Swift Notes: Red (A Guide to Taylor Swift's Songs)

"The Last Time"

10. “THE LAST TIME”

BEHIND THE MUSIC

In this case, one duet led to another. Taylor was in the studio with Ed Sheeran recording “Everything Has Changed,” when Ed told her he’d like her to meet his friend Gary Lightbody. A huge Snow Patrol fan, she eagerly agreed, and when Gary heard their work, he wanted to write for her record. The two met at producer Jacknife Lee’s house, where Gary played a melody that gave Taylor an idea for the narrative for the song.

BETWEEN THE LINES

“The Last Time” is an interesting first for a Taylor Swift album: not only is it the first male-female duet, but a male’s perspective is represented. With the audible regret in his delivery, this serial heartbreaker becomes a bit sympathetic. It’s a deliberately repetitive song to underscore the fact that this conversation is a routine for the couple. Taylor had a strong image in her mind while composing this tale: a guy standing outside the door in the cold, asking for another second chance, and a girl knowing she can’t give him one. Taylor told NPR’s All Things Considered, “The idea was based on this experience that I had with someone who was this unreliable guy, you never know when he’s going to leave or when he’s going to come back, but he always comes back.”

FUN FACTS

Gary’s band Snow Patrol went five times platinum with their major label debut, Final Straw, and got the world’s attention with their follow-up album, Eyes Open. Jacknife Lee, the producer on this song, has also worked with legendary bands like U2 and R.E.M.

DIARY DECODER

“LA on your break” points to Jake (who takes breaks between films) or John Mayer (who takes breaks between tours).

(excerpted from our Swifty bio, Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition, available wherever books are sold!) 

Special thanks to @wolfgirl54 for the featured image!