ll record it, if you’re lucky. With her, the whole thing was done in nine hours. I hope we can do it again sometime!”

Lyrical Theme

“The Last Time” is an alternative rock song. It tells the story of a long-standing but crumbling relationship. Lyrically, it describes a relationship as a vicious cycle of both heartbreak and forgiveness. The duet format conveys two perspectives: one partner seeking reconciliation and promising change, while the other struggles with the pain of past letdowns and uncertainty about trust. The recurring line, “This is the last time,” underscores the fragility and exhaustion of the relationship, emphasizing the emotional stakes and the longing for resolution. Taylor told NPR:

«'The Last Time' is a song that I wrote with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. I’ve always wanted to work with Snow Patrol, they’re my favorite band. This was a song that I wrote about something I had been going through. I picture a door and, on the outside of the door, standing outside in the cold, there’s this guy who’s left his girlfriend over and over again and comes back and asks for a second chance over and over and over again. On the other side of the door, you have this girl standing there with tears in her eyes, wondering how she could possibily turn him away when she loves him this much, but she can’t get hurt again. It’s both of these people swearing that this would be the last time. She’s swearing it’s the last time she’s going to take him back, he’s swearing it’s the last time he’s going to leave her and hurt her. It’s a really intense song and I’m so proud to have Gary on the record.»

The song ends on a somber and unresolved note. The final chorus and outro repeat the line, “This is the last time I’m asking you this,” emphasizing the emotional weight and desperation of the plea of both parties. It is uncertain whether the relationship is salvaged or not, mirroring the fragility and tension conveyed throughout the song. However, in the context of the record as a whole, this is the point where it ends for good.

Music Video

The music video for the song was directed by Terry Richardson and premiered on November 15, 2013, on YouTube. Similarly to her music video for the album’s title track “Red“, “The Last Time” music video features concert footage from Taylor’s “The RED Tour” in Sacramento, California on August 27, 2013. This was the first time Gary Lightbody and Taylor performed the single together live. The video is inter-spliced throughout with footage showing fans’ hand-made signs and cheering.

Live Performances

On August 27, 2013, Taylor and Gary Lightbody performed this song on her “The RED Tour” in Sacramento, California, for the very first time. The performance was recorded and released as the song’s live music video on November 15, 2013. The pair performed the song once again on the tenth season of British version of The X Factor on November 3, 2013, to support its sales as a UK single. Taylor didn’t sing the “The Last Time” again for almost ten years, until she chose it as the second surprise song for her show on June 16, 2023, in Pittburgh while on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024). She performed the song acoustically on piano. On July 23, 2024, she mashed it up with “Teardrops On My Guitar” in Hamburg.

Critical Reception

“The Last Time” officially impacted UK contemporary hit radio on November 4, 2013. Joseph Atilano of The Philippine Inquirer described it as the most mature track on the album and positively noted that it “represents a darker tone” on RED. He further commented that the song “proves she is ready for the adult-pop realm” and lends her artistic credibility. Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush also praised Taylor’s maturity on the track, which she felt would fare well on adult contemporary radio. She also characterized the song as “darkly romantic” and “sort of epic.”

Commercial Performance

“The Last Time (Taylor’s Version)” debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending November 26, 2021. It marked the first appearance of both Taylor and Gary Lightbody together on a song on the chart.

Taylor's Version

Taylor re-recorded “The Last Time”, subtitled “(Taylor’s Version)”, for her second re-recorded album, RED (Taylor’s Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records. Upon the song’s release, Gary Lightbody wrote on Instagram:

«[I am] so happy to be a small part of RED. I’m so proud of the song and delighted to revisit it. It is extraordinary what Taylor is doing with the new versions of her albums. A gargantuan feat that would consume the lives of any mortal musician. However not only has TS been re-recording her previous albums but also finding the time somehow to record folklore and evermore, two of the best albums of the last few years. I’m honoured to be a part of RED and I know Jacknife is too. It is incredible to see Taylor’s belief in the album as a work of art, particularly at a time when streaming and playlists mean the album as an art form isn't being celebrated as much. Thanks to Taylor for having us back and to all her amazing fans for your kind messages.»

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Gary Lightbody]
Found myself at your door
Just like all those times before
I’m not sure how I got there
All roads, they lead me here
I imagine you are home
In your room, all alone
And you open your eyes into mine
And everything feels better

[Pre-chorus: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
And right before your eyes
I’m breaking
No past, no reasons why
Just you and me…

[Chorus]
This is the last time I’m asking you this
Put my name at the top of your list
This is the last time I’m asking you why
You break my heart in the blink of an eye

[Verse 2: Taylor Swift]
You find yourself at my door
Just like all those times before
You wear your best apology
But I was there to watch you leave
And all the times I let you in
Just for you to go again
Disappear when you come back
Everything is better

[Pre-Chorus: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
And right before your eyes
I’m aching
Run fast, nowhere to hide
Just you and me…

[Chorus]
This is the last time I’m asking you this
Put my name at the top of your list
This is the last time I’m asking you why
You break my heart in the blink of an eye

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
This is the last time you tell me I’ve got it wrong
This is the last time I say, “It’s been you all along”
This is the last time I let you in my door
This is the last time, I won’t hurt you anymore
Oh, oh, oh, oh

[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
This is the last time I’m asking you this
Put my name on the top of your list
This is the last time I’m asking you why
You break my heart in the blink of an eye

[Final chorus: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
This is the last time I’m asking you this (This is the last time I’m asking you this)
Put my name at the top of your list (Name at the top of your list)
This is the last time I’m asking you why (This is the last time I’m asking you why)
You break my heart in the blink of an eye (You break my heart)

[Outro: Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody]
This is the last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you this
This is the last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you this
This is the last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you this
This is the last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you, last time I’m asking you this

General Information
ArtistTaylor Swift
AlbumsRED
RED (Taylor’s Version)
FeatureGary Lightbody of Snow Patrol
ReleasedOctober 22, 2012
Re-ReleasedNovember 12, 2021
StudiosThe Garage (Topanga Canyon)
The Village (Los Angeles)
Kitty Committee (Belfast)
GenreAlternative Rock
Length4:59
LabelsBig Machine Records
Republic Records
SongwritersTaylor Swift
Gary Lightbody
Jacknife Lee
ProducerJacknife Lee
RED CHRONOLOGY
Stay Stay StayThe Last TimeHoly Ground
Song Certification
"Gold" certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. Signifying 500,000 units sold in the United States of America.
Hidden Message
LA on your break
Single Artwork
Music Video
Live Performance
Lyric Video
Taylor's Version
Original Audio
Taylor Swift Switzerland Logo (2022)
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