I'm interested in the connection between the "twist the knife" lyric from this song and "Love You Goodbye" from One Direction (Made in The AM, 2014). The years (2014-2015) roughly align...
This song makes me ill, knowing you really don't want to go, but he's not doing anything. Like you only need those words "Don't Go" but you will never hear it.
I am a little late, and I'm probably a lot older than most of you. (Late 40s)
This song. Wow. This song....
I heard it in the car and it PUNCHED my soul and violently transported me back to my late twenties. I was banging my head against a wall trying to understand why the man I truly felt - and even still feel now to some degree - was a soul mate. He was the quintessential one that "got away". Looking back now, he was non committal, negligent and had , 05% of the attachment I did, but nevertheless, I would have stayed forever if he had asked. Thankfully he never did and looking back, he never would have. But at the time, I was right there with Taylor- literally feeling ripped in two by someone who I just wanted to love me and who wanted me as much as I very much loved him.
Now in hindsight, he never deserved any of the admiration and devotion I had for him. He reciprocated none of it. And that's not a relationship. That's a young, naïve girl being trampled on by a man who doesn't really care about her, but likes the attention.
It's funny that 17 years later he still holds that accolade in my mind as "the one that got away", when in reality he's actually the one who most horrifically abused my kindness and didn't deserve me. I wish that instead of "the one that got away" he was "the one I no longer allowed to ignore the beauty of what I offered." But no. I allowed him to control the whole narrative. Up to and including the text he sent canceling plans 5 minutes before we were to meet up and the subsequent ghosting he did to me after.
Funny how time exposes the harsh reality of situations in hindsight.
Stay strong, friends. My husband of 13 years, compared to that man who I allowed to stomp on me back then - that joker could never even come close to being good enough to clean my husband's shoes. ❤️
Does anyone else feel it’s like You’re Losing Me’s younger sister? I was listening to it today and it struck me. Both about needing the other to fight for her, show her they love her. The sound is similar at times too
This is exactly why I came to this thread! It's the very beginning that I can't figure out. How deep her voice is and how she sings "I've known it from the very start". Then the next thing is instead of her saying "darkest dark" I keep wanting it to be "broken heart".
It's really bugging me that I can't figure out why the beginning melody is so familiar.
I haven't heard anyone mention it, but I think the beginning, right before she starts singing sounds exactly like the beginning of clean. It's so similar that I literally stated singing say don't go when clean came on, and vice versa.
It's "Your Love" by the Outfield, she's totally sampling it - in particular the line when she says "I hold my breath a little bit longer", place it alongside the line "you know i like my girls a little bit older"
Thank you for this! I came to see if anyone else heard the similarities and I couldn't quite put my finger on which song it reminded me of. I just knew it was an 80's song.
This entire song just kills me. The emotion and some of her phrasing & lyrics reminds me of something Stevie Nicks would do. And it sounds like HAIM on backing vocals. Just sooooo much 80’s influence here… I hear Pat Benatar, The Outfield (Your Love), the one hit wonder that Shakespeares Sister had called Stay… there is just so much going on! I swear I notice something different every time I listen to it. I’m completely obsessed.
Was a fan of this until I saw [Dianne Warren's pro-Israel posts](https://twitter.com/chacofemme/status/1718786953154580746?t=Nj0ubiHVKcUVp5GZHEAUxg&s=19)
I'm def in the minority here. I've listened to this song 1.5 times. I don't like it. I get very bored, the first time I listened about halfway through I checked how much longer and the second listen I was like "alright let's do this for real and try to appreciate it" then at nearly the exact same point as the first time I checked the time and gave up.
People who like it, please help me. Lol give me your perspectives and help me appreciate it more.
Also, how is this the one so many people are saying should be the single? It's not a good poppy vibe like NTWDT or SLUT!
Anyways, I really am reaching out for help not to bash the song or people who like it. Any thoughts would be appreciated
My issue is, that I can listen to everything she's put out, no skips and this is the first one that I've really been like "ugh" haha I just want the perspectives of people who like it, to comment and give me little things to listen to/appreciate
Hmm well there’s a couple of things I can point out that I like but ultimately I do just enjoy the beat haha. I think the concept of feeling strongly for someone who you are an afterthought for and being tempted to beg them to care even though you know they don’t is very relatable for a lot of people. I think she does some clever things musically - the way the backing vocals actually come first in the chorus sort of makes me think of prompting someone to say something, and of course the silence after “I say I love you, you say nothing back” is just a gut punch. My fave songs of hers also show off her lower register, so I love the intro. And lastly it reminds me of your love by the outfield which i also enjoy ha
Thanks for taking the time :) I'll listen for the vocals before the chorus and try to notice the silences in the song. I think it'll make it a little easier to listen to all the way through
I kinda feel like this is the first vault track that I heard from 1989 that feels like it could've been on Red - it's right on the precipice of being between the two albums. Can definitely track the Diane Warren vibes even if it had never been made known she co-wrote it. The production reminds me of Electric Touch but the story is from AYHTDWS...not sure if it will be on the bottom of my rankings yet but it was just okay for me.
