Red (Song)
Written By Taylor Swift
Produced By Taylor Swift & Christopher Rowe
About
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Track 2 on "Red".
Using a series of similes and metaphors, Taylor's re-recording of 2012's "Red" sees her picturing the tinged pain, passion, and all-around powerful pangs of emotion associated with a previous relationship.
Though she worked with a different producer on this new recording, the song's pop-rock/country-pop instrumental arrangement is virtually identical to the original. Examples of the few and subtle differences include the fiddle having less prominence in the second verse, and the lack of banjo in the song's instrumental break.
"Red (Taylor's Version)" was first previewed on Instagram on October 22, 2021: the ninth anniversary of the original Red album, and three weeks to the release of the Red (Taylor's Version) album. Here, the song's post-chorus was used to usher in "Red Season" as Taylor teased the props and costumes for an upcoming music video.
While Red (Taylor's Version) has been described by Taylor as her "one true break-up album," "Red" stands out as the only song on the record where she reflects on her relationship without directly addressing her ex.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you're already flying through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all
[Chorus]
Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark gray, all alone (Whoa)
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red
[Post-Chorus]
(Red, red)
(Red, red)
But loving him was red
(Red, red)
(Red, red)
[Verse 2]
Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you
Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song
Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there's no right answer
Regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong
[Chorus]
Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark gray, all alone (Whoa)
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red
[Post-Chorus]
(Red, red)
Oh, red (Red, red)
Burning red (Red, red)
(Red, red)
[Bridge]
Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes
Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head
In burning red
[Instrumental Break]
Burning, it was red
[Chorus]
Oh, losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark gray, all alone (Whoa)
Forgetting him was like
Trying to know somebody you never met
'Cause loving him was red
[Post-Chorus]
(Red, red) Yeah, yeah, red (Red, red)
Burning red (Red, red)
(Red, red)
[Breakdown]
And that's why he's spinning 'round in my head (Red, red)
Comes back to me, burning red (Red, red)
(Red, red) Yeah, yeah
(Red, red)
[Outro]
His love was like
Driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street