I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us
How we met and the sparks flew instantly
People would say, "they're the lucky ones"

I used to know my place was a spot next to you
Now I'm searching the room for an empty seat
'Cause lately I don't even know what page you're on

Oh, a simple complication
Miscommunications lead to fall out
So many things that I wish you knew
So many walls up I can't break through

Now I'm standing alone In a crowded room
And we're not speaking and I'm dying to know
Is it killing you like it's killing me yeah
I don't know what to say since the twist of fate
When it all broke down and the story of us
Looks a lot like a tragedy now next chapter

How'd we end up this way?
See me nervously pulling at my clothes
And trying to look busy
And you're doing your best to avoid me
I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us
How I was losing my mind when I saw you here
But you held your pride like you should have held me
Oh, I'm scared to see the ending
Why are we pretending this is nothing?
I'd tell you I miss you but I don't know how
I've never heard silence quite this loud

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room
And we're not speaking and I'm dying to know
Is it killing you like it's killing me yeah
I don't know what to say since the twist of fate
When it all broke down and the story of us
Looks a lot like a tragedy now

This is looking like a contest
Of who can act like they care less
But I liked it better when you were on my side
The battle's in your hands now
But I would lay my armor down
If you'd say you'd rather love than fight
So many things that you wish I knew
But the story of us might be ending soon

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room
And we're not speaking and I'm dying to know
Is it killing you like it's killing me yeah
I don't know what to say since the twist of fate
When it all broke down and the story of us
Looks a lot like a tragedy now, the end



Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan

Track duration: 04:26

"The Story of Us" as written by Taylor Swift

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Story of Us song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I'm having this situation right now, but in a friendship problem way. I have a friend who I am currently ignoring. So far I've done that for a month and I have a feeling she thinks its awkward around me. So now we are both awkward around each other.

    For the first two verses, its saying how we were so close before. Like we could never part. I was with her all the time then now we are very far apart.

    The pre-chorus is saying how we both misunderstood things in our situation. I want to tell her so many things but its hard to talk to her.

    The chorus is saying is still saying how its so awkward between us. We've been ignoring each other and its really starting to kill me that she's not talking to me. I wonder if she feels the same. I guess our twist of fate was our incident and it ruined the friendship.

    The next verse after that is saying how she's avoiding me and I try to pretend that she's not there at all. Yet again, it is very awkward. I want to tell her that we should apologize to each other and forget all what happened but I really don't know how. We are both ignoring each other, so the silence just kills me.

    The bridge is saying how it seems as if we don't care about each other, just being careless about each other. I really miss our strong friendship. When I let down my wall of ignoring, I hope she would too. Not only I wish she knew some things, but I have a feeling she would too. But it feels like our friendship is fully gone.

    Hopefully it isn't.

    This is just my opinion and the way I relate to it :)
    Flag jajayjayon May 07, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Many of Taylor's fans believe the subject matter of this song to be American actor Taylor Lautner, whom she dated briefly at the end of 2009. Although the Love Story singer won't confirm whether the speculation is true or not, she told New York magazine about the event that inspired her to pen this song. "It was at an awards show and there had been this falling-out between me and this guy," she explained. "I think both of us had so much that we wanted to say, but we're sitting six seats away from each other, just fighting this silent war of 'I don't care that you're here.'"

    Taylor continued, "I remember getting home and sitting at the kitchen table, and saying to my mom, 'It was like I was standing alone in a crowded room.' That's when my eyes glazed over, and I got distracted and walked away to write." She added, "My mom is used to me doing that."


    Taylor was asked in an interview with MTV News if she is aware that her potential suitors might have some reservations as she might write a song about them. She replied: "It's understandable, but I've never kept quiet the fact that I write songs about people," she said. "It's like, this is album number three. You guys have had fair warning!"


    This was the last song that Taylor wrote for Speak Now. She told MTV News that after the incident with her former beau at the Awards show, "I just felt so empty, like we were both fighting this silent war of pretending we didn't care that the other was there. And I went home, and I wrote this song about it. And at that point, I had this gut feeling, and I knew the album was finished."