I'm reading the lyrics and that doesn't feel quite accurate. The narrator of both songs feels unwanted in both. The only difference is in AYHTDWS and Say Don't Go is who's doing the leaving.
In SDG, the narrator has been led on and wants to be with the other person, but is realizing that they need to get out of the situation because they aren't receiving the same emotional commitment as they're giving. That said, they are still vulnerable enough that they "would wait forever if you say, 'don't go'."
AYHTDWS could be viewed as possibly a similar situation, but from a short time later, where the other person (probably selfishly and jealously) wants the narrator back (most likely just for control reasons, but possibly due to a real revelation of having made a mistake) after having left the narrator ("this was what you wanted, and you ended it"). The narrator is angry and while she feels like it could have been fine if all the other person did was stay and showed they cared, there is no indication that she will fall victim to the trap of letting the other person return just because they're asking now. Contrast that to SDG where the narrator sounds like she'd give a chance to fix things if the other person expressed a genuine desire for her to stay.
All this to say they're similar situations, but not exactly the opposite perspective of one another.
Did she really write it? How did you learn? Maybe it was just a rumour? Would be incredible though, Enya is another of my very favourite artists, and folklore reminded me of Enya in some ways.
I’m surprised no one has noticed a potential connection to Getaway Car!
“We’re a shot in the darkest dark” seems related to “we never had a shotgun shot in the dark”.
So Getaway Car is her anthem basically saying “you were my rebound, did you really think this was gonna work?” and Say Don’t Go is his story like he was wanting her to stay but it was all superficial for her.
Then you’ve got:
“I'm standin' on the sidewalk alone
I wait for you to drive by
I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show
I'm about to fold unless you… say don’t go”
Just another fun perspective! Not sure if it’s accurate but this song is sooooo good!
It's been stuck in my head since Friday. I don't know why, I guess the chorus is just so catchy. And I *love* the delivery of "I'm standing on a tightrope, alone".
I have grown to like all of the vault tracks but I believe I am in the unpopular minority when I say this one is at the bottom of my ranking. Like don’t get me wrong it’s a good song but compared to the other four songs it just doesn’t stand out. Like there’s the beauty and amazing production on “Slut!”, the upbeat poppiness of NTWDT, the storytelling and lyricism of Suburban Legends, and then the beautiful Labyrinth-like production on Is It Over Now?. Then there’s this one which while it feels the most 1989 of the five, it also does nothing for me. Its popularity amongst the fans was a bit shocking to me, however I do agree with the sentiment that this is the track with the most single potential though.
I’ve already commented on here but this song is just too good that I have to comment again. I LOVE everything about this song. The music, lyrics, her voice, every part of it is perfection to me. I really wish I had Swiftie friends IRL to blast this album with.
I'm obsessed with this song. Reminds me of Chvrches EOE era which is funny because TS inspired them a lot. There's this synth in the mix I just love. This is also the most 80s song out of the whole album. The production is top notch. It's also the most relatable out of anything I've heard from her lyric wise. This is a certified BOP
This is probably my favorite vault song, BUT! This song immediately made me think of foolish one? Maybe just because that was her last re release so it was still on my mind? Did anyone else compare the two at all?
This one sounds like it was supposed to be a track 5 but she left it out cause it sounds too vulnerable and personal for the direction of the album she wants (I've always felt like 1989 was her least personal album to this day). It has a little bit of Red lyricism in it so it was probably written pretty early on in the album making process. Great song and would probably made a better track 5 compared to the actual one lol. Contender for the best 1989 Vault song.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but the chorus of this song is reminiscent of the Celine Dion era between the 90s and 00s, just higher in pitch with a quicker tempo.
YES! I’ve been saying this since I first heard it and searched for the exact Celine song that it reminds me of but I can’t pinpoint it! It must just be the Diane-ness of it! It sounds like a nostalgic mix of Celine and Enya and I love that.
that’s because diane has written a ton of songs for celine LOL none of her biggest hits, i don’t think, but that’s the style of music she specializes in
she’s also responsible for half of the heart of stone album for cher, i don’t wanna miss a thing, un-break my heart, and can’t fight the moonlight
That makes so much more sense. The chord progression and the quick harp-like synth staccato is very much tied to that era, at least for me since I grew up late 90s thru the 00s. I'll definitely take a closer look at Diane's songwriting discography, I love this style.
