“Love Story” is a song by Taylor Swift, a famous American singer-songwriter. It came out as the first single from her second album called “Fearless” on September 15, 2008, through Big Machine Records.
Taylor Swift got the idea for the song from a guy who wasn’t well-liked by her family and friends. She used the story of Romeo and Juliet, a famous play by William Shakespeare, as a kind of inspiration for the song. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a troubled romance that eventually leads to a marriage proposal, which is different from the tragic ending in Shakespeare’s play.
In this article, we’ll explore the meaning behind the lyrics of “Love Story.”
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Inspiration Behind “Love Story”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times October 26, 2008, Taylor Swift explained the inspiration behind “Love Story”:
“I was going through a situation like that where I could relate. I used to be in high school where you see [a boyfriend] every day. Then I was in a situation where it wasn’t so easy for me, and I wrote this song because I could relate to the whole Romeo and Juliet thing. I was really inspired by that story.
Except for the ending. I feel like they had such promise and they were so crazy for each other. And if that had just gone a little bit differently, it could have been the best love story ever told. And it is one of the best love stories ever told, but it’s a tragedy. I thought, why can’t you… make it a happy ending and put a key change in the song and turn it into a marriage proposal?”
“Love Story” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I’m standing there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, “Hello”
Little did I know
In Verse 1 of “Love Story,” Taylor Swift is talking about the first time she saw the boy she loves.
She remembers it like a flashback, standing on a balcony in the warm summer air.
It’s a moment filled with anticipation and excitement as she sees him for the first time.
[Pre-Chorus]
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet”
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, “Please don’t go,” and I said
In the Pre-Chorus of “Love Story,” Taylor Swift talks about the challenges they face.
She compares their situation to the story of Romeo and Juliet, where her father disapproves of their relationship.
She recalls a moment when she was crying on the staircase, pleading with the boy not to leave her.
[Chorus]
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
In the Chorus of “Love Story,” Taylor Swift expresses her desire for a romantic adventure with the boy she loves, referring to him as “Romeo.”
She wants to escape together, where he’ll be the prince, and she’ll be the princess.
Taylor wants their love to be like a fairy tale and asks him to say “yes” to their love story
[Verse 2]
So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while, oh, oh
In Verse 2, the singer talks about sneaking out to meet the boy she loves in a garden, keeping their love a secret because they fear others’ disapproval.
She suggests they close their eyes and escape the town for a while, emphasizing the need for privacy and secrecy in their relationship. It reflects their determination to be together despite the obstacles.
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet”
But you were everything to me
I was begging you, “Please don’t go,” and I said
In this part, Taylor Swift compares herself to Juliet from Shakespeare’s story and the boy she loves to Romeo.
The line “I was a scarlet letter” is a metaphorical reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter.” In the novel, a woman named Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her clothing as a symbol of her sin and shame for having committed adultery.
In the context of the song, Taylor Swift is expressing that society or her family may view her relationship with the boy as something forbidden or sinful, much like how Hester Prynne was shamed in the novel.
Taylor’s father warns her to stay away from this boy, but she confesses that he means everything to her.
She recalls begging him not to leave, showing how strong her love and attachment are despite the obstacles and disapproval they face.
[Chorus 2]
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
Romeo, save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it’s real
Don’t be afraid, we’ll make it out of this mess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
In Chorus 2, Taylor Swift expresses her desire for a romantic adventure with the boy she loves, whom she refers to as “Romeo.”
She invites him to take her somewhere they can be alone, asking him to be the prince to her princess.
Taylor acknowledges that their love is facing difficulties but emphasizes that it’s real.
She reassures him not to be afraid and believes they can overcome the challenges.
[Bridge]
But I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town and I said
In the Bridge, Taylor Swift talks about waiting for the boy she loves and wondering if he will ever come back.
Her faith in him is fading, and she’s becoming unsure if he’s ever going to return.
However, she reminisces about a moment when they met on the outskirts of town, which hints at a turning point in their relationship.
This part of the song reflects a moment of uncertainty and frustration, but it also holds a glimmer of hope as she recalls their meeting.
[Chorus 3]
“Romeo, save me, I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come
Is this in my head? I don’t know what to think”
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring, and said
“Marry me, Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone
I love you and that’s all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It’s a love story, baby, just say ‘Yes'”
In Chorus 3, Taylor expresses how alone and desperate she feels, still waiting for him, unsure if he will ever come. She questions whether her feelings are real or just in her head.
