We often talk about getting younger kids interested in Shakespeare, as I’m sure my regular readers are well aware. So I find this an interesting development. I’m probably about 20 or 30 years out of the demographic for the music of Taylor Swift, but I was aware she has some sort of a song that mentions Romeo and Juliet. Last night I actually heard it, and it’s not bad. If this gets kids interested in the story who otherwise might have been a bit too young for it, hey, all the better! I don’t know if I’ve got these right; I’m sure somebody will correct me. Here is Love Story by Taylor Swift:
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I’m standing there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ballgowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did I know
That you were Romeo
You were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet,”
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, “Please don’t go,”
And I said
Romeo, take me
Somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting
All there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince
And I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story
Baby, just say yes
So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while
‘Cause you were Romeo
I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet,”
But you were everything to me
I was begging you, “Please don’t go,”
And I said
Romeo, take me
Somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting
All there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince
And I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story
Baby, just say yes
Romeo, save me
They’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it’s real
Don’t be afraid
We’ll make it out of this mess
It’s a love story
Baby, just say yes
I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you is fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town
And I said
Romeo, save me
I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you
But you never come
Is this in my head?
I don’t know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said
Marry me, Juliet
You’ll never have to be alone
I love you and that’s all I really know
I talked to your dad
You’ll pick out a white dress
It’s a love story
Baby, just say yes
We were both young when I first saw you
[Love it? The MP3 is available here.]
It seems a fairly juvenile interpretation, two kids who immediately leap into “we can’t be together therefore we’re just like Romeo and Juliet” territory. The ending is just a wee bit different than how old Will had it in mind. I do like the opening, though, as it makes the listener think of the Capulet party where the two meet. Of course, Daddy didn’t say “Stay away from Juliet” at that point but details, details.
I think it’s funny that she throws in a “Scarlet Letter” reference while she’s at it. It’s like she wrote the entire song while daydreaming in English class. (It also makes me wonder if the kids listening fully understand what being a scarlet letter implies?) For some reason, this makes me think of Starcrossed by Lenny and the Squigtones.
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