It describes Swift running into her ex, and the encounter causing her to remember their past together and feel the pain of their history together that hurt her. She doesn’t understand how this person doesn’t feel the same pain that she does, but resigns herself to moving on with her life, and rejecting the person’s desire to pretend to stay friends.
On April 2nd 2021 Taylor posted a video on her social media where the vault was opened and words with the letters mixed up came out of it. This song was reversed and used as the background music for the video.
Don't You
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been a while, I didn't mean to stare
I heard she's nothin' like me
I'm sure she'll make you happy
But don't you
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Don't you say you've missed me if you don't want me again
So why don't you, don't you?
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Sometimes I really wish that I could hate you
I've tried, but that's just somethin' I can't do
My heart knows what the truth is
I swore I wouldn't do this
But don't you
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Don't you say you've missed me if you don't want me again
You don't know how much I feel I love you still
So why don't you, don't you?
So I walk outta here tonight
Try to go on with my life
And you can say we're still friends
(But I don't wanna pretend)
So if I see you again
Don't you (don't you)
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Don't you (don't you), say you've missed me if you don't want me again
You don't (you don't), know how much I feel I love you still
So why don't you, don't you?
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Don't you, ah, ah, ah
In "Don't You," Taylor confronts an ex-lover who she unexpectedly runs into. She admits to still being in love with him, despite his current partner not being anything like her. Taylor tells him not to smile at her or act like he's missed her unless he wants her back. She acknowledges that she's tried to hate him, but her heart knows the truth. The song ends with her vowing to walk out of his life and move on from their past.
One interpretation of this song is that it portrays an internal battle with one's emotions. The lyrics suggest that Taylor has tried to move on from her past with her ex but can't help feeling drawn back to him. She tries to convince herself that she hates him and is over their relationship, but her heart won't let her forget.
Another interpretation is that the song is a message to someone who's hurt her. It's a warning to not play with her emotions or try to come back into her life unless he's ready to commit to her again. She won't settle for anything less than what she deserves, and she won't let someone toy with her feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, I knew I'd run into you somewhere
I knew we would meet again someday.
It's been a while, I didn't mean to stare
It has been a long time since we last saw each other.
I heard she's nothin' like me
I heard that the person you are with now is very different from me.
I'm sure she'll make you happy
I hope that the person you are with now brings you happiness.
But don't you
But please don't
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Please don't smile at me and act friendly if you don't really care how I am doing.
Don't you say you've missed me if you don't want me again
Please don't say you miss me if you have no intention of being with me again.
You don't know how much I feel I love you still
You don't know how much I still love you.
So why don't you, don't you?
So why don't you just leave me alone?
Sometimes I really wish that I could hate you
I wish I could hate you for making me feel this way.
I've tried, but that's just somethin' I can't do
I have tried to hate you, but I can't seem to.
My heart knows what the truth is
My heart knows that the truth is I still love you.
I swore I wouldn't do this
I promised myself I wouldn't let you affect me like this.
So I walk outta here tonight
So I will leave this place tonight.
Try to go on with my life
Try to move on without you.
And you can say we're still friends
You can say we are still friends if you want.
(But I don't wanna pretend)
(But I don't really want to pretend.)
So if I see you again
So if we happen to meet again.
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Don't you (don't you)
Please don't
Don't you smile at me and ask me how I've been
Please don't act friendly and ask me how I am doing.
Don't you (don't you), say you've missed me if you don't want me again
Please don't say you miss me if you don't want to be with me again.
You don't (you don't), know how much I feel I love you still
You have no idea how much I still love you.
So why don't you, don't you?
So why don't you just leave me alone?
Ah, ah, ah
Don't you, ah, ah, ah
Please don't
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Swift, Tommy Lee James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@uditisharma2940
Can't believe this was in the vault for 13 years.
@febs3501
ikr !?
@estefanymeza8579
Sameeee ✨😭💛
@thequeen4140
I’ve been more time in the closet
@billiegenew
@@thequeen4140 same
@alexandrahernandezmilian6340
What is the vault, can someone explain it to me?
@beautifultragedy6687
Taylor fans are so lucky, even in the middle of a pandemic, she released 2 albums and brought back her original album with unreleased songs on top of that. She's literally amazing and I can't get over it.
@mdlourdesmendez7026
We know girl, we aren't deserving of all her love and work😭
@t.c.9029
In the last 2 years she has released 4 albums, one documentary and 2 other specials. I cant even
@linalu3468
Due of the pandemic there are no concerts and a world tour brings a lot of money.The albums are closing the gape I guess..but it's a win-win situation. She has to pay off her homes and everything.