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…
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…
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting; all that’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”.
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.
’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…
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting; all that’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”.
Oh, oh.
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…
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”.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
’cause we were both young when I first saw youTop of Form
Discussion Questions
1) Why are the characters dressed in anachronistic clothing?
2) What is the significance of Taylor Swift singing from a balcony?
Meaning of Love Story
1) Romeo and Juliet
2) Fairy tale romance
3) Love versus Family
2) Fearless
There’s somethin’ ’bout the way
The street looks when it’s just rained
There’s a glow off the pavement
you walk me to the car
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there
In the middle of the parking lot
Yeah
Oh yeah
We’re drivin’ down the road
I wonder if you know
I’m tryin’ so hard not to get caught up now
But you’re just so cool
Run your hands through your hair
Absent mindedly makin’ me want you
And I don’t know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless
So baby drive slow
’til we run out of road in this one horse town
I wanna stay right here in this passenger’s seat
You put your eyes on me
In this moment now capture it, remember it
Cause I don’t know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless
Well you stood there with me in the doorway
My hands shake
I’m not usually this way but
You pull me in and I’m a little more brave
It’s the first kiss,
It’s flawless,
Really something,
It’s fearless.
Oh yeah
Cause’ I don’t know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless
Cuz I don’t know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless
Oh-oh
Oh yeah
Discussion Questions
1) Why does Taylor Swift wear a school band uniform in the video?
2) What courageous act is Taylor Swift singing about?
Meaning of Fearless
1) Love versus Fear
2) First date
3) White Horse
Say you’re sorry
That face of an angel
Comes out just when you need it to
As I paced back and forth all this time
Cause I honestly believed in you
Holding on
The days drag on
Stupid girl,
I should have known, I should have known
[Chorus:]
I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale,
I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain’t Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down,
Now it’s too late for you and your white horse to come around
Baby I was naive,
Got lost in your eyes
And never really had a chance
My mistake, I didn’t know to be in love
You had to fight to have the upper hand
I had so many dreams
About you and me
Happy endings
Now I know
[Chorus:]
I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale,
I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain’t Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down,
Now it’s too late for you and your white horse to come around
And there you are on your knees,
Begging for forgiveness, begging for me
Just like I always wanted but I’m so sorry
Cause I’m not your princess, this ain’t a fairytale,
I’m gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well
This is a big world, that was a small town
There in my rear view mirror disappearing now
And it’s too late for you and your white horse
Now it’s too late for you and your white horse to catch me now
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa
Try and catch me now
Oh, it’s too late
To catch me now
Discussion Questions
1) What is the significance of the reference to a “white horse”?
2) Compare and contrast White Horse and Love Story.
Meaning of White Horse
1) Infidelity
2) End of a relationship
3) Not a fairy tale
4) Explain the white horse reference.
4) Fifteen
You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It’s the morning of your very first day
You say “Hi” to your friends you ain’t seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody’s way
It’s your freshman year and you’re gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
“You know I haven’t seen you around, before”
’cause when you’re fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You’re gonna believe them
And when you’re fifteen
Feeling like there nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you’re gonna be
Fifteen
You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you’re best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they’re so cool
We’ll be out of here as soon as we can
And then you’re on your very first date and hes got a car
And you’re feeling like flying
And you’re mommas waiting up and you think hes the one
And you’re dancing round your room when the night ends
When the night ends
’cause when you’re fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You’re gonna believe them
When you’re fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin round but
In your life you’ll do things greater than dating the boy of the football team
But I didn’t know it at fifteen
When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now
Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried
’cause when you’re fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You’re gonna believe them
And when you’re fifteen, don’t forget to look before you fall
Ive found that time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you’re supposed to be
I didn’t know who I was supposed to be at fifteen
La la la la la .. la la la la la .. La la la la la
Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through those doors.
Discussion Questions
1) What happened to Abigail?
2) What does the door symbolize?
Meaning of Fifteen
1) Being underage but having sexual feelings
2) Pressure from boys at that age
3) I know what boys want
The Waitresses I Know What Boys Like
You’re on the phone
with your girlfriend ‒ she’s upset
She’s going off
about something that you said
’cause she doesn’t get your humor like I do.
I’m in my room ‒ it’s a typical Tuesday night.
I’m listening to the kind of music she doesn’t like.
She’ll never know your story like I do.
But she wears short skirts
I wear t-shirts
She’s cheer captain
And I’m on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you’re looking for has been here the whole time.
If you could see
That I’m the one
Who understands you
Been here all along
So why can’t you see
you belong with me,
You belong with me?
Walking the streets
With you and your worn out jeans
I can’t help thinking
This is how it ought to be.
Laughing on a park bench
Thinking to myself
“Hey, isn’t this easy?”
And you’ve got a smile
That could light up this whole town.
I haven’t seen it in awhile
Since she brought you down.
You say you’re fine –
I know you better than that.
Hey, what you doing
With a girl like that?
She wears high heels,
I wear sneakers.
She’s cheer captain,
And I’m on the bleachers.
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
that what you’re looking for has been here the whole time.
If you could see
That I’m the one
Who understands you
Been here all along
So why can’t you see
you belong with me?
Standing by you
Waiting at your backdoor.
All this time
How could you not know, baby
You belong with me,
You belong with me?
[Instrumental]
Oh, I remember you were driving to my house
In the middle of the night.
I’m the one who makes you laugh
When you know you’re about to cry.
I know your favorite songs,
And you tell me about your dreams.
Think I know where you belong,
Think I know it’s with me.
Can’t you see
That I’m the one
Who understands you?
Been here all along
So why can’t you see
You belong with me?
Standing by you
Waiting at your backdoor.
