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Taylor was inspired to write “Love Story” when she was going through a difficult situation with a boy she liked, whom she wasn’t “officially” dating. The song has been rumored to be about two singers – the first being Joe Jonas, since it was recorded in March of 2008, just a few months before she began actually dating him. Other songs such as “Forever & Always” and “Last Kiss” are more explicitly about him.
The second rumored subject of the song is Boys Like Girls front-man, Martin Johnson whom Swift had a brief fling with in 2008 and collaborated with to pen the band’s track “Two is Better Than One” and Taylor’s song “If This Was a Movie”. This is a fitting match for the “star-crossed lovers” theme of the song as sources claimed that although the pair were into each other, Taylor’s publicists felt he was not a good match for her “American sweetheart” image – with him being a punk rocker who was going through personal issues at the time.
She chose to portray the story of Romeo and Juliet in the song, because she felt like she 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.
The lyrics talk about disapproval against the relationship, and her desire to go somewhere far away with him, and escape the people who look down on them.
“Love Story” peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, and at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, just weeks after its release.
The song’s music video was described as timeless, by Swift.
‘Love Story’’s plot was a timeless scenario: I think it could happen in the 1700s, the 1800s, or 2008
The video also won the CMT Music Awards for “Video of the Year,” as well as “Female Video of the Year.”
Lyrics
[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
[Pre-Chorus 1]
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
[Chorus 1]
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"
[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
[Pre-Chorus 2]
'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
[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" Oh, oh
[Bridge]
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
[Chorus 3]
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'"
[Outro]
Oh, oh Oh, oh Because we were both young when I first saw you