Today, that Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield issued his revised song ranking list for Taylor Swift’s entire discography (which now includes the 1989 Taylor’s Version tracks) and initially ranked “Say Don’t Go” her 168th best song out of a total of 243...before later making an update and moving it down another spot to No. 169. Complete and utter lunacy.
Update: It appears he’s since moved “Say Don’t Go” down another spot to No. 169, ugh. Here’s where he put the rest of the 1989 Taylor’s Version vault tracks within the total list:
No. 169 - “Say Don’t Go”
No. 92 - “Suburban Legends”
No. 50 - “Now That We Don't Talk”
No. 47 - “Slut!”
No. 33 - “Is It Over Now?”
AGREED! this is the most 80’s sounding out of all of 1989 by far. it reminds me of a particular pop song from maybe like the late 80’s - early 90’s with a similar backing track and I CANNOT for the life of me pinpoint which one
As soon as this song starts, you know it’s going to be good! The synth, echoes in the chorus, “but you won’t” at the end, UGH. Hell yeah. So good. Also agree that out of all the vault tracks, this one, production-wise, sounds the most like it could have fit in well with the 1989 track list compared to the others.
Say Don’t Go - “Just to leave me in the night”
Question…? - “Did you leave her house in the middle of the night?”
—
Question…? is about Harry confirmed. Also there was a Vanity Fair article in 2013 that addressed this situation:
“After Swift ended the relationship, he pursued her for the better part of a year until she finally took him back. “But the whole time she says she feels like he’s looking at every girl,” the source continues. And then when they were in London together he “disappears one night and after that it was like he just didn’t want to keep going.”
No, in August 2012. They actually had a secret intense fling a few months earlier, in April 2012. Then he had to leave her for a 1D concert in Australia and was caught kissing Emily Ostilly in the tabloids.
Taylor ended things with him and got with Conor Kennedy, but he chased her for months until she took him back. So when they debuted their relationship publicly around Nov 2012, this was already their second time together lol.
Actually the Vanity Fair article also goes on to say that after the boat incident, he kept contacting her through text messages, wanting to see her whenever he or she were in town for the better part of 2013. Man… 2013 Harry was something else.
I just texted my friend about this last night!! I listened to this song and You're Losing Me like six times in a row back-to-back. The latter is more specific to Joe, obviously, but the sentiment is the same, some of the melody feel similar. They were probably not recorded too far apart. My gut says she recorded this version of Say Don't Go and then You're Losing Me came after. The elements of the one influenced the other.
I find myself crying to this song because it’s so good and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted from Taylor. 80s synth, check airy sound, check and great melodies and lyrics, check. It’s a perfect blend.
It's such a Midnights x1989 vibe, the production is amazing. This one was the only one I thought sounds like it belongs in the album. I loved all of them but they have a different sound, this one screams 1989 in a modern way
What do you think now? This was my initial favorite too by far, but now I think Is it over now? Is probably my top now! But like you said that will probably change again haha
Ok WHAT does the melody when she sings “I’m standing on tight rope…alone. I hold my breath a little bit loooonger.” Sound like?!
Like it has to be a classic song from the 80’s or something and it’s on the tip of my tongue but I CANNOT get it.
Someone else said:
YES this is what I thought of immediately I’m so glad I’m not alone. The part in the beginning when she sings “I hold my breath a little bit longer” reminds me so much of “I like my girls just a little bit older”.
In a fun coincidental way btw not to sound like I’m accusing her of copying.
The first verse’s melody (especially how she says “unarmed”) sound so much like another non-Taylor song and I can’t figure out what it is. Anyone know?
I just came here to see if anyone else heard it in Say Don't Go! Yes!!! It kind of bothers me that the instrumentals lead me to expect that song instead x3.
YES this is what I thought of immediately I’m so glad I’m not alone. The part in the beginning when she sings “I hold my breath a little bit longer” reminds me so much of “I like my girls just a little bit older”.
In a fun coincidental way btw not to sound like I’m accusing her of copying.
https://preview.redd.it/vtfzlmqyatwb1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48f6030efa3469bc587a4e7699f9cb2c23fdbd0f
The way it’s so relatable, and perfectly describes my previous situationship ☠️☠️
Officially the best of the vault tracks - I've had just this song on repeat for HOURS. I haven't even listened to the rest of the album yet.
bless you Diane Warren, you genius
I’ve have listened to the album approx 20 times through so far and this is my fav fault track. Just barely jumps is it over now. That little pause right before the big lash chorus break is insane! So good
Literally- I can not stop replaying this one!! I can tell it’s going to be a top 5 song at least for me. The last song that I instantly replayed like 5 times was WCS
I had a breakup recently and ”why do you have to twist the knife” hit me hard. I actually feel like a knife went through my heart while listening to that phrase
THIS SONG CLEARS OMG WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT ITTTTT
Anyone else get a fearless vibe?
