“
Breathe” is a country-pop song performed by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, featuring Colbie Caillat as the co-writer and backing vocals. The song was written by Swift and Caillat and produced by Nathan Chapman with Swift’s aid. It is the seventh track from Swift’s second studio album, Fearless released in 2008. The song was written about the end of a friendship. Musically, the song is driven by acoustic guitar.
The song received favorable responses from contemporary music critics. “Breathe” was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, but lost to Jason Mraz and Caillat’s “Lucky”. “Breathe” peaked at number eighty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Its appearance tied Swift with Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) for two records on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I see your face in my mind as I drive away
'Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way
People are people and sometimes we change our minds
But it's killing me to see you go after all this time
[Verse 2]
Music starts playing like the end of a sad movie
It's the kind of ending you don't really wanna see
'Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down
Now I don't know what to be without you around
[Pre-Chorus]
And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand
[Chorus]
And I can't breathe without you, but I have to
Breathe without you but I have to
[Verse 3]
Never wanted this, never wanna see you hurt
Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve
But people are people and sometimes it doesn't work out
Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out
[Pre-Chorus]
And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand
[Chorus]
And I can't breathe without you but I have to
Breathe without you but I have to
[Bridge]
It's 2 A.M, feeling like I just lost a friend
Hope you know it's not easy, easy for me
It's 2 A.M, feeling like I just lost a friend
Hope you know this ain't easy, easy for me
[Pre-Chorus]
And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me, oh
[Chorus]
I can't breathe without you but I have to
Breathe without you but I have to
Breathe without you but I have to
[Outro]
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry, (Yeah eh) I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry