By Faith Borré
Taylor Swift has once again captured the hearts of her fan base and new listeners alike with her extended version of “All Too Well” from her 2012 album Red.
“All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” has encompassed the harsh realities of moving on, falling too fast, and of course, the TSwift classic, getting hurt. Taylor Swift starts with the same lyrics and track from the original album, but she then transitions into a new seamlessly intricate storytelling that she has done so well throughout her career. Swift starts telling the story of first falling in love, as she describes driving with this lover, dancing in the kitchen at night, and other romantic moments.
Then Swift paints a vivid picture of feeling like she wasn’t enough in the relationship and that she was hidden. Lyrics like “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath” and “The idea you had of me, who was she? A never-needy, ever-lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you” was adored by her fans. Then she describes the feeling of how broken and lost she was, while her ex seemed fine. Again using powerful lyrics like “And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, So casually cruel in the name of bein’ honest” Swift displays her writing talents immensely well.
Her lyrics have been so relatable for her listeners that when it was speculated they were about her ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhall, her fan base was quick to hate on Gyllenhall again. Not only did her fan base just attack him on Twitter, but Tik Tok’s “For You Page” also flooded with jabs at Gyllenhall, and shows like SNL jumped in on the hate.
From the narrative, powerful vocals, and just the emotional aspects of the song, I think “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” is a must-listen for all people, not just Swifties.