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I Can See You (From The Vault)

Promotional Single | Speak Now (Taylor's Version) | 2023

“I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) [From The Vault]” is a song recorded by Taylor for her album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) [2023], which is a re-recording of her 2010 album Speak Now. She wrote it alone in 2009. It captures the essence of longing, secrecy, and the undeniable attraction between two souls who dance on the edge of temptation.
Table of Contents

Background

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) marks the third in a series of albums that have seen Taylor re-recording her Big Machine catalog as an alternative for fans to listen to old albums that will not put money in the pockets of parties who purchased the masters to those records along with the label as a whole. Previous re-recordings were Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and RED (Taylor’s Version), both released in 2021.

“I Can See You” used to be one of Taylor’s many unreleased songs, although it had never been in rotation. Taylor revealed the full track list for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on June 5, including “I Can See You”.

Lyrical Theme

Lyrically, “I Can See You” is a bold song, especially considering Taylor’s image as “America’s Sweetheart” at the time she wrote the song in 2009. Here, she seductively addresses a potential lover. Ensnared with a sexual atmosphere, she continuously challenges and invites him to explore their newfound relationship, both romantically and sexually.

Production

Sonically, the Jack Antonoff-produced track is a departure for Taylor, combining synthesizer, guitar, and bass sounds with the result sounding unlike anything from her discography so far.

Music Video

Fresh off the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) Taylor treated fans at her “The Eras Tour” concert in Kansas City on July 7, 2023, to the brand new music video for “I Can See You.” In it, actors Joey King, Taylor Lautner, and Presley Cash — all of whom were in attendance at the concert — help Taylor pull off a heist of her master recordings. It features a spy van, security lasers, and is jam-packed with action fight scenes (all of which Taylor Lautner did himself without a stunt double):

«WELL. SO. I’ve been counting down for months and finally the ‘I Can See You’ video is out. I wrote this video treatment over a year ago and really wanted to play out symbolically how it’s felt for me to have the fans helping me reclaim my music. I had my heart set on Joey King, Taylor Lautner and Presley Cash starring in it. Joey and Presley had been in the video for ‘Mean’ when they were 9 and 13 and they are back and so ridiculously bad ass!! Taytay is INCREDIBLE in this (didn’t have a stunt double!) and shout out to Tay Lautner for being so awesome to hang with on set. The Tale of 3 Taylors! I always wanted to direct fight scenes/a heist storyline and had the most incredible time plotting this out with my amazing DP Jonathan Sela. So proud of this one.»

Taylor Swift
Rumors about the video, including Taylor Lautner and Joey King’s possible involvement, swirled in April when the trio were spotted filming in the UK. Taylor explained at the concert that she had the concept mapped out over a year and a half ago, but it was hard to get all of the actors’ schedules lined up to make it happen. This spring, it all worked out and the cast gathered in Liverpool. “Ever since I started re-recording, I wanted to show a story visually that portrayed the ways that you guys have helped me get my music back,” Taylor said of the concept.

Their appearance in the video is fitting, considering both actors have tie-ins to the original 2010 album Speak Now. In addition to Joey King and Presley Cash, who both starred in the music video for “Mean” back in 2011, Taylor Lautner briefly dated Taylor after the two appeared in Valentine’s Day together. He inspired the album’s song “Back to December.” On stage after the music video’s debut, Taylor Lautner shared some sweet words about his director. “Taylor, I respect you so much. Not just for the singer you are, the songwriter, the performer, but for the human you are. You are gracious, humble, kind and I am honored to know you,” he said.

Live Performances

“I Can See You” received its first live performance acoustically on guitar on August 3, 2023, in Los Angeles during one of Taylor’s shows on “The Eras Tour (2023-2024). On June 13, 2024, she performed it as an acoustic mashup with “Mine” (2010) in Liverpool. Before playing the song, she said:

«Welcome to the acoustic section! So actually, the last time I was in Liverpool, I was here to shoot a music video, like just under a year ago. And you know, honestly, you guys were so incredibly nice to me, to the cast and crew, to everybody who was on set. People were walking around going, ‘The local people, and local crew, and all the teams, and everyone we’ve helped plan this with, like we’ve never had people so friendly and kind and welcoming.’ And so I wanted to thank you for that about a year after the fact, because honestly, you guys are having the same exact welcoming, generous spirit when it comes to having us here. My whole band, my crew, everybody has been saying the same thing about touring here. So story checks out, you guys are incredible, and awesome, and I’m very, very happy that we decided to come to play here. This is the song that the video was for!»

Taylor Swift
On August 2, 2024, she paired it with “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” (2024) in Warsaw.

Critical Reception

A number of critics picked “I Can See You” as the album’s best “From the Vault” track. Annabel Nugent of The Independent wrote that the production is “very danceable” and thought it evokes an “indie-rock mood” that differs from its most recent predecessors. Jason Lipshutz from Billboard said the song “would have been an excellent addition” to the 2010 album and Kate Solomon of i dubbed it as a “classic”. Spin writer Bobby Olivier opined that the song’s theme of lust adds a new aspect to Taylor’s songwriting. Sputnikmusic‘s review said the song has the “most addicting” guitar line and rhythm of any Taylor song since “Style” (2014).

Commercial Performance

Upon the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), “I Can See You” debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending July 13, 2023.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
You brush past me in the hallway
And you don’t think I can see you, do you?
I’ve been watching you for ages
And I spend my time trying not to feel it

[Pre-Chorus]
But what would you do
If I went to touch you now?
What would you do
If they never found us out?
What would you do
If we never made a sound?

[Chorus 1]
‘Cause I can see you
Waiting down the hall from me
And I could see you
Up against the wall with me
And what would you do
Baby, if you only knew?
That I can see you

[Verse 2]
And we kept everything professional
But something’s changed, it’s something I like
They keep watchful eyes on us, so
It’s best that we move fast
And keep quiet
You won’t believe half the things I see inside my head
Wait til you see half the things that haven’t happened yet

[Chorus 2]
‘Cause I can see you
Waiting down the hall from me
And I could see you
Up against the wall with me
And what would you do
Baby, if you only knew?
That I can see you
Throw your jacket on the floor
I could see you
Make me want you even more
What would you do
Baby, if you only knew?
That I can see you

[Bridge]
I could see you
In your suit and your necktie
Pass me a note
Saying meet me tonight
Then we kiss
And you know I won’t ever tell, yeah
And I could see you
Being my addiction
You can see me
As a secret mission
Hide away and I will start behaving myself

[Final Chorus]
Oh, I could see you
Waiting down the hall from me
And I could see you
Up against the wall with me
And what would you do
Baby, if you only knew?
That I could see you
Throw your jacket on the floor
I could see you
Make me want you even more
What would you do
Baby, if you only knew?
That I can see you, oh
I can see you

[Outro]
I can see you, I see you, baby
I see you
I see you, I see you, baby
Oh, baby

Speak Now (Taylor's Version) [Republic Records, 2023]
General Information
ArtistTaylor Swift
AlbumSpeak Now (Taylor’s Version)
ReleasedJuly 7, 2023
Written2009
StudiosRough Customer (Brooklyn)
Electric Lady (New York)
Kitty Committee (London)
GenreRock
Length4:33
SongwriterTaylor Swift
ProducersJack Antonoff
Taylor Swift
SPEAK NOW CHRONOLOGY
When Emma Falls In LoveI Can See YouCastles Crumbling
Song Artwork
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) [Republic Records, 2023]
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) [Republic Records, 2023]
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) Deluxe Digital Album [Republic Records, 2023]
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) Deluxe Digital Album [Republic Records, 2023]
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