Hey Stephen
Written By Taylor Swift
Produced By Taylor Swift & Christopher Rowe
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Track 4 on "Fearless".
Taylor wrote this song about Stephen B. Liles from the country music duo Love And Theft (an opening act on her Fearless Tour in 2008. She talked about it in a interview in 2008:
This is a guy I had a crush on. I wrote about all these reasons he should be with me instead of other girls (…). This guy has absolutely no idea I had a crush on him. It's gonna be kind of interesting when he finds out.
The song's hidden message in the album booklet for Fearless was "Love and Theft," confirming the mysterious Stephen's identity.
Little did Taylor know, Stephen returned her feelings — he even wrote a song for her called "Try To Make It Anyway!"
In a since-deleted post from her record label's website, Tay shared:
We were recording at [Martina McBride's husband] John McBride's studio and he was like, 'My kids are dying to meet you. Do you think that you could say hi to them?' I said, 'Sure, have them come and hang out while we're recording.' So his daughters and their friends from school - there were about ten of them there - they all came into the studio when we were recording 'Hey Stephen"'and they loved it. They were singing along with it by the end of it.
Taylor Nation shared a snippet of "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" via Twitter Spaces on April 8th
Lyrics
[Intro]
Mmm-mm, mm-mm
Mmm-mm, mm-mm
Mmm-mm, mm-mm, yeah
[Verse 1]
Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving
But I know I saw a light in you
And as we walked we were talking
I didn't say half the things I wanted to
Of all the girls tossing rocks at your window
I'll be the one waiting there even when it's cold
Hey Stephen, boy, you might have me believing
I don't always have to be alone
[Chorus]
'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
[Verse 2]
Hey Stephen, I've been holding back this feeling
So I've got some things to say to you (Huh)
I've seen it all, so I thought
But I never seen nobody shine the way you do
The way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name
It's beautiful, wonderful, don't you ever change
Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving?
I think you and I should stay the same
[Chorus]
'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
[Bridge]
They're dimming the street lights, you're perfect for me
Why aren't you here tonight?
I'm waiting alone now, so come on and come out
And pull me near and shine, shine, shine
Hey Stephen, I could give you fifty reasons
Why I should be the one you choose
All those other girls, well, they're beautiful
But would they write a song for you? (Ha-ha-ha)
[Chorus]
I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
If you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
[Outro]
Ah-uh, myself
Mmm-mm, I can't help myself
I can't help myself
Oh-oh-oh
Mmm-mm, mm-mm
Mmm-mm, mm-mm
Mmm-mm, mm-mm