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Say Don't Go (From The Vault)

1989 (Taylor's Version) [2023]

“Say Don’t Go (Taylor’s Version) [From The Vault]” is a song written by Taylor and Diane Warren that appears on 1989 (Taylor’s Version), her fourth re-recorded album. It was released on October 27, 2023.

Background and Release

1989 (Taylor’s Version) marks the fourth in a series of albums that have seen Taylor re-recording her Big Machine catalog, as an alternative for fans to listen to. In comparison to the original albums that put money in the pockets of parties who purchased the masters to those records along with the label as a whole without Taylor’s permission, she fully owns these re-recordings. Previous re-recorded albums were Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and RED (Taylor’s Version), both released in 2021, as well as Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which was released in July 2023.

“Say Don’t Go” used to be one of Taylor’s many unreleased songs, although it had never been in rotation. Taylor revealed the full track list for 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on September 20, 2023, including “Say Don’t Go”.

Collaboration

Diane Warren is a very successful songwriter, well-known for writing or co-writing songs including “Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton, “Because You Loved Me” by Céline Dion, “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith, or “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher. She was the first songwriter to have seven songs recorded by different artists charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.

Rumors that Taylor and Diane Warren had met up for a writing session started swirling as early as February 2014, when Taylor was in the midst of creating 1989. Back then, Diane said:

«I know [Swift] likes it, so hopefully it will see the light of day. I know she really likes the song. She didn’t want me to give it away, so hopefully that means she wants it.»

Diane Warren

Live Performance

“Say Don’t Go” received its first live performance acoustically on guitar on November 26, 2023, in São Paulo (Brazil) during one of Taylor’s shows on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024). It was the first surprise song of the night. Before playing the song, she said:

«This song I’ve been dying to play, because we just had an album go No. 1 that I just love so much, and we’ll see if you love it too….this is called 'Say Don’t Go.'»

Taylor Swift

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I’ve known it from the very start
We’re a shot in the darkest dark
Oh no, oh no
I’m unarmed
The waiting is a sadness
Fading into madness
Oh no, oh no
It won’t stop

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I’m standing on a tightrope alone
I hold my breath a little bit longer
Halfway out the door but won’t close
I’m holding out hope for you to
Say, “Don’t go”
I would stay forever
If you say, “Don’t go”

[Chorus]
Why’d you have to lead me on?
Why’d you have to twist the knife?
Walk away, walk away and leave me bleeding, bleeding
Why’d you whisper in the dark
Just to leave me in the night?
God, your silence has me screaming, screaming
Say, “Don’t go”
I would stay forever
If you say, “Don’t go”

[Verse 2]
Now I’m pacing on shaky ground
Strike a match, then you blow it out
Oh no, oh no
It’s not fair
‘Cause you kiss me and it stops time
And I’m yours, but you’re not mine
Oh no, oh no
You’re not there

[Pre-Chorus 2]
I’m standing on the sidewalk alone
I wait for you to drive by
Just trying to see the cards that you won’t show
I’m about to fold unless you
Say, “Don’t go”
I would stay forever
If you say, “Don’t go”

[Bridge]
Why you have to make me want you?
Why you have to give me nothing back?
Why you have to make me love you?
I said, “I love you”
You say nothing back

[Chorus]
Why you have to lead me on?
Why you have to twist the knife?
Walk away, walk away and leave me bleeding, bleeding
Why’d you whisper in the dark
Just to leave me in the night?
Now your silence has me screaming, screaming
Say, “Don’t go”
I would stay forever
If you say, “Don’t go”

[Outro]
But you won’t
But you won’t
But you won’t
I would stay forever
If you say, “Don’t Go”
But you won’t
But you won’t