However, in a surprising twist, the boy kneels down, pulls out a ring, and proposes to her.
He asks her to marry him, promising that he loves her and has even talked to her father about it.
This part of the song marks a turning point in their love story, where their love triumphs over the obstacles they faced earlier in the song.
[Outro]
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
‘Cause we were both young when I first saw you
In the Outro, Taylor Swift recalls how they were both young when they first met, emphasizing the idea that their love story began when they were inexperienced and full of hope.
It’s a nostalgic and romantic ending to the song.
Music Video
Trey Fanjoy, who had worked with Swift on previous music videos, directed “Love Story.” Swift drew inspiration from historical periods like the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Regency to create a video with a timeless story that could fit different timeframes.
In the video, it starts with Swift in modern clothing walking through a college campus, where she spots Gaston reading under a tree. Their eye contact leads to a transition to a balcony scene with Swift in a corset and gown. They dance together in a ballroom, and Gaston whispers to Swift. Later, Swift is seen in a garden with a lantern at night, having a date with Gaston before they part ways. Swift returns to the balcony and sees Gaston running towards her across a field. She rushes down the stairs to meet him. The video then shifts back to the modern college campus, where Gaston approaches Swift, and they share a meaningful gaze before the video concludes.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Love Story”
“Love Story” takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, portraying a troubled romance between two characters. According to Taylor Swift, the song is based on a real experience from her teenage years.
She had a disagreement with her parents about a boy, with her parents thinking he was not a good choice, while Taylor believed it was love. She later admitted that the boy was not a great choice, but at the time, she thought he was amazing.
When the song’s pre-chorus came to her mind: “You were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles, and my daddy said, ‘Stay away from Juliet,'” Taylor grabbed her guitar and started working out the chords on her bedroom floor.
The song may also be related to Taylor Swift’s relationship with Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers, whom she dated in 2008. The lyrics, “Romeo, take me someplace we can be alone,” reflect the challenges of their fame, where they were rarely able to have private moments due to constant public attention. “I sneak out to the garden” symbolizes their need to sneak around for private dates because of paparazzi intrusion.
The song also touches on Taylor’s father’s objections to her relationship with Joe, but she chose to ignore her father’s advice and continued dating him until their eventual breakup in October.
In an interview with The Morning Call, Taylor Swift shared the story behind the song “Love Story.” She explained:
“I wrote it about a guy that I was talking to. He wasn’t the popular choice, but I believed in it. I thought, ‘This love is different, but it’s real.’ And I knew I needed to put that line in somewhere. I think that this song is really more about a love that’s not convenient and not as comfortable as something else, but it’s something you have to fight for. I added the ending [a proposal] cause I want that ending. I want someone to say, ‘I love you and that’s all I really know.’ That’s the girly girl in me.”
Taylor Swift also explained to Billboard magazine that “Love Story” is about “a love that you’ve got to hide because for whatever reason it wouldn’t go over well. I spun it in the direction of ‘Romeo and Juliet’; our parents are fighting. I relate to it more as a love that you cannot really elaborate on – a love that maybe society wouldn’t accept [or] maybe your friends wouldn’t accept.”
In the song “Love Story,” Taylor explores the complexities of love, including both pain and joy. The majority of the song is narrated from Juliet’s perspective, with the exception of the final refrain.
In the verses, Juliet recounts the challenges in her courtship with Romeo. The first verse draws from the iconic balcony scene in Shakespeare’s play, with lyrics like “We were both young when I first saw you / I close my eyes and the flashback starts, I’m standing there / On a balcony in summer air.”
The second verse unfolds as Juliet encounters Romeo in a garden, where he reveals that he must leave due to her father’s disapproval. The line “‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter” references Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” symbolizing the forbidden nature of their love. Juliet pleads, “This love is difficult, but it’s real.”
In the final part of the song, it’s Romeo’s turn to speak. He talks about how he asks Juliet to marry him after receiving her father’s blessing: “I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress.” Unlike the tragic ending of Shakespeare’s play, the “Love Story” has a happy ending where the two characters will be together forever.
Taylor Swift’s adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet-inspired story connects deeply with teenage girls and young women, as they relate their emotions and dreams to the narrative.
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