All this time
How could you not know, baby,
You belong with me,
You belong with me?
You belong with me.
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me?
You belong with me.
Discussion Questions
1) Compare and contrast Taylor Swift’s two roles in the video.
2) Why do good little boys like bad girls?
Meaning of You Belong with Me
1) Good girls versus Bad girls
2) Friend versus Lover
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see
That I want and I’m needing everything that we should be
I’ll bet she’s beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she’s got everything that I have to live without
Drew talks to me, I laugh ’cause it’s just so funny [radio version]
Drew talks to me, I laugh ’cause it’s so damn funny [CD version]
And I can’t even see anyone when he’s with me
He says he’s so in love, he’s finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he’s all I think about at night
[Chorus:]
He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He’s the song in the car I keep singing, don’t know why I do
Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can’t breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she’s lucky ’cause
[Chorus]
So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I’ll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight
He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who’s got enough of me to break my heart
He’s the song in the car I keep singing, don’t know why I do
He’s the time taken up, but there’s never enough
And he’s all that I need to fall into.
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see.
Discussion Questions
1) Compare and contrast Teardrops on My Guitar with You Belong with Me.
2) Compare and contrast how Tanya Swift dresses in this video versus previous videos.
Meaning of Teardrops On My Guitar
1) Similar to “You Belong with Me”
2) I want to your girlfriend not your girl friend.
I’m so glad you made time to see me.
How’s life? Tell me how’s your family.
I haven’t seen them in a while.
You’ve been good, busier than ever,
We small talk, work and the weather,
Your guard is up and I know why.
Because the last time you saw me
Is still burned in the back of your mind.
You gave me roses and I left them there to die.
So this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying, “I’m sorry for that night,”
And I go back to December all the time.
It turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you.
Wishing I’d realized what I had when you were mine.
I’d go back to December, turn around and make it all right.
I go back to December all the time.
These days I haven’t been sleeping,
Staying up, playing back myself leavin’.
When your birthday passed and I didn’t call.
And I think about summer, all the beautiful times,
I watched you laughing from the passenger side.
Realized that I loved you in the fall.
And then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was “Goodbye”.
So this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you saying, “I’m sorry for that night.”
And I go back to December all the time.
It turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you,
Wishing I’d realized what I had when you were mine.
I’d go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time.
I miss your tanned skin, your sweet smile,
So good to me, so right
And how you held me in your arms that September night –
The first time you ever saw me cry.
Maybe this is wishful thinking,
Probably mindless dreaming,
But if we loved again, I swear I’d love you right.
I’d go back in time and change it but I can’t.
So if the chain is on your door I understand.
But this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you saying, “I’m sorry for that night.”
And I go back to December…
It turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you,
Wishing I’d realize what I had when you were mine.
I’d go back to December, turn around and make it all right.
I’d go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time.
All the time.
Discussion Questions
1) What is the timeline of Back to December?
2) What do you think about long distance romances?
Meaning of Back to December
1) The song is an apology.
2) About long distance romance
8) Speak Now
I am not the kind of girl
Who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion
But you are not the kind of boy
Who should be marrying the wrong girl
I sneak in and see your friends
And her snotty little family all dressed in pastel
And she is yelling at a bridesmaid
Somewhere back inside a room
Wearing a gown shaped like a pastry
This is surely not what you thought it would be
I lose myself in a daydream
Where I stand and say
[Chorus:]
Don’t say “Yes”, run away now
I’ll meet you when you’re out of the church at the back door
Don’t wait or say a single vow
You need to hear me out
And they said, “Speak now”
Fond gestures are exchanged
And the organ starts to play
A song that sounds like a death march
And I am hiding in the curtains
It seems that I was uninvited by your lovely bride-to-be
She floats down the aisle like a pageant queen
But I know you wish it was me,
You wish it was me,
Don’t you?
[Chorus:]
Don’t say “Yes”, run away now,
I’ll meet you when you’re out of the church at the back door.
Don’t wait or say a single vow,
You need to hear me out,
And they said, “Speak now”.
Don’t say “Yes”, run away now,
I’ll meet you when you’re out of the church at the back door.
Don’t wait or say a single vow,
Your time is running out,
And they said, “Speak now”.
Oh, la, la
Oh, oh
Say a single vow
I hear the preacher say, “Speak now or forever hold your peace”
There’s the silence, there’s my last chance.
I stand up with shaky hands, all eyes on me.
Horrified looks from everyone in the room
But I’m only looking at you.
I am not the kind of girl
Who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion
But you are not the kind of boy
Who should be marrying the wrong girl
[Chorus:]
So, don’t say “Yes”, run away now,
I’ll meet you when you’re out of the church at the back door.
Don’t wait or say a single vow,
You need to hear me out,
And they said, “Speak now”.
And you’ll say “Let’s run away now,
I’ll meet you when I’m out of my tux at the back door.
Baby, I didn’t say my vows,
So glad you were around
When they said, “Speak now”.
Discussion Questions
1) What does the phrase “speak now or forever hold your peace” mean?
2) Would you ever speak up in a similar situation?
Meaning of Speak Now
1) Speak now or forever hold your peace
2) Sometimes we regret what we don’t say
Group 1 – Explain the song Love Story MTV to the class.
Group 2 – Explain the song Fearless MTV to the class.
Group 3 – Explain the song White Horse MTV to the class.
Group 4 – Explain the song Fifteen MTV to the class.
Group 5 – Explain the song You Belong With Me MTV to the class.
Group 6 – Explain the song Teardrops On My Guitar MTV to the class.
Group 7 – Explain the song Back to December MTV to the class.
Group 8 – Explain the song Speak Now MTV to the class.
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