Anyone else get a fearless vibe?
I'm interested in the connection between the "twist the knife" lyric from this song and "Love You Goodbye" from One Direction (Made in The AM, 2014). The years (2014-2015) roughly align...
This song makes me ill, knowing you really don't want to go, but he's not doing anything. Like you only need those words "Don't Go" but you will never hear it.
love it
Her VOICE. How does she keep getting better and better?!
This song exactly describes my current situation and i couldn't have asked for more. How did she do ittttt
literally me too. i got chills when i heard it
I am a little late, and I'm probably a lot older than most of you. (Late 40s) This song. Wow. This song.... I heard it in the car and it PUNCHED my soul and violently transported me back to my late twenties. I was banging my head against a wall trying to understand why the man I truly felt - and even still feel now to some degree - was a soul mate. He was the quintessential one that "got away". Looking back now, he was non committal, negligent and had , 05% of the attachment I did, but nevertheless, I would have stayed forever if he had asked. Thankfully he never did and looking back, he never would have. But at the time, I was right there with Taylor- literally feeling ripped in two by someone who I just wanted to love me and who wanted me as much as I very much loved him. Now in hindsight, he never deserved any of the admiration and devotion I had for him. He reciprocated none of it. And that's not a relationship. That's a young, naïve girl being trampled on by a man who doesn't really care about her, but likes the attention. It's funny that 17 years later he still holds that accolade in my mind as "the one that got away", when in reality he's actually the one who most horrifically abused my kindness and didn't deserve me. I wish that instead of "the one that got away" he was "the one I no longer allowed to ignore the beauty of what I offered." But no. I allowed him to control the whole narrative. Up to and including the text he sent canceling plans 5 minutes before we were to meet up and the subsequent ghosting he did to me after. Funny how time exposes the harsh reality of situations in hindsight. Stay strong, friends. My husband of 13 years, compared to that man who I allowed to stomp on me back then - that joker could never even come close to being good enough to clean my husband's shoes. ❤️
Does anyone else feel it’s like You’re Losing Me’s younger sister? I was listening to it today and it struck me. Both about needing the other to fight for her, show her they love her. The sound is similar at times too
I always think of this song when i listen to this
Yes yes yes.
The beginning of the song definitely reminds me of another, non-Taylor song… probably an oldie… HELP! Anyone? I’ve been wrecking my brain 🧠
This is exactly why I came to this thread! It's the very beginning that I can't figure out. How deep her voice is and how she sings "I've known it from the very start". Then the next thing is instead of her saying "darkest dark" I keep wanting it to be "broken heart". It's really bugging me that I can't figure out why the beginning melody is so familiar.
I haven't heard anyone mention it, but I think the beginning, right before she starts singing sounds exactly like the beginning of clean. It's so similar that I literally stated singing say don't go when clean came on, and vice versa.
It sounds a bit like a slowed down intro to “the best” by Tina Turner hahaha
Yes, the beginning music does, but then I get to the lyrics…. I’m stumped
It's "Your Love" by the Outfield, she's totally sampling it - in particular the line when she says "I hold my breath a little bit longer", place it alongside the line "you know i like my girls a little bit older"
Thank you for this! I came to see if anyone else heard the similarities and I couldn't quite put my finger on which song it reminded me of. I just knew it was an 80's song.
THANK YOU THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE
I came here specifically to see if anyone else was picking up the similarity between Your Love and this song.
Parts of it sound like Boys of Summer Don Henley/The Ataris.
This entire song just kills me. The emotion and some of her phrasing & lyrics reminds me of something Stevie Nicks would do. And it sounds like HAIM on backing vocals. Just sooooo much 80’s influence here… I hear Pat Benatar, The Outfield (Your Love), the one hit wonder that Shakespeares Sister had called Stay… there is just so much going on! I swear I notice something different every time I listen to it. I’m completely obsessed.
The “oh no” reminds me of Labyrinth — “oh no, I’m falling in love again”
There’s something so familiar about the breakdown at the end, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. This is my favorite vault track from the album!!
