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"All Too Well" is the fifth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's fourth studio album, Red, released on October 22, 2012, through Big Machine Records. It is also the fifth track from her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.

Background[]

The song is widely believed to be about Swift's ex-boyfriend, Jake Gyllenhaal.

In an interview with USA Today, Swift said: "There's a kind of bad that gets so overpowering you can't even write about it."

Swift said of the song: "'All Too Well' [was difficult to write emotionally] because it took me a really long time to filter through everything I wanted to put in the song without it being a 10 minute song, which you can’t put on an album. I wanted a story that could work in the form of a song and I called my co-writer Liz Rose and said, 'Come over, we’ve gotta filter this down,' and it took me a really long time to get it."

Critical reception[]

The song received acclaim from critics, who praised Swift's songwriting skills, and her ability to tell a story through a song, with many highlighting it as a standout on the album. Billboard gave a positive review to the song, saying, "Just like that, Swift snaps back to her core demographic: "All Too Well" is sumptuous country, with Swift "dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light" in the memory of a romance that has seemingly been buried in time. The tune would have fit snugly on Speak Now, and even touches upon some of the same themes as "Mine," but on Red it serves as a reminder that these songs will always remain in Swift's wheelhouse." About.com gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the song is "A mincing guitar figure." Swift also said this was her favorite song from Red.

Chart performance[]

The song debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. It also debuted at number 59 on the Canadian Hot 100 Charts and number 17 on the Hot Country Songs Chart.

Hidden message[]

Hidden message: Maple latte.

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
I walked through the door with you, the air was cold
But something about it felt like home somehow
And I left my scarf there at your sister's house
And you've still got it in your drawer, even now

[Verse 2]
Oh, your sweet disposition and my wide-eyed gaze
We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate
Autumn leaves falling down, like pieces into place
And I can picture it after all these days

[Pre-Chorus]
And I know it's long gone and
That magic's not here no more
And I might be okay, but I’m not fine at all

[Chorus]
'Cause there we are again on that little town street
You almost ran the red, 'cause you were lookin’ over at me
Wind in my hair, I was there
I remember it all too well

[Verse 3]
Photo album on the counter, your cheeks were turning red
You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-sized bed
And your mother's telling stories about you on a tee-ball team
You tell me about your past, thinking your future was me

[Pre-Chorus]
And I know it's long gone and
There was nothing else I could do
And I forget about you long enough
To forget why I needed to

[Chorus]
'Cause there we are again, in the middle of the night
We're dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light
Down the stairs, I was there
I remember it all too well, yeah

[Bridge]
Well, maybe we got lost in translation
Maybe I asked for too much
But maybe this thing was a masterpiece
Till you tore it all up
Runnin', scared, I was there
I remember it all too well
And you call me up again
Just to break me, like a promise
So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
'Cause I remember it all, all, all
Too well

[Verse 4]
Time won't fly, it's like I’m paralyzed by it
I'd like to be my old self again, but I’m still trying to find it
After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own
Now, you mail back my things and I walk home alone
But you keep my old scarf from that very first week
'Cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me
You can't get rid of it
'Cause you remember it all too well

[Chorus]
'Cause there we are again when I loved you so
Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known
It was rare, I was there
I remember it all too well

[Outro]
Wind in my hair, you were there
You remember it all
Down the stairs, you were there
You remember it all
It was rare, I was there
I remember it all too well

Videos[]

Live performances[]

On January 26, 2014, Swift performed the song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. The song served as the thirteenth song on the setlist of the Red Tour.

Swift performed the song on The 1989 World Tour on August 21, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. She also performed it as part of Super Saturday Night on February 4, 2017, in Houston, Texas. It was also performed as a surprise song on the Reputation Stadium Tour multiple times, and was a performed during the City of Lover Concert and Swift's Tiny Desk concert.

Trivia[]

  • "All Too Well" is the first song that Swift wrote for Red; it was written while Swift was on the Speak Now World Tour.
RED
"State Of Grace" • "Red" • "Treacherous" • "I Knew You Were Trouble" • "All Too Well" • "22" • "I Almost Do" • "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" • "Stay Stay Stay" • "The Last Time" • "Holy Ground" • "Sad Beautiful Tragic" • "The Lucky One" • "Everything Has Changed" • "Starlight" • "Begin Again"
Deluxe Edition
"The Moment I Knew" • "Come Back...Be Here" • "Girl At Home" • "Treacherous" (demo) • "Red" (demo)
"State Of Grace" (acoustic)
Taylor's Version
"Ronan" • "Better Man" • "Nothing New" • "Babe" • "Message In A Bottle" • "I Bet You Think About Me" • "Forever Winter" • "Run" • "The Very First Night" • "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"
The More Red (Taylor's Version) Chapter
"Safe & Sound" • "Eyes Open"
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