The song was written in late 2013, with an acoustic demo being recorded on New Year's of that same year which hasn't leaked.[1] The song was first mentioned by Diane Warren during the 2014 Grammy Awards.[2]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1] I've known it from the very start We’re a shot in the darkest dark Oh-no, oh-no, I'm unarmed The waiting is a sadness Fading into madness Oh-no, oh-no, it won't stop
[Refrain] I’m standin' on a tightrope alone I hold my breath a little bit longer Halfway out the door, but it won't close I'm holdin' out hope for you to
[Pre-Chorus] Say, "Don't go" I would stay forever if you say, "Don't go"
[Chorus] Why'd you have to lead me on? Why you’d have to twist the knife? Walk away and leave me bleedin’, bleedin'? Why’d you whisper in the dark Just to leave me in the night? Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
[Post-Chorus] (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don’t (Go) Go" I would stay forevеr if you (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don't (Go) Go" (Say, say, say, say)
[Verse 2] Now I'm pacin' on shaky ground Strike a match, then you blow it out Oh-no, oh-no, it's not fair 'Cause you kiss mе and it stops time And I'm yours, but you're not mine Oh-no, oh-no, you're not there
[Refrain] I'm standin' on the sidewalk alone I wait for you to drive by I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show I'm about to fold unless you
[Pre-Chorus] (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don’t (Go) Go" I would stay forevеr if you (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don't (Go) Go"
[Chorus] Why'd you have to lead me on? Why you'd have to twist the knife? Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'? Why'd you whisper in the dark Just to leave me in the night? Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
[Post-Chorus] (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don’t (Go) Go" I would stay forevеr if you (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don't (Go) Go" (Say, say, say, say)
[Bridge] Why'd you have to (Why'd you have to) Make me want you (Make me want you)? Why'd you have to (Why'd you have to) Give me nothing back? Why'd you have to (Why'd you have to) Make me love you (Make me love you)? I said, "I love you" (I said, "I love you") You say nothing back
[Chorus] Why'd you have to lead me on? Why you'd have to twist the knife? Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'? Why'd you whisper in the dark Just to leave me in the night? Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
[Post-Chorus] (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don’t (Go) Go" I would stay forevеr if you (Say) Say, "(Don't) Don't (Go) Go" (Say, say, say, say)
[Outro] But you won't, but you won't, but you won't I would stay forever if you say, "Don't go" But you won't, but you won't, but you won't
Live performances[]
Swift performed the song on guitar during the acoustic set of the Eras Tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 26, 2023. It was performed as a surprise song a second time on May 18, 2024, in Stockholm, Sweden, mashed-up with "Welcome To New York" and "Clean". The triple 1989 mashup was in honor of the 89th Eras Tour show.