TAYLOR SWIFT - YOU BELONG WITH ME

YOU BELONG WITH ME

TAYLOR SWIFT

SONGWRITERS: LIZ ROSE & TAYLOR ALISON SWIFT

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: FEARLESS

LABEL: BIG MACHINE

GENRE: COUNTRY POP

YEAR: 2009

 

        "You Belong with Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, from her second studio album Fearless (2008). Written by Swift and Liz Rose and produced by Nathan Chapman, it was released as the album's third single on April 18, 2009, by Big Machine Records. Swift wrote "You Belong with Me" inspired by an argument between a male friend of hers and his girlfriend through a phone call that she had overheard, and developed a fictional narrative afterwards. A country pop song with elements of pop crossover, the song is about an insecure protagonist's unrequited love for an out-of-reach love interest.

        Critics lauded the song's radio-friendly appeal and emotional sentiments, though some felt that it demonstrated Swift's formulaic and repetitive songwriting. At the 2010 Grammy Awards, "You Belong with Me" received nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The single reached the top ten on charts and received sales certifications in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In the U.S., driven by non-country airplay, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first country song to reach number one on the all-genre Billboard Radio Songs chart. The single was certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

       The song's music video was directed by Roman White. The video features Swift portraying two characters: a nerd (the protagonist and narrator) and a popular girl (the antagonist and girlfriend), while American actor Lucas Till portrays the male lead. In the video, the protagonist secretively loves the male lead, although he has a girlfriend. The video won Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards; during Swift's acceptance speech, Kanye West interrupted, protesting in support of Beyoncé, which caused a controversy widely reported in the media. "You Belong with Me" was included on the regular set lists of four of Swift's world tours: the Fearless Tour(2009–2010), the Speak Now World Tour(2011–2012), the Red Tour(2013–2014), and the Reputation Stadium Tour(2018).

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 the 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

 

But she wears short skirts

I wear T-shirts

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

 

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

 

Walk in the streets with you in 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 can 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, what you doing with a girl like that?

 

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

 

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 backdoor

All this time how could you not know, baby?

You belong with me

You belong with me

 

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

And 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

 

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 backdoor

All this time how could you not know, baby?

You belong with me

You belong with me

 

You belong with me

Have you ever thought just maybe

You belong with me?

You belong with me.