Taylor Swift also explained the story behind Back To December on her official website some time in 2011-2012:
"Back to December" addresses a first for me, in that I've never apologized to someone in a song before. In the good, or bad, or the apology, the person I wrote the song for deserves this. This is about somebody who was incredible to me, just perfect to me in a relationship, and I was really careless with him, so these are the words that I would say to him -- that he deserves to hear."
Back to December
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How's life? Tell me, how's your family?
I haven't seen them in a while
You've been good, busier than ever
We small talk, work and the weather
Your guard is up and I know why
Because the last time you saw me
Is still burned in the back of your mind
You gave me roses and I left them there to die
So this is me swallowin' my pride
Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night
And I go back to December all the time
It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you
Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright
I go back to December all the time
These days, I haven't been sleepin'
Stayin' up playin' back myself leavin'
When your birthday passed and I didn't call
Then I think about summer, all the beautiful times
I watched you laughin' from the passenger's side
And realized I loved you in the fall
And then the cold came, the dark days
When fear crept into my mind
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye
So this is me swallowin' my pride
Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night
And I go back to December all the time
It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you
Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time
I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile
So good to me, so right
And how you held me in your arms that September night
The first time you ever saw me cry
Maybe this is wishful thinkin'
Probably mindless dreamin'
But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right
I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't
So if the chain is on your door, I understand
But this is me swallowin' my pride
Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night
And I go back to December
It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you
Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright
I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time
All the time
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's Back to December express regret and a wish to turn back the hands of time. The singer is meeting someone they hurt in the past and trying to apologize for it. The initial exchange is formal and distant, with the subject avoiding eye contact and discussing small talk. It is clear that they have not forgotten the pain caused by the singer, as shown by the roses left to die. Through the course of the song, the singer talks about the specific times they miss and the moments where they realized they had made a mistake. They recount not calling during the subject's birthday and watching them from afar in the fall, ultimately realizing that they should have appreciated what they had. The chorus repeats the line "I go back to December all the time", reflecting the singer's constant yearning to go back and make things right.
The tone of the song is sombre, reflecting the sorrow the singer is feeling. The verses are sung slowly and with emotion, while the chorus is more upbeat and almost pleading. The song is primarily driven by guitar and piano, with a steady rhythm that mirrors the singer's thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so glad you made time to see me
Expressing happiness that the person has come to meet her
How's life? Tell me, how's your family?
Asking about the person's life and family
I haven't seen them in a while
Admitting that it has been a while since she has seen the person's family
You've been good, busier than ever
Acknowledging that the person has been keeping busy
We small talk, work and the weather
Engaging in trivial conversation about work and the weather
Your guard is up and I know why
Noticing that the person is being guarded, and understanding the reason why
Because the last time you saw me
Explaining the cause for the person's guarded behavior
Is still burned in the back of your mind
Implying that the person has not forgotten the last encounter
You gave me roses and I left them there to die
Admitting that the person gave her flowers, which she neglectfully left to wither
So this is me swallowin' my pride
Acknowledging the need to swallow her pride
Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night
Apologizing for her actions on that night
And I go back to December all the time
Revisiting the past, specifically the month of December
It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you
Realizing that her independence has only resulted in her missing the person
Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine
Regretting not appreciating what she had when the person was hers
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright
Wishing to go back to December and make things right
These days, I haven't been sleepin'
Admitting to current sleeplessness
Stayin' up playin' back myself leavin'
Replaying the moment she left the person over and over in her mind
When your birthday passed and I didn't call
Regretting not calling the person on their birthday
Then I think about summer, all the beautiful times
Reflecting on happier times, specifically during the summer
I watched you laughin' from the passenger's side
Recalling a moment where she watched the person laugh while sitting in the passenger's seat of a car
And realized I loved you in the fall
Realizing that she loved the person during the autumn season
And then the cold came, the dark days
Describing the winter season as cold and dark
When fear crept into my mind
Acknowledging that fear consumed her thoughts during the winter season
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye
Recognizing that the person gave her love, and all she gave in return was a goodbye
I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile
Admitting to missing specific physical qualities of the person
So good to me, so right
Expressing appreciation for the person as a whole
And how you held me in your arms that September night
Recalling a moment where the person held her in their arms during a specific night in September
The first time you ever saw me cry
Remembering the first time the person saw her cry
Maybe this is wishful thinkin'
Admitting that what follows may be a hopeful and unrealistic thought
Probably mindless dreamin'
Acknowledging that what follows may be a meaningless dream
But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right
Expressing a desire to love the person properly if given another chance
I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't
Wishing to change the past but acknowledging that it is impossible
So if the chain is on your door, I understand
Acknowledging that the person may not want to see her again
All the time
Implying a constant longing to change the past and make things right
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daylight_18
Taylor Lautner we are proud of you for treating our Queen the right way and you got this masterpiece in return❤
@RedRoseSeptember22
Oh is this about him?
@B19Wing
Fax
@AlMaDines
@@RedRoseSeptember22yes
@screenqueen7722
Love it!! 🥹💜
@sabrinagallagher5389
!!!!!!
@wannabezaclister
In this version she doesn't feel heartbroken anymore. It feels like looking back at her old self and giving a warm hug as compared to the original
@vijaishreesivaswamy7867
Wow
@thatsdope9571
Yeah I relate to the old version more 😭
@Tob1Kadach1
She's gone through so much heartbreak she's more numb to it now. Don't forget between this album and Red Jake Gyllenhaal tore her heart out.