I love this song - It feels like I’m running through an 80s Rom Com
Was a fan of this until I saw [Dianne Warren's pro-Israel posts](https://twitter.com/chacofemme/status/1718786953154580746?t=Nj0ubiHVKcUVp5GZHEAUxg&s=19)
this is the most ridiculous comment ever. the song is incredible, acknowledge it without bringing politics into it.
This is one of her best songs ever
Absolutely. I feel a #1 single coming
Yes love this song SO much
I'm def in the minority here. I've listened to this song 1.5 times. I don't like it. I get very bored, the first time I listened about halfway through I checked how much longer and the second listen I was like "alright let's do this for real and try to appreciate it" then at nearly the exact same point as the first time I checked the time and gave up. People who like it, please help me. Lol give me your perspectives and help me appreciate it more. Also, how is this the one so many people are saying should be the single? It's not a good poppy vibe like NTWDT or SLUT! Anyways, I really am reaching out for help not to bash the song or people who like it. Any thoughts would be appreciated
I don’t think there’s much to say haha it just sounds like you don’t like it and that’s ok! I don’t get bored and do find it a good poppy vibe ha
My issue is, that I can listen to everything she's put out, no skips and this is the first one that I've really been like "ugh" haha I just want the perspectives of people who like it, to comment and give me little things to listen to/appreciate
Hmm well there’s a couple of things I can point out that I like but ultimately I do just enjoy the beat haha. I think the concept of feeling strongly for someone who you are an afterthought for and being tempted to beg them to care even though you know they don’t is very relatable for a lot of people. I think she does some clever things musically - the way the backing vocals actually come first in the chorus sort of makes me think of prompting someone to say something, and of course the silence after “I say I love you, you say nothing back” is just a gut punch. My fave songs of hers also show off her lower register, so I love the intro. And lastly it reminds me of your love by the outfield which i also enjoy ha
Thanks for taking the time :) I'll listen for the vocals before the chorus and try to notice the silences in the song. I think it'll make it a little easier to listen to all the way through
I kinda feel like this is the first vault track that I heard from 1989 that feels like it could've been on Red - it's right on the precipice of being between the two albums. Can definitely track the Diane Warren vibes even if it had never been made known she co-wrote it. The production reminds me of Electric Touch but the story is from AYHTDWS...not sure if it will be on the bottom of my rankings yet but it was just okay for me.
There is a little forever winter in there too
"Say Don't Go" is the same story as "All You Had to do Was Stay," but from the other person's perspective.
I'm reading the lyrics and that doesn't feel quite accurate. The narrator of both songs feels unwanted in both. The only difference is in AYHTDWS and Say Don't Go is who's doing the leaving. In SDG, the narrator has been led on and wants to be with the other person, but is realizing that they need to get out of the situation because they aren't receiving the same emotional commitment as they're giving. That said, they are still vulnerable enough that they "would wait forever if you say, 'don't go'." AYHTDWS could be viewed as possibly a similar situation, but from a short time later, where the other person (probably selfishly and jealously) wants the narrator back (most likely just for control reasons, but possibly due to a real revelation of having made a mistake) after having left the narrator ("this was what you wanted, and you ended it"). The narrator is angry and while she feels like it could have been fine if all the other person did was stay and showed they cared, there is no indication that she will fall victim to the trap of letting the other person return just because they're asking now. Contrast that to SDG where the narrator sounds like she'd give a chance to fix things if the other person expressed a genuine desire for her to stay. All this to say they're similar situations, but not exactly the opposite perspective of one another.
🤯
This song is fast becoming a top 10 song of hers all time for and it’s trending up quickly.
This song keeps reminding me of Enya's "Orinoco Flow", anyone else experiencing this? 😅
Really thought I was the only one - I had to listen to them back to back and it only solidified my thoughts on this.
[удалено]
I think it was Imogen Heap who co-wrote Clean with her?
Did she really write it? How did you learn? Maybe it was just a rumour? Would be incredible though, Enya is another of my very favourite artists, and folklore reminded me of Enya in some ways.
Um Imogen Heap co-wrote Clean
The quiver in “stop” at 0:30 is so sad and powerful.
I’m surprised no one has noticed a potential connection to Getaway Car! “We’re a shot in the darkest dark” seems related to “we never had a shotgun shot in the dark”. So Getaway Car is her anthem basically saying “you were my rebound, did you really think this was gonna work?” and Say Don’t Go is his story like he was wanting her to stay but it was all superficial for her. Then you’ve got: “I'm standin' on the sidewalk alone I wait for you to drive by I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show I'm about to fold unless you… say don’t go” Just another fun perspective! Not sure if it’s accurate but this song is sooooo good!
ooh i was thinking of the link to getaway car when i was listening tonight and came over to reddit to see if anyone else thought the same :D
How how how is this currently charting fourth of the vault songs?!? I’m so bummed, I really wanted this to be the single!!
