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Need You Now

Unreleased | 2004

“Need You Now” is one of Taylor’s many unreleased songs. Written by her in her teen years, the song was co-written with one of her early collaborators, Robert Ellis Orrall who also co-wrote several tracks for her eponymous debut album, Taylor Swift (2006).
Table of Contents

Background and Lyrical Theme

In an interview with the “Swift Legacy Podcast”, co-writer Robert Ellis Orral confirmed that “Better Off” was written in 2004:

«The songs we first cut for her in '04 that we would bring around to record labels were 'The Outside,' 'Your Face,' 'I Heart ?,' 'Crazier,' 'Beautiful Eyes,' 'What To Wear,' 'Better Off,' 'Invisible,' 'Just South of Knowing Why' and 'Need You Now.' And then one more, which is 'I’m Every Woman.'»

“Need You Now” is track eleven on Taylor’s demo CD from 2004-2005. The song was likely considered for her self-titled debut album in 2006 but ultimately didn’t make the final tracklist.

Lyrically, “Need You Now” is about moving on from someone who couldn’t reciprocate the love, patience and respect you have invested in a relationship.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I need you now
Read letters that I wrote on the wall
And the message that I left when I called
I need you now
Words I said drowned out by the rain
Waiting there for you, but you never came
My world’s a little colder now
But I’m keeping warm somehow

[Chorus]
So here you are at my window
Guess nobody told you
I don’t need you, don’t need you
And I waited, so frustrated
Who’s gonna hold you?
I don’t need you, don’t need you now

[Verse 2]
“I need you now”
Words I heard you whisper to me
While we were walking down a one-way street
You need me now
That’s what you’ve been telling my friends
But I’ve come too far to go back there again
My heart my mind and numbers have changed
You might as well forget my name

[Chorus]
So here you are at my window
Guess nobody told you
I don’t need you, don’t need you
And I waited, so frustrated
Who’s gonna hold you?
I don’t need you, don’t need you now

[Bridge]
I need you now
Read letters that I wrote on the wall
And the message that I left when I called

[Final Chorus]
So here you are at my window
Guess nobody told you
I don’t need you don’t need you
And I waited so frustrated
So who’s gonna hold you?
I don’t need you now

[Outro]
And I don’t look for your car
I don’t wonder where you are
I don’t dream about you cause I don’t need you now
I don’t dream about the way
That I never heard you say
“I need you, I need you”
I don’t need you now
Don’t need you
I don’t need you now

General Information
StatusUnreleased
Leaked2004
Written2004
GenreCountry
Length3:27
SongwritersTaylor Swift
Robert Ellis Orrall
ProducerRobert Ellis Orrall
Leaked Demo