Say Don't Go
Taylor Swift Lyrics
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We're a shot in the darkest dark
Oh no, oh no, I'm unarmed
The waiting is a sadness
Fading into madness
Oh no, oh no, it won't stop
I'm standin' on a tightrope alone
Halfway out the door, but it won't close
I'm holdin' out hope for you to
Say, "Don't go"
I would stay forever if you say, "Don't go"
Why'd you have to lead me on?
Why'd you have to twist the knife?
Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'?
Why'd you whisper in the dark?
Just to leave me in the night?
Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
(Say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
I would stay forever if you (say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
(Say, say, say, say)
Now I'm pacin' on shaky ground
Strike a match, then you blow it out
Oh no, oh no, it's not fair
'Cause you kiss me and it stops time
And I'm yours, but you're not mine
Oh no, oh no, you're not there
I'm standin' on the sidewalk alone
I wait for you to drive by
I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show
I'm about to fold unless you
(Say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
I would stay forever if you (say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
Why'd you have to lead me on?
Why'd you have to twist the knife?
Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'?
Why'd you whisper in the dark?
Just to leave me in the night?
Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
(Say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
I would stay forever if you (say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go," whoa
(Say, say, say, say)
Why'd you have to (why'd you have to)
Make me want you (make me want you)?
Why'd you have to (why'd you have to)
Give me nothin' back?
Why'd you have to (why'd you have to)
Make me love you (make me love you)?
I said, "I love you" (I said, "I love you")
You say nothin' back
Why'd you have to lead me on? (Oh)
Why'd you have to twist the knife?
Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'?
Why'd you whisper in the dark
Just to leave me in the night?
Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
(Say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go"
I would stay forever if you (say) say, "(don't) don't (go) go," whoa
(Say, say, say, say)
But you won't, but you won't, but you won't
I would stay forever if you say, "don't go"
But you won't, but you won't, but you won't
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's song "Say Don't Go" depict a person grappling with the pain of a one-sided love and the fear of being abandoned. The singer acknowledges that they knew from the beginning that their relationship was uncertain and fragile, like a shot in the dark. They feel vulnerable and defenseless, as if they are unarmed and waiting in sadness that slowly turns into madness. Despite the agony, they are unable to stop hoping for the person they love to stay, begging them not to leave.
The singer compares their emotional state to standing on a tightrope alone, holding their breath, and waiting. They feel like they are halfway out of the door, ready to leave, but still holding on to hope that the other person will ask them to stay. They long for a simple plea, "Say, 'Don't go,'" that would make them stay forever. The pain intensifies as they question why the other person led them on, twisted the knife, and then walked away, leaving them bleeding. They wonder why they were whispered to in the dark, only to be left alone in the night, with their silence becoming unbearable.
The second verse portrays the singer pacing on shaky ground, as their emotions are unstable. They describe a moment when the other person's kiss stops time, and they surrender themselves to them, even though the other person is not present. They reveal their desperate yearning, waiting on the sidewalk, trying to uncover the other person's true intentions. They are about to give up unless they hear the words they long for: "Say, 'Don't go.'"
The song continues to explore the pain and confusion caused by the other person's actions, highlighting the singer's frustration at being given nothing back, despite their love and vulnerability. The lyrics express bewilderment at why the other person led them on, made them want them, and yet gave them no reciprocation. The song concludes with the repeated plea for the other person to say, "Don't go," expressing the singer's willingness to stay forever if they hear those words, but ultimately realizing that the other person won't say them.
Overall, "Say Don't Go" captures the feelings of unrequited love, desperation, and the torment of clinging onto hope in a one-sided relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I've known it from the very start
I have always been aware of this situation or feeling
We're a shot in the darkest dark
We are taking a chance in a difficult or uncertain situation
Oh no, oh no, I'm unarmed
I feel vulnerable and defenseless
The waiting is a sadness
Waiting for you is causing me sadness
Fading into madness
This sadness is slowly driving me crazy
Oh no, oh no, it won't stop
This feeling of sadness and madness won't go away
I'm standin' on a tightrope alone
I am in a precarious situation all by myself
I hold my breath a little bit longer
I am anxiously holding onto hope for a little while longer
Halfway out the door, but it won't close
I am ready to leave, but something is stopping me
I'm holdin' out hope for you to
I am still hopeful that you will
Say, 'Don't go'
Express to me that you don't want me to leave
I would stay forever if you say, 'Don't go'
If you tell me not to leave, I would stay with you indefinitely
Why'd you have to lead me on?
Why did you give me false hope or false signals?
Why'd you have to twist the knife?
Why did you have to hurt me even more?
Walk away and leave me bleedin', bleedin'?
Why did you abandon me while I am in pain?
Why'd you whisper in the dark?
Why did you say something intimate or special to me in secret?
Just to leave me in the night?
Only to abandon me when it mattered the most?
Now your silence has me screamin', screamin'
Your lack of communication is driving me to frustration and desperation
(Say) say, '(don't) don't (go) go'
Tell me not to leave
I would stay forever if you (say) say, '(don't) don't (go) go'
My commitment to staying with you is dependent on you asking me not to leave
Now I'm pacin' on shaky ground
I am anxiously moving back and forth on unstable and uncertain territory
Strike a match, then you blow it out
You ignite my hope and then extinguish it
Oh no, oh no, it's not fair
This situation or treatment is unjust or unfair
'Cause you kiss me and it stops time
When you kiss me, it feels like everything else fades away
And I'm yours, but you're not mine
I have given myself to you, but you do not reciprocate the same commitment
Oh no, oh no, you're not there
You are emotionally distant or unavailable
I'm standin' on the sidewalk alone
I am left alone on the sidewalk
I wait for you to drive by
I hope for your presence or acknowledgment
I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show
I am trying to understand your motives or intentions that you keep hidden
I'm about to fold unless you
I am on the verge of giving up unless you
Make me want you
Inspire me to desire you
Give me nothin' back?
Provide me with nothing in return?
Make me love you
Convince me to fall in love with you
I said, 'I love you'
I expressed my love for you
You say nothin' back
You do not respond or reciprocate my love
But you won't, but you won't, but you won't
However, you refuse to do so
I would stay forever if you say, 'don't go'
I am willing to remain with you indefinitely if you ask me not to leave
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Diane Eve Warren, Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@winterbreezekirb1201
The fact that it’s an intertwining of the melody’s of clean, how you get the girl, and all you had to do was stay while still feeling original is immaculate
@stefsire
i thought i was the only one who noticed the similaritiessssss
@mostlythinking1964
I thought so...I'm glad I hav company 🥹
@sheilamaepalao
It is more similar with Forever Winter even the lyrics
@visualscenes
I thought of this during my first listen right now.
@XydneyyendyX
Yeah
@seraphicgrandeur
A LITERAL GEM. I DONT KNOW HOW I SURVIVED THE LAST 9 YEARS WITHOUT THIS MASTERPIECE! SO GLAD SHE RELEASED IT
@charlottemarie1005
Imagine all the other songs she hasn't shown us 😢😢
@scottiebritt3009
Please please Swifties, listen to Smokey Black Nights and help me get her to release it. Trust Tay listens to her fans@@charlottemarie1005
@aestheticqueen15
@@charlottemarie1005well I’m sure it’s a surprise or for later releases