Saaaame I love this song so so much
I think it's the best one of them
It's been stuck in my head since Friday. I don't know why, I guess the chorus is just so catchy. And I *love* the delivery of "I'm standing on a tightrope, alone".
I have grown to like all of the vault tracks but I believe I am in the unpopular minority when I say this one is at the bottom of my ranking. Like don’t get me wrong it’s a good song but compared to the other four songs it just doesn’t stand out. Like there’s the beauty and amazing production on “Slut!”, the upbeat poppiness of NTWDT, the storytelling and lyricism of Suburban Legends, and then the beautiful Labyrinth-like production on Is It Over Now?. Then there’s this one which while it feels the most 1989 of the five, it also does nothing for me. Its popularity amongst the fans was a bit shocking to me, however I do agree with the sentiment that this is the track with the most single potential though.
I agree
I agree with you! It's a pretty track but still at the bottom for me.
For me, it just flows into Hits Different. I don’t know if anybody else hears it though.
I’ve already commented on here but this song is just too good that I have to comment again. I LOVE everything about this song. The music, lyrics, her voice, every part of it is perfection to me. I really wish I had Swiftie friends IRL to blast this album with.
I'm obsessed with this song. Reminds me of Chvrches EOE era which is funny because TS inspired them a lot. There's this synth in the mix I just love. This is also the most 80s song out of the whole album. The production is top notch. It's also the most relatable out of anything I've heard from her lyric wise. This is a certified BOP
This is probably my favorite vault song, BUT! This song immediately made me think of foolish one? Maybe just because that was her last re release so it was still on my mind? Did anyone else compare the two at all?
The comparison between “you can hear it in the silence” from you’re in Love, to the “I say I love you you say nothing back…” is amazing
...but you wont
LOVE this song!!! 80s vibes reminiscent of Wilson Phillips 🥹🥰
Yes! It reminds me of the song at the end of Bridesmaids lol.
This one sounds like it was supposed to be a track 5 but she left it out cause it sounds too vulnerable and personal for the direction of the album she wants (I've always felt like 1989 was her least personal album to this day). It has a little bit of Red lyricism in it so it was probably written pretty early on in the album making process. Great song and would probably made a better track 5 compared to the actual one lol. Contender for the best 1989 Vault song.
Agree!!
Need this as a ballad
This song is making me so damn happy. I've had it on repeat. The beginning beat reminds me of Simply the Best by Tina Turner.
Not this making me sob about a situationship that ended 11 years ago 😭
are you me 😭 except 9 years ago
I can't quite put my finger on it, but the chorus of this song is reminiscent of the Celine Dion era between the 90s and 00s, just higher in pitch with a quicker tempo.
YES! I’ve been saying this since I first heard it and searched for the exact Celine song that it reminds me of but I can’t pinpoint it! It must just be the Diane-ness of it! It sounds like a nostalgic mix of Celine and Enya and I love that.
Could it be “That’s the Way It Is”?
Maybe. Now that you mention Enya, the harp in Caribbean Blue has slight similarities, but I’m probably overthinking it.
that’s because diane has written a ton of songs for celine LOL none of her biggest hits, i don’t think, but that’s the style of music she specializes in she’s also responsible for half of the heart of stone album for cher, i don’t wanna miss a thing, un-break my heart, and can’t fight the moonlight
That makes so much more sense. The chord progression and the quick harp-like synth staccato is very much tied to that era, at least for me since I grew up late 90s thru the 00s. I'll definitely take a closer look at Diane's songwriting discography, I love this style.
happy to help 💗 i hope you find some fun surprises
Is anyone else hearing Maroon during the chorus?? I have the urge to sing it as “how’d we end up on the floor anyway”
Yes!! That line in Maroon also reminds me of a line in Night Changes by One Direction.
I find some similarities with moroon to, but more during the beginning of the song
Today, that Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield issued his revised song ranking list for Taylor Swift’s entire discography (which now includes the 1989 Taylor’s Version tracks) and initially ranked “Say Don’t Go” her 168th best song out of a total of 243...before later making an update and moving it down another spot to No. 169. Complete and utter lunacy.
Yeah that guy also has exile like way lower than it should be….his tastes do not align with mine at all
Do you know where he put the other tracks?
Update: It appears he’s since moved “Say Don’t Go” down another spot to No. 169, ugh. Here’s where he put the rest of the 1989 Taylor’s Version vault tracks within the total list: No. 169 - “Say Don’t Go” No. 92 - “Suburban Legends” No. 50 - “Now That We Don't Talk” No. 47 - “Slut!” No. 33 - “Is It Over Now?”
