Monday, November 5, 2012

"Begin Again" Song Meaning

Today's Taylor Swift song is the meaning of "Begin Again" from her "Red" album.

On the Good Morning America preview of the song, Taylor said “It’s actually a song about when you've gotten through a really bad relationship and you finally dust yourself off and go on that first date after a horrible break-up, and the vulnerability that goes along with all of that.”


This song talks about two relationships.  The first one is an ex boyfriend who "didn't like it when I wore high heels", "didn't get this song", and never thought she was funny. The second relationship is her new interest.  It is the first date she goes on after 8 months of getting over her ex-boyfriend. He is very sweet to her "But you got here early/You pulled my chair out and helped me in."

Who are these two guys?

Taylor told Randy Lewis of LA Times, "There were a few track list choices I knew I was going to make way in advance. I knew I wanted to bookend the album with 'State of Grace' and 'Begin Again' because they're inspired by the same person who inspired a few songs on the record. I wanted to start and end the album with the first and last song I ever wrote about that relationship."

We know that "State of Grace" is about Jake Gyllenhaal, so this song must be about him too!  He is the first guy, the exboyfriend, and the second guys is Will Anderson the lead singer of Parachute.  They started hanging out at the end of 2011 and were spotted together in December.  Jake and Taylor's relationship got over sometime in February 2011 (after they had broken up and gotten back together a few times) and her first date with Will must have happened sometime in November 2011, "I've been spending the last 8 months thinking all love ever does/Is break and burn and end." This would fit the time frame of 8 months.

Taylor Swift and Will Anderson, December 2011.  
For whatever reason things didn't work out or progress further with Will, but I'm glad "on a Wednesday in a cafe [Taylor] watched it begin again" and she was finally able to get over Jake and "what's passed is past".

Click here for lyrics to the song, "Begin Again".

Click here for the music video to the song, "Begin Again".

6 comments:

  1. I want to thank you for posting this. I assumed begin agains throw head back laughing guy was connor. I feel a lot of people may really think they know who songs are about but be wrong so I don't add the stress by getting the wrong hints jumbled from Iinterviews I misunderstood, but the eight months never fit connor since I knew the big boy was jake. I am enjoying your blog. even when I disagree with your answer, the way you express your opinion interests me. thanks for starting this. :) I love Taylor. she's such a sweet person and it makes me happy to read ahout her by people who also adore her.

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  2. Completely correct! The dress she wore in the picture for these lyrics in her CD is the same that she wore in Will's birthday back in May 2011 when he said they met and he wrote a song for her "White Dress".

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  3. Hi. I really like your description of this song and agree with you. I've read so many weird things about this song, including a totally inaccurate description by Entertainment Weekly that is quoted in the Wikipedia article about the song. I will eventually change that Wikipedia entry. :-)

    Also, I just love the young man in the video. The way he looks over at her when he is at the table with his two friends is beautiful. And, later on, the way he so seriously looks at her when they're walking down the street together takes my breath away. I guess feeling that way never ends no matter how old you are. I am 63.

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  4. I love this song, I can totally relate! :)

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  5. Will’s songs are great storytelling. Good to know it was about Taylor Swift or may be someone. His earlier songs (‘the way it was’and ‘Loosing sleep’) sounded like he still had feelings long lasting even after break up or whatever. He’s very talented singer.

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