"Forever Winter" is the twenty seventh track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's second re-recorded studio album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.
Background[]
Swift announced that the song would be released as a vault track on August 5, 2021. The 2012 demo version of the track leaked on February 26, 2023. A 2021 demo of the song leaked on April 13, 2023.
On the passionate winter ballad dubbed “Forever Winter,” Swift sings about her constant worry and stress over the actions of her friend. The heartfelt track describes Taylor's anxiety regarding a loved one who suffers from a mental illness, most likely depression, and her desperation about wanting to be a summer sun — a warm piece of light — in their life, which, at the time, felt like the winter: cold and dark.[1]
An old picture of Jeff Lang and Taylor Swift
The song is highly rumoured to be about Swift's deceased old high school friend, Jeff Lang, who was struggling with addiction and mental health issues. He died two weeks after the release of her third studio album, Speak Now, and the day after his funeral, Swift attended the BMI Awards and dedicated the award she won to Jeff, saying:
| “ | Yesterday, I sang at the funeral of one of my best friends and he was 21, and I used to play my songs for him first, so I would like to thank Jeff Lang.[2] | ” |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
He says he doesn't believe anything much he hears these days
He says, "Why fall in love, just so you can watch it go away?"
He spends most of his nights wishing it was how it used to be
He spends most of his flights getting pulled down by gravity
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I call, just checking up on him
He's up, 3 AM, pacing
He says, "It's not just a phase I'm in"
My voice comes out, begging
[Chorus]
All this time, I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Verse 2]
He seems fine most of the time
Forcing smiles and never minds
His laugh is a symphony
When the lights go out, it's hard to breathe
I pull at every thread trying to solve the puzzles in his head
Live my life scared to death he'll decide to leave instead
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I call, just checking up on him
He's up, 5 AM, wasted
Long gone, not even listening
My voice comes out, screaming
[Chorus]
All this time, I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Bridge]
If I was standing there in your apartment
I'd take that bomb in your head and disarm it
I'd say, "I love you", even at your darkest and
"Please, don't go"
[Chorus]
I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Post-Chorus]
I'll be your summer sun forever
At 3 AM, pacing
All this time, I didn't know
At 5 AM, wasted
I'd be in pieces on the floor
Forever winter if you go
[Outro]
He says he doesn't believe anything much he hears these days
I say, "Believe in one thing, I won't go away"
[Verse 1]
He says he doesn't believe anything much he hears these days
He says, "Why fall in love, just so you can watch it go away?"
He spends most of his nights wishing it was how it used to be
He spends most of his flights getting pulled down by gravity
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I call, just checking up on him
He's up, 3 AM, pacing
He says, "It's not just a phase I'm in"
My voice comes out, begging
[Chorus]
All this time, I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Verse 2]
He seems fine most of the time
Forcing smiles and never minds
His laugh is a symphony
When the lights go out, it's hard to breathe
I pull at every thread trying to solve the puzzles in his head
Live my life scared to death he'll decide to leave instead
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I call, just checking up on him
He's up, 5 AM, wasted
Long gone, not even listening
My voice comes out, screaming
[Chorus]
All this time, I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Bridge]
If I was standing there in your apartment
I'd take that bomb in your head and disarm it
I'd say, "I love you", even at your darkest and
"Please, don't go"
[Chorus]
I didn't know
You were breaking down
I'd fall to pieces on the floor
If you weren't around
Too young to know it gets better
I'll be summer sun for you forever
Forever winter if you go
[Post-Chorus]
I'll be your summer sun forever
At 3 AM, pacing
All this time, I didn't know
At 5 AM, wasted
I'd be in pieces on the floor
Forever winter if you go
[Outro]
He says he doesn't believe anything much he hears these days
He says, "Why fall in love?"
I say, "'Cause I won't go away"
References[]
| RED | ||
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| "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" | ||
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