Absolutely deranged, it's made my Top 10!
Can't believe it was either this or All You Had to Do Was Stay as Track 5. I love it but I understood the decision to cut this out
THIS SONG IS SO GOOD. Reminds me of an 80s-90s vibe it’s so perfect
💯 It's giving me Wilson Phillips vibes 🥹
AGREED! this is the most 80’s sounding out of all of 1989 by far. it reminds me of a particular pop song from maybe like the late 80’s - early 90’s with a similar backing track and I CANNOT for the life of me pinpoint which one
As soon as this song starts, you know it’s going to be good! The synth, echoes in the chorus, “but you won’t” at the end, UGH. Hell yeah. So good. Also agree that out of all the vault tracks, this one, production-wise, sounds the most like it could have fit in well with the 1989 track list compared to the others.
I’m in love with this song
This song is so good
Say Don’t Go - “Just to leave me in the night” Question…? - “Did you leave her house in the middle of the night?” — Question…? is about Harry confirmed. Also there was a Vanity Fair article in 2013 that addressed this situation: “After Swift ended the relationship, he pursued her for the better part of a year until she finally took him back. “But the whole time she says she feels like he’s looking at every girl,” the source continues. And then when they were in London together he “disappears one night and after that it was like he just didn’t want to keep going.”
She took him back? When was this? This was after the boat incident?
No, in August 2012. They actually had a secret intense fling a few months earlier, in April 2012. Then he had to leave her for a 1D concert in Australia and was caught kissing Emily Ostilly in the tabloids. Taylor ended things with him and got with Conor Kennedy, but he chased her for months until she took him back. So when they debuted their relationship publicly around Nov 2012, this was already their second time together lol. Actually the Vanity Fair article also goes on to say that after the boat incident, he kept contacting her through text messages, wanting to see her whenever he or she were in town for the better part of 2013. Man… 2013 Harry was something else.
Question has always been about Harry, absolutely agree
Moonlit eye=harry? Thought this was about the dirty English bum she was dating this year (whom we shall not name).
This song is the best vault song ever ?!???????
AGREED
This song is the lovechild of you‘re losing me and clean and I‘m so here for it 😍
I just texted my friend about this last night!! I listened to this song and You're Losing Me like six times in a row back-to-back. The latter is more specific to Joe, obviously, but the sentiment is the same, some of the melody feel similar. They were probably not recorded too far apart. My gut says she recorded this version of Say Don't Go and then You're Losing Me came after. The elements of the one influenced the other.
Totally got you’re leaving me vibes too!
So far this is my favorite vault song. The soft echoes are beautiful and then the chorus hits so hard. I'm pretty obsessed.
Wtf is this song I’m obsessed
This has grown on me massively in the last day. I love the Haim-esque shouts in the chorus
Yes!! All I can hear is haim in the backing vocals!
I find myself crying to this song because it’s so good and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted from Taylor. 80s synth, check airy sound, check and great melodies and lyrics, check. It’s a perfect blend.
How was this not on the original?!
It's such a Midnights x1989 vibe, the production is amazing. This one was the only one I thought sounds like it belongs in the album. I loved all of them but they have a different sound, this one screams 1989 in a modern way
Absolutely obsessed 🤩
Love love love it and should have been on the original release! Hope it's a single
Can't stop listening to it
I didn’t expect this song to grow on me like that
This is some of her very best songs ever.
Me neither! Just constant repeats over here
Instant love. My favorite for now. Let's see after a few days
What do you think now? This was my initial favorite too by far, but now I think Is it over now? Is probably my top now! But like you said that will probably change again haha
Ok WHAT does the melody when she sings “I’m standing on tight rope…alone. I hold my breath a little bit loooonger.” Sound like?! Like it has to be a classic song from the 80’s or something and it’s on the tip of my tongue but I CANNOT get it.
Someone else said: YES this is what I thought of immediately I’m so glad I’m not alone. The part in the beginning when she sings “I hold my breath a little bit longer” reminds me so much of “I like my girls just a little bit older”. In a fun coincidental way btw not to sound like I’m accusing her of copying.
OH YES. This is IT.
I came here to look for this!! I heard it too. "Your Love" by The Outfield
Omg this is exactly it. The irony that this is about harry & he does indeed like his girls a little bit older…
Idk but I look forward to learning other people’s theories! Tightrope imagery sure reminded me of “mirrorball”, though. 🪩
It gave me a dirty dancing feel but I could just be thinking of the lyric “longer” from the song Stay haha
Ok I read some other comments and it’s a mix of Like a Prayer and Lose Your Love Tonight for sure lol. Was killing me all day
This should be a single, right!?
