The Meaning Behind The Song: Forever & Always by Taylor Swift - Old Time Music (2024)

The Inspiration Behind Forever & Always

Forever & Always is a song performed by Taylor Swift, which appears on her 2008 album, Fearless. The song is about a break-up Taylor had with her then-boyfriend, Joe Jonas. While Taylor has never explicitly stated that the song is about Joe, she has given hints that suggest the song is, in fact, about him.

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In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2008, Taylor said: “This guy walks in who is a friend of my ex’s, and starts talking about how he’s heard we’re going to get back together. I start telling them the story, and the song ‘Forever & Always’ fell out”.

The lyrics to the song paint a picture of a relationship that seems perfect on the surface but is slowly deteriorating underneath.

The Lyrics and Their Meaning

The lyrics to Forever & Always are Taylor’s way of expressing the feelings she had after she and Joe broke up. The song is a way for her to deal with the pain of the break-up while also trying to make sense of what happened.

The first verse of the song sets the tone for the rest of it. Taylor sings:

“Once upon a time, I believed in love
I believed in you and me
Suddenly, there’s a distance between us
And I don’t know where it goes”

These lyrics suggest that Taylor thought she had found true love with Joe, but something happened that caused them to grow distant from each other.

In the chorus, Taylor sings:

“And I stare at the phone, he still hasn’t called
And then you feel so low, you can’t feel nothing at all
And you flashback to when we said, forever and always”

Here, Taylor is expressing the pain she felt after the break-up and how she still hoped that Joe would call her even though he hasn’t.

The second verse of the song is where Taylor begins to express her anger towards Joe. She sings:

“Was I out of line?
Did I say something way too honest?
That made you run and hide
Like a scared little boy?”

These lyrics suggest that Taylor feels as though Joe left her because she was too honest with him and made him feel uncomfortable.

In the bridge, Taylor sings:

“Did I say ‘something’ way too honest, made you run and hide
Like a scared little boy?
I looked into your eyes, thought I knew you for a minute
Now I’m not so sure”

This section of the song reinforces the idea that Taylor thought she knew who Joe really was, but after their break-up, she doesn’t know him at all.

The Message Behind The Song

The message behind Forever & Always is that even the strongest relationships can fall apart. Taylor thought she had found true love with Joe Jonas, but in the end, their relationship was not meant to be.

The song is also about how we can’t always control the way we feel. Even though Taylor tried to put on a brave face after the break-up, the pain she felt was too much to bear.

Forever & Always is a reminder that sometimes, the best thing to do when a relationship ends is to let it go and move on.

The Impact of Forever & Always

Forever & Always has become one of Taylor Swift’s most beloved songs. It has resonated with people all over the world who have gone through difficult break-ups and have felt the same pain that Taylor felt when she wrote the song.

The song has also helped many people realize that it’s okay to feel sad after a break-up. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions, and it’s important to take the time to process those emotions before moving on.

FAQs

Did Taylor Swift actually date Joe Jonas?

Yes, Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas were briefly romantically involved in 2008. Taylor has written several songs about their relationship, including Forever & Always, which she has hinted is about Joe.

Did Taylor Swift write Forever & Always about Joe Jonas?

While Taylor has never explicitly stated that Forever & Always is about Joe, she has given hints that suggest the song is, in fact, about him.

What is the meaning of the name ‘Forever & Always’?

The name ‘Forever & Always’ suggests a promise of eternal love and commitment, which is what Taylor thought she had with Joe Jonas before their relationship fell apart.

What is the significance of the opening lyrics to Forever & Always?

The opening lyrics to Forever & Always set the tone for the rest of the song by suggesting that Taylor thought she had found true love with Joe, but something happened that caused them to grow distant from each other.

Why did Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas break up?

The exact reason for Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas’ break-up is not known. Taylor has hinted that their break-up was due to Joe’s lack of commitment and honesty.

What is the message of Forever & Always?

The message behind Forever & Always is that even the strongest relationships can fall apart. The song is also about how we can’t always control the way we feel and that sometimes, the best thing to do when a relationship ends is to let it go and move on.

How has Forever & Always impacted Taylor Swift fans?

Forever & Always has become one of Taylor Swift’s most beloved songs. It has resonated with people all over the world who have gone through difficult break-ups and have felt the same pain that Taylor felt when she wrote the song.

What other songs has Taylor Swift written about her past relationships?

Taylor Swift has written numerous songs about her past relationships, including “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which is believed to be about her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, and “All Too Well,” which is believed to be about her relationship with Harry Styles.

How has Taylor Swift’s music evolved since she wrote Forever & Always?

