Prologue
'Speak now or forever hold your peace,' the words said by preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It's a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone's heart race, and a moment I've always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they'd kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.
Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, the most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've begun to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.
I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I love you.' When we should've said 'I'm sorry.' When we didn't stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help.
These songs are made up of words I didn’t say when the moment was right in front of me. These songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person. To the beautiful boy whose heart I broke in December. To my first love who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who stole something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world.
Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use yours for good, because the only words you’ll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone.
What you say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you’ll stutter and you’ll walk away embarrassed, wincing as you play it all back in your head. But I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest.
So say it to them. Or say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you’ll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying ‘I could’ve, but it’s too late now.’
There is a time for silence. There is a time waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you’ll know it.
I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now.
Love, Taylor
PS: To all the boys who inspired this album, you should've known. ;)
Album Credits
Producers Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift
Writers Martin Johnson & Taylor Swift
Acoustic Guitar Bryan Sutton, Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift
Backing Vocals Matt Rausch
Bass Guitar Amos Heller, Nathan Chapman, Tim Marks & Tommy Sims
Drums John Gardner, Nick Buda & Shannon Forrest
Electric Guitar Grant Mickelson, Mike Meadows, Nathan Chapman & Paul Sidoti
Fiddle Rob Hajacos
Hammond B-3 Organ Tim Lauer
Label Big Machine Records
Orchestral Arranger and Conductor Paul Buckmaster
Percussion Al Wilson & Eric Darken
Recorded By Steve Churchyard
Steel Guitar Smith Curry
Strings Chris Carmichael
Video Cameo by Joey King
Wardrobe Aubrey Hyde
Stylist Joseph Casell
Hair Jemma Muradian
Make-Up Lorrie Turk
Design Josh Newman & Bethany Newman
Photography Joseph Anthony Baker
Art Direction Taylor Swift