You Belong With Me
Written By Taylor Swift & Liz Rose
Produced By Taylor Swift & Christopher Rowe
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Track 6 on "Fearless".
You Belong With Me (along with Love Story) was the most successful single on the album, Taylor recently talked about how it changed her life on an article for IHeartRadio:
It was one of those songs that I had written about unrequited love and crushes at school. And I never would have imagined (…) that it would be this thing that launched me and my career into this place that I never imagined it would go to. It was this song and 'Love Story' that really, really changed my life in a huge way. And I've had so much fun with the fans singing this into crowds over the years. So, getting to redo it was really a joyful experience. Cause I kind of was looking back on all of those memories and thinking, 'Wow, I'm really lucky
Taylor had explained in more detail the inspiration behind the song in a piece Taylor wrote for her old label's website in 2010:
I had overheard a friend of mine talking to his girlfriend and he was completely on the defensive saying, 'No, baby…I had to get off the phone really quickly…I tried to call you right back…Of course I love you. More than anything! Baby, I'm so sorry.' She was just yelling at him! (…)
So I came up with the first line 'You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset, going off about something that you said,' and I ran that into the story line that I'm in love with him, and he should be with me instead of her.
Liz Rose, who co-wrote this song, said in an interview with [Rolling Stones]:
'You Belong With Me' was written at the very end of the recording sessions for Fearless. She said, 'I'm finishing the record on Monday. Let's write an uptempo song.' We wrote 'You Belong With Me' in one or two hours. It's amazing to go back to the work tape and listen to it, because you wouldn't believe the nuances that show up in the album version, too. When she's writing something, she's already producing in her head. She hears it all.
A sneak peek of the song was shared by Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo on TikTok.
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 my 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]
'Cause she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming 'bout 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
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