Taylor Swift’s music has evolved significantly since she wrote Forever & Always in 2008. Her most recent album, Folklore, is a departure from her usual pop-country sound and features more introspective and mature lyrics.

Has Joe Jonas ever addressed Forever & Always?

Joe Jonas has never publicly addressed Forever & Always or confirmed whether the song is about him. However, he did write a song about Taylor Swift called “Much Better,” which is believed to be a response to Forever & Always.

What is the overall legacy of Forever & Always?

The legacy of Forever & Always is that it has become a beloved song by Taylor Swift fans who can relate to the pain and heartbreak that Taylor felt after her break-up with Joe Jonas. The song is a reminder that even the strongest relationships can fall apart and that it’s okay to feel sad after a break-up.

The Meaning Behind The Song: Forever & Always by Taylor Swift - Old Time Music (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of forever and always? ›

“Forever and always” is a statement that many couples use to show their love, promising forever and always to each other. The statement is one that you can easily clung onto and for so long, keeping you attached to your past.

Is forever and always a love song? ›

Swift said that the lyrics were a sarcastic turn of the phrase "forever and always", and the track is about a troubled relationship with an ex-boyfriend, who promised the narrator (Swift's character) that he would be there with her forever.

What does it mean that Taylor doesn't own her music? ›

From a practical standpoint, this means she is unable to sing her old songs without the permission of the owner of her masters, who, in this case, is Big Machine Records.

What is the metaphor for the scarf Taylor Swift? ›

It's a metaphor. One side is a physical scarf that she left behind. The other side is innocence that she left behind. At the end of the relationship, she gets all her things back except for those two things, making it an exceptional metaphor!

What does forever symbolize? ›

Things that last forever never come to an end — they continue endlessly. An experience that changes you forever alters you in ways that will last the rest of your life. The adverb forever literally means "eternally," so when you promise, "I'll love you forever." you mean it.

What is the best meaning of forever? ›

1. without ever ending; eternally. to last forever. 2. continually; incessantly; always.

Is Always and Forever a good wedding song? ›

Heatwave's "Always and Forever" has been a favorite slow dance song for couples since its release in 1976 and with sweet lyrics like “We'll share tomorrow together,” it will continue to be a popular wedding song.

Is always forever a sad song? ›

“Always Forever” is the bittersweet ballad from Cults, which is a true testament to love.

Is Taylor Swift a billionaire? ›

Swift's inclusion comes after Forbes declared the singer a billionaire in October 2023 and reported her net worth at $1.1 billion. In a rare feat, Swift is the first musician to reach the milestone solely from songwriting and performing.

How did Taylor Swift lose her Masters? ›

In a nutshell, after Taylor left Big Machine Records (where she recorded her first six albums), Scooter Braun acquired them—which meant he was now in control of most of her work. Taylor was NOT happy about that, especially since she had been trying to buy back her own masters herself.

Does Taylor Swift own lover? ›

In November 2018, Swift signed with Universal Music Group and Republic Records, giving her exclusive ownership of her albums going forward (via Variety). Consequently, Swift owns Lover, folklore, evermore, and Midnights since she released them while signed to Republic.

What does wearing a red scarf mean? ›

The red scarf is a neckerchief worn by young pioneers of several countries during the socialist (“communist”) era.

Why is Taylor Swift scarf red? ›

“Basically, the scarf is a metaphor, and we turned it red because red is a very important color in this album, which is called Red. And I think when I say it's a metaphor, I'm just gonna stop.”

Is the scarf a metaphor for Taylors virginity? ›

A party similar to this is depicted in the All Too Well short film, which made fans even more confident that the metaphor of the scarf is in fact about her losing her virginity. It's fairly obvious that the song is depicting Swift and Gyllenhaals' relationship.

Can always and forever be used together? ›

“Q forever has to be followed by u in regular English words” is just wrong. But “I will always love you” is really the same as “I will love you forever.” Note the difference in word order, though. One can say “I will love you always,” but it sounds a bit poetic and stilted.

How do you say I love you always and forever? ›

To a boyfriend, girlfriend, and/or romantic love
  1. I love you.
  2. I love so much.
  3. I love you a lot.
  4. I love you too.
  5. I love you forever.
  6. I love you unconditionally.
  7. I love you to the moon and back.
  8. I love you with all my heart.
Oct 2, 2023

Where did always and forever come from? ›

It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

Is always and forever synonyms? ›

Synonyms of forever
  • permanently.
  • always.
  • eternally.
  • long.
  • ever.
  • everlastingly.
  • perpetually.
  • indelibly.

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