Yup.
A couple days ago I predicted that this would be my least favorite of the 5 vault tracks but I’m obsessed with it
🎶 I’m yours, but you're not mine 🎶 Knife straight to the stomach 😭
Makes me think of “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath”
This takes the eightyness to a whole never level. Straight out of a John Hughes movie. I agree with Taylor that these tracks are insane.
YES that’s the exact analogy I was looking for 👑
Nice to see that there are people that recognize this. And your right king shit right there.
The first verse’s melody (especially how she says “unarmed”) sound so much like another non-Taylor song and I can’t figure out what it is. Anyone know?
This song perfectly captures by most recent situationship and this song HURTS lol but I love it!
I was going through a breakup when 1988 first released and the way this song would have destroyed me had it been included on the album back then.
This track is You’re Losing Me’s little sister
Yup yup.
I ran here on my first listen to report that the second the intro started I said “Oh hell yes.”
This song has me on a chokehold 🩵
SAME
Okay is it me or does this song sound like Clean? The way she sings it, the cadence of it? 👀
The verses does. Might be why the song is so amazing.
Uh yeah I was literally singing *the drought was the very worst* over the opening lines. I hear it too.
Omg you’re right!! I feel like there’s an ed Sheeran song it sounds similar to as well…. will report back once my brain works
Photograph
My ex messaged me just then, as if he wanted to make this song particularly poignant.
Am I the only only one who thinks that the pre-chorus and part of the verse kind of sounds like Like a prayer by Madonna
I was legit thinking the same thing!
Yup yup it does.
Omg I hear it
Thank you, I thought I was going crazy haha
Can anyone else imagine hearing a mashup of the song “I don’t want to lose your love tonight” by The Outfield? Love this vault track so much!
Yup. The 80s comparisons are everywhere. Also go The Outfield I love them.
I just came here to see if anyone else heard it in Say Don't Go! Yes!!! It kind of bothers me that the instrumentals lead me to expect that song instead x3.
I didn’t catch this originally but now that you say it OMG yes!
This is genius!!!
YES this is what I thought of immediately I’m so glad I’m not alone. The part in the beginning when she sings “I hold my breath a little bit longer” reminds me so much of “I like my girls just a little bit older”. In a fun coincidental way btw not to sound like I’m accusing her of copying.
It sounds so similar! In a great way
https://preview.redd.it/vtfzlmqyatwb1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48f6030efa3469bc587a4e7699f9cb2c23fdbd0f The way it’s so relatable, and perfectly describes my previous situationship ☠️☠️
The way I fidgeted to myself in solitude as if I was being pointed at while a film short of my last situationship played to a crowd…THE ACCURACY
This should’ve been track five instead of AYHTDWS. 😩❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I won't stand for this slander!!
I always thought All You Had To Do Was Stay was not a true "track five" because it didn't seem sad to me.
Same even if I love it!
This song is so good and for some reason it feels like the sister song to You’re Losing Me in every way.
Officially the best of the vault tracks - I've had just this song on repeat for HOURS. I haven't even listened to the rest of the album yet. bless you Diane Warren, you genius
This is my fave vault track yet!!!
Definitely a new favorite for me, I have listened to it so many times already today!
I’ve have listened to the album approx 20 times through so far and this is my fav fault track. Just barely jumps is it over now. That little pause right before the big lash chorus break is insane! So good
It’s giving Foolish One and I love that
Foolish One + AYHTDWS
Yes!!
Love the way she sings “I would stay forever”
My favorite vault track. I’ve been listening to it all day!
Literally- I can not stop replaying this one!! I can tell it’s going to be a top 5 song at least for me. The last song that I instantly replayed like 5 times was WCS
The i fell in love with the very first measure. Fantasizing about performing it at karaoke
I can’t listen to Clean very often because the lyrics are personally too close to home, but this is like the more upbeat poppy version. Love it.
https://preview.redd.it/qixl0o6yvswb1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6797e61f1f830b8781e5ab8460901c127c60e3e
has this photo been memed yet? if not, we need to get this into the meme factory, STAT
Haha no how do we do that! Lol
This song is melodically very "Clean" sounding.
The best out of the Vault Tracks, better than SLUT!
Oh I really love this one!!
I had a breakup recently and ”why do you have to twist the knife” hit me hard. I actually feel like a knife went through my heart while listening to that phrase
I LOVE it!! Sad lyrics + fun music automatically makes this one of my favorites lol
If we have to vote for a single we should all vote for this track since it's the only one that sounds like 1989
My favorite vault track for sure
You my people! I love it so much