    As on her other albums, Taylor capitalized seemingly random letters in the printed lyrics for each song, which spell out messages, usually about who or what inspired the tune. On this song she spells out "CMT AWARDS," which points the finger at fellow CMT attendee John Mayer who performed a number with Keith Urban at the ceremony. Also, Mayer is thought to be the subject of another Speak Now track, Dear John and Taylor confessed to USA Today writer Brian Mansfield that both songs were inspired by the same person.


    The music video was directed by Noble Jones and finds Taylor in college, reminiscing about her relationship with a fellow student. She explained of her input to MTV News: "Noble Jones, the director, had sent in this treatment. He had it set in a library, and I called him and I asked him if he'd be willing to change it to an Ivy League feel." MTV asked Taylor if the heroine in the video was at all connected to her "You belong With Me" character. "Well, I think the biggest difference between the new video and all the other ones is that I love to make a happy ending happen, and with this video, it doesn't happen," she replied.


    The girl who makes out with Swift's love interest in the video was played by her backup singer Liz Huett. Swift told MTV News how she met Huett. "We met in a meet-and-greet line. I started out playing small bars and clubs a few years ago, and she came to one of the shows, and I would sign autographs ... and she waited three or four hours," Swift recalled. "And she came up and asked if she could sing for me. She sang for me, and I said, 'You've got to audition for some TV talent show.' And I ran into her a few months later, and one thing led to another and she ended up being my backup singer on tour and making out with a guy in my video."
    Flag musicrocks13on November 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:great song. sucks that I love it because I can completely and totally relate to this 100%.
    Flag renee3946on August 19, 2012   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:My ex girlfriend loves this song, she said it reminds her of us lol
    Flag xABakeron June 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Anyone who has had a boyfriend/girlfriend that they really liked, but things weren't working out as good as they wanted them too, can relate to this song,. I have friends who have dated someone, and then they run into them somewhere and its weird[:
    Taylor is writing about John Mayer. In every one of Taylor's CDs lyric book, it has a secret message. This song was CMT AWARDS. John Mayer was in attendence at the awards that year, and she was a couple of seats down from him. I think that would be a little awkward. When she says "the end." it shows how fast the relationship ended.
    Joe Jonas wouldn't be seen at a country award show.
    #Just Sayin'
    The End.
    Flag rooroo809on November 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:If you didn't pick up on all the clever subtle hints Taylor drops in her songs - this one is about John. The theme of his latest album and last three tours has been Battle Studies. His single when she wrote this song was "Heartbreak Warfare".

    In the bridge Taylor writes "The battle's in your hands now/but I would lay my armor down..."
    Flag beiberisyourfatheron October 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is totally abotu John Mayer. There is two songs that Taylor wrote about John Mayer. The first one was "Dear John." This was the second one. I really like how Taylor writes songs about like people who broke her heart! ANYWAYS this is such a good song I love it!!!!
    Flag SmexyAsianDollon July 06, 2011   Link
  • +4
    General Comment:Here's my take on it. Sadly, this has happened to me which is why I can relate to this song.

    Girl meets boy. Both are sort of dating, but then all of a sudden, the boy doesn't talk to her anymore. She's confused because she's interested still. Him, however, continues to ignore her. She starts to understand that he's not really interested and that perhaps he was playing her all along. Anyway, this is simply a break up song.
    Flag lilphoenixon May 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Im a musician myself so im normaly quite good at this but I cant hear or see CMT AWARDS.
    Flag SeargentGooon March 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I think Taylor thought John was the one and so when she told the story of how she met her husband people would be amazed by their love. But that didn't happen bc something happened and he put up his walls so everything became awkward. It fits for John bc in Dear John she wrotes.about how he is not really ever wrong.. so he held his pride and neber said sorry.. she doesn't know what to do without him bc she never thought they would be over.
    Flag carleeloversillyon January 16, 2011   Link

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