This Is Really Happening
Unreleased | Country Strong (Britni Hoover Album) | 2003
Table of Contents
Background
«If I remember correctly, she came in with the first couple of lines which I thought were some pretty heavy lyrics for a 14-year-old. I was a bit intimidated, frankly. Guy in mid-thirties with confident teenage co-writer. People like to bash young, successful artists. Attribute it to their label, marketing, the target market, but Taylor was the real deal. I know first-hand that the girl, at a young age, before her first record ever came out, was more driven and focused than I’ve probably ever been. When I was 15, I was kicking the soccer ball around, not writing songs!»
When the track took shape, it was called “Is This Really Happening” and became an ode to a love affair that seemed almost too good to be true. “It’s about being in a relationship or a moment with someone, and it’s amazing, and you sort of have to pinch yourself and wonder if it could be as good as it seems,” Blu added.
Remaining a Demo Track
Despite spending several hours on the track, “This Is Really Happening” was never recorded by Taylor in the studio with a band – instead it seemed destined to remain an acoustic demo forever. The irony was that, just like the song Taylor had been picturing, the love affair was more of a fantasy than a reality and never really got off the ground.
“I still think the songs stands up on its own,” Blu declared. “I love the lyrics and I love the melody and I actually thought it was going to make her first album. But then I’d be [speaking to you] from my beach house, instead of my brother’s air mattress, if it did.”
Eventually, “This Is Really Happening” was sold to country singer Britni Hoover and released on her album Country Strong (2007).
Source: “Taylor Swift: The Rise Of The Nashville Teen” by Chloe Govan (Omnibus Press, 2012)
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Beneath the chandelier of stars and atmosphere
Tangled like the roots on the ground, the windows opened up
The wind is blowing and we’re both not making a sound
It’s like I’m melting on into you
Give me a reason why we should ever move and
[Chorus]
Tell me you’ll never leave me
And I’m not crazy and this is really happening
That this is really happening
[Verse 2]
Could this be better?
You write me letters, though you see me every day
You tend to treat me like my name is up in lights
It really blows me away
Lock me up in a dark room and I still can’t take my eyes off you
[Chorus]
Tell me you’ll never leave me
And I’m not crazy and this is really happening
That this is really happening
[Bridge]
All those kisses up against your car
For all those wishes on planes we thought were stars
Memories like photographs
Oh, baby, here we are
Tell me you’ll never leave me and I’m not crazy and this is really happening
Oh, oh, baby
[Chorus]
Tell me you’ll always need me
That I drive you crazy and this is really happening
Oh, that this is really happening
Tell me you’ll always need me (Need me, tell me, baby)
That I drive you crazy (Oh)
That this is really happening
| Status | Unreleased |
|---|---|
| Leaked | 2007 |
| Written | 2003 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 3:31 |
| Songwriters | Taylor Swift Blu Sanders |
| Sold to | Britni Hoover |
