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“You Belong with Me” tells the story of a boy who is too wrapped up in a toxic relationship to see how much another girl likes him. It appears on Taylor’s sophomore album, Fearless.
Taylor said the following about the track on a page on Big Machine Records' website, which has since been removed:
I had overheard a friend of mine talking to his girlfriend and he was completely on the defensive, saying [things like] ‘I love you more than anything! Baby, I’m so sorry.’ She was just yelling at him! I felt so bad for him at that moment. So I came up with the first line ‘you’re on the phone with your girlfriend, she’s upset, she’s going off about something that you said,’ and I ran that into the storyline that I’m in love with him and he should be with me instead of her.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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 the room, it's a typical Tuesday night I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like And she'll never know your story like I do
[Pre-Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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 a while since she brought you down You say you're fine, I know you better than that Hey, whatcha doing with a girl like that?
[Pre-Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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 and waiting at your back door All this time how could you not know, baby? You belong with me, you belong with me
[Bridge]
Oh, I remember you driving to my house In the middle of the night I'm the one who makes you laugh When you know you're 'bout to cry And I know your favorite songs And you tell me 'bout your dreams Think I know where you belong Think I know it's with me
[Chorus]
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 and waiting at your back door All this time how could you not know, baby? You belong with me, you belong with me
[Outro]
You belong with me Have you ever thought just maybe You belong with me? You belong with me
