We were both young when I first saw you
Taylor Swift and her lover first met when they were still young.

I close my eyes and the flashback starts
She reminisces about the past and how their story began.

I'm standin' there
She describes how she's feeling as she remembers the past.

On a balcony in summer air
She remembers the setting of the first time they met.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
She describes the atmosphere of the party they were attending.

See you make your way through the crowd
She remembers seeing her future lover walk towards her through the crowded party.

And say, "Hello"
He greeted her with a friendly 'hello.'

Little did I know
At the time, she had no idea what would come from that meeting.

That you were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles
She likens her lover to the artist of Shakespeare's ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
Her father warned her away from the man she loved.

And I was cryin' on the staircase
She was upset and crying when she remembers this scene.

Beggin' you, "Please don't go," and I said
She tried to convince her lover not to leave her.

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
She wanted to be alone with her lover, Romeo.

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
She was willing to run away with him if it meant being together.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
She casts her lover as the prince and herself as the princess in their love story.

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
She sees their relationship as a love story that will have a happy ending if he agrees to be with her.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you
She needed to be sneaky to see him because they were not allowed to be together.

We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew
They kept their relationship a secret because it was forbidden and could result in their deaths.

So close your eyes
She wanted to escape reality with him.

Escape this town for a little while, oh oh
She wanted to run away from their town to be together.

'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
She continues the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ imagery with Romeo as the forbidden lover and herself as the symbol of shame.

But you were everything to me
Her love for Romeo was stronger than her fear of the consequences of their relationship.

I was beggin' you, "Please don't go," and I said
She pleaded with him not to leave her.

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
She still wanted to be alone with him and be together, even though it was dangerous.

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
She was ready to run away with him if it meant being together.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
She repeats the line, which highlights the fairytale aspect of their love story.

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
She sees their love story as a fairytale and is convinced the happy ending can be achieved if he agrees to be with her.

Romeo, save me, they're tryna tell me how to feel
She turns to Romeo for help because others are trying to tell her what she should feel.

This love is difficult, but it's real
Their love is real, but it’s not easy due to the obstacles they need to face.

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
Even though there are obstacles, she believes they can overcome them and have a happy ending.

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
She repeats the line, which is a plea to be with her lover.

I got tired of waiting
She was tired of waiting for Romeo to come to her.

Wonderin' if you were ever comin' around
She was not sure if he would ever come back to her.

My faith in you was fading
She was losing her confidence that he would come back to her.

When I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said
When she finally saw him, she expressed how she felt.

Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone
She is reaching out to Romeo again for comfort since she is feeling lonely.

I keep waiting for you, but you never come
She has been waiting for him, but he hasn't come to her yet.

Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
She's not sure if their love is real or if she's imagining it.

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
Romeo proposes to her.

And said, "Marry me, Juliet
He asks her to marry him in a direct reference to the Shakespearean play.

You'll never have to be alone
He promises to always be there for her so she will never be alone.

I love you and that's all I really know
His love for her is the only thing he knows for sure.

I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
He has already spoken with her father and wants her to pick out a wedding dress.

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
She repeats the line, which is a plea to accept his proposal and agree to be with him forever.

Oh, oh, oh
This line is repeated throughout the song to highlight the melodramatic and romantic nature of the love story.

Oh, oh, oh, oh
This line is repeated throughout the song to highlight the melodramatic and romantic nature of the love story.

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you
She repeats the opening line of the song as a reminder of their youth and how their love story began.