In spite of its supreme superiority, I deemed it appropriate to present the intricacies of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” for my first blog post to juxtapose the presentment of fall ascending this month and Swift’s depiction of fall that commences the heart-wrenching narrative that she delicately, yet powerfully weaves. But, before I boast about maple lattes, autumn air, and fall sweaters, let’s take a look at Swift’s background as a music artist in today’s society.

From the outset of her career, Swift had established a truly common and relatable theme, transcending throughout all of her records: love. More specifically, the following breakup. Due to this unfailing motif that attracted the interests of innumerable people, residing all over the world, Taylor Swift achieved 23 awards in addition to the record-holding title of most billboard music awards to date.

Although succeeding in her career and thriving with her depiction of the impossibility of unrequitable love, her reputation began to alter as a result of criticism from judgmental cynics, urging to beware the serial-dating psychopath, undertaking her duty to lock-in and manipulate her next victim. As menacing and ridiculous as these claims may seem, they likewise became prevalent in regard to Taylor Swift’s reputation. However, unflagging in her efforts to defend not only her honor, but her success thus far, Swift countered these attacks with her single, “Blank Space,” off of her 1989 album in 2014. Characterizing the insanity that the media condemned, Swift showcased an exaggerated portrayal of a girl gone crazy in effect to a breakup, most notably acknowledged by the lyric, “baby i’m a nightmare, dressed like a daydream,” which became almost everyone’s caption on instagram during that time.

In the midst of quarrel, however, fixed the lyrically profound breakup ballad, “All too Well” that focused on a theme uncommon for Swift, thus failing to succumb to the accusing nature critics claimed she employed. Differing from her traditional concept, Taylor Swift details the consequences of memory, while simultaneously pondering the cause of deterioration. In fact, her uncertainty and specific imagery made the song even more heartbreaking than crafting a broken victim of a destructive relationship (although we do appreciate those as well). Initially, Swift comforts us by presenting cold air and the feeling of home; however, the preceding line foreshadows a breakup by her claim of leaving a scarf at the sister’s house and even now, it still remains there. Typically, the song’s connotation would become more negative after this admittance of an abandoned scarf, but it remains sweet…for awhile.

Swift superbly employs the sentimental nature of the beginning of the relationship with drives to upstate New York in autumn intermixed with subtle detail about her boyfriend almost running the red due to his fixation on her. Seamlessly, she creates a new scene about meeting the family, looking through old scrapbooks, and dancing in the refrigerador light at midnight. All the meanwhile, soft melodies similar to folk support her intricate lyrics, almost mimicking the “sweet disposition” of the lover she writes about.

Swift’s vivid depiction allows the audience to experience a movie of great, albeit doomed, love. Following the soft country ballads, derives subtle-rock coupled by a beating climax infused with crescendos meant to surprise the audience. The genius behind this tactic however, is its parallel to the same shock Swift felt at this point in the relationship. She even throws in multiple head bangs during her performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards to highlight the intensity of her heartache. Due to her inability to pinpoint the cause of their downfall, she belts “Maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much!” to ensue passion and emotion regarding her colossal confusion. With a prolonged “well” at the end of the verse, you assume she’s touched the climax, but thankfully, continues with what may be her best bridge ever. Unstable and heartbroken, she recalls, “Hey, you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest,” emphasizing the simplicity of the breakup, but the complexity of its aftermath. You think you are already broken at this point, but she ends the bridge with “i’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here” to convey her damaged state, blaming it on her unceasing memory and emphasizing that fact by belting out 3 “all’s” just to remind her audience once again, that she can’t forget it.

After taking her audience on the destructive ride with her throughout the song, she releases us from her peril to reflect on the damage. Lyrically, she continues to impress us with her specific allusions, for instance, alluding to the immobility of time and relating it to her paralyzed state. Due to the prolonged effect ensued, Swift personally admits to being changed personally in her failed attempts to access her “old self” once again.

Finally, after a rollercoaster of emotions, we finally reach the conclusion that both parties remember it all too well. Ending strongly, Swift alters perspectives by claiming that “he” can’t get rid of her scarf because he recalls the delicacies of their relationship as well. With a saddening comprise, she ends with an “I remember it all too well” to finalize a communal sorrow.