Timeless
Taylor Swift Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Down the block, there's an antique shop
And something in my head said, "Stop," so I walked in
On the counter was a cardboard box
And the sign said, "Photos: twenty-five cents each"
Black and white, saw a '30s bride
And two lovers laughin' on the porch of their first house
The kinda love that you only find once in a lifetime
The kind you don't put down
And that's when I called you and it's so hard to explain
But in those photos, I saw us instead
And, somehow, I know that you and I would've found each other
In another life, you still would've turned my head even if we'd met

On a crowded street in 1944
And you were headed off to fight in the war
You still would've been mine
We would have been timeless
I would've read your love letters every single night
And prayed to God you'd be comin' home all right
And you would've been fine
We would have been timeless
'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this
So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine
We would've been timeless

I had to smile when it caught my eye
There was one of a teenage couple in the driveway
Holdin' hands on the way to a dance
And the date on the back said 1958
Which brought me back to the first time I saw you
Time stood still like somethin' in this old shop
I thought about it as I started lookin' 'round
At these precious things that time forgot
That's when I came upon a book covered in cobwebs
Story of a romance torn apart by fate
Hundreds of years ago, they fell in love, like we did
And I'd die for you in the same way if I first saw your face

In the 1500s off in a foreign land
And I was forced to marry another man
You still would've been mine
We would have been timeless
I would've read your love letters every single night
And run away and left it all behind
You still would've been mine
We would've been timeless
'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this
So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine
We would've been timeless

Time breaks down your mind and body
Don't you let it touch your soul
It was like an age-old classic
The first time that you saw me
The story started when you said, "Hello"

In a crowded room a few short years ago
And sometimes there's no proof, you just know
You're always gonna be mine
We're gonna be
I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray
We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've made
And you'll say, "Oh my, we really were timeless"

We're gonna be timeless, timeless
You still would've been mine
We would've been
Even if we'd met on a crowded street in 1944
You still would've been mine
We would've been





Down the block, there's an antique shop
And somethin' in my head said, "Stop," so I walked in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taylor Swift's song "Timeless" tell a story of love that transcends time and different lifetimes. The singer visits an antique shop and comes across a box of old photos, each capturing moments of love and happiness. As she looks at these photos, she sees herself and her partner in them, as if their love has existed throughout different eras. The song expresses the belief that no matter the circumstances or time period, their love would have always found a way to exist and thrive.


The first verse sets the scene in the antique shop, where the singer is drawn to a box of old photos. The black and white images depict couples from different eras, and the singer envisions herself and her partner in those moments. It suggests that their love is timeless and powerful, the kind that only comes once in a lifetime. The singer calls her partner, struggling to explain the emotions and connection she feels through these photos. It implies a strong belief that if they had met in different circumstances or eras, their love would have still blossomed.


The second verse further explores the idea of the couple's love overcoming time. It transports the listener to 1944, during the time of war, where the singer imagines her partner heading off to fight. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the lyrics express a firm belief that their love would have remained strong. The idea of reading love letters every night and praying for a safe return showcases the depth and devotion of their connection. It suggests that their love is unbreakable and would have withstood the test of time.


Overall, "Timeless" is a heartfelt song that explores the concept of soulmate connections that transcend time and space. It speaks to the belief that true love is eternal and can overcome any obstacle or setting.


Line by Line Meaning

Down the block, there's an antique shop
In close proximity, there exists a store selling old, valuable items


And something in my head said, 'Stop,' so I walked in
An inner feeling or intuition compelled me to enter the shop


On the counter was a cardboard box
Visible on the surface was a box made of thin, stiff material


And the sign said, 'Photos: twenty-five cents each'
A notice indicated that photographs were available for purchase at a specific price


Black and white, saw a '30s bride
Monochrome images revealed a bride from the 1930s


And school lovers laughin' on the porch of their first house
Photographs portrayed young couples sharing lighthearted moments on the front of their initial abode


The kinda love that you only find once in a lifetime
A unique and profound affection that can only be encountered once


The kind you don't put down
An attachment so strong that one does not abandon it


And that's when I called you and it's so hard to explain
At that moment, I contacted you, though conveying the experience is challenging


But in those photos, I saw us instead
Observing those pictures, I envisioned our own presence


And, somehow, I know that you and I would've found each other
Oddly, I possess the certainty that we would have eventually encountered one another


In another life, you still would've turned my head even if we'd met
In an alternate existence, you would have still captured my attention, even upon our initial meeting


On a crowded street in 1944
Amidst a bustling road during the year of 1944


And you were headed off to fight in the war
Moreover, you were departing to engage in conflict


You still would've been mine
Nevertheless, you would have remained my beloved


We would have been timeless
Together, we would have transcended time itself


I would've read your love letters every single night
I would have diligently perused your affectionate written correspondences every evening


And prayed to God you'd be comin' home all right
Furthermore, I would have fervently implored for your safe return


And you would've been fine
Consequently, you would have remained unharmed


We would have been timeless
Together, we would have defied the constraints of time


'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this
Due to my conviction, I firmly believe that destiny led us to this realization


So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine
Hence, even in an alternate existence, you would have remained my beloved


We would've been timeless
Together, we would have surpassed the limitations of time


I had to smile when it caught my eye
An involuntary, gleeful expression emerged as my attention was captured


There was one of a teenage couple in the driveway
An image depicted a youthful pair situated on the driveway


Holdin' hands on the way to a dance
They engaged in holding each other's hands while en route to a dance


And the date on the back said 1958
The date inscribed on the reverse side indicated the year as 1958


Which brought me back to the first time I saw you
Consequently, this occurrence reminded me of the initial moment I laid eyes upon you


Time stood still like somethin' in this old shop
At that instant, time ceased its forward motion, much like an object in this aged store


I thought about it as I started lookin' 'round
Pondering this occurrence, my contemplation expanded as I began surveying the surroundings


At these precious things that time forgot
Examining these invaluable items disregarded by time itself


That's when I came upon a book covered in cobwebs
Subsequently, I stumbled upon a book obscured by spider silk


Story of a romance torn apart by fate
Contained within was an account of a love affair separated by unfortunate circumstances


Hundreds of years ago, they fell in love, like we did
Centuries in the past, they experienced the same love we shared


And I'd die for you in the same way if I first saw your face
Under similar circumstances, I would willingly sacrifice my life for you upon our initial encounter


In the 1500s off in a foreign land
During the 16th century, situated in an unfamiliar territory


And I was forced to marry another man
Compelled by circumstances, I entered matrimony with a different individual


You still would've been mine
Nonetheless, you would have remained my beloved


We would have been timeless
Together, we would have transcended the confines of time


I would've read your love letters every single night
I would have diligently perused your affectionate written correspondences every evening


And run away and left it all behind
Additionally, I would have fled and abandoned everything for our love


You still would've been mine
Even so, you would have remained my beloved


We would've been timeless
Together, we would have defied the constraints of time


'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this
In light of my conviction, I firmly hold that it was predestined for us to discover this truth


So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine
Consequently, even in an alternate existence, you would have remained my beloved


We would've been timeless
Together, we would have surpassed the limitations of time


Time breaks down your mind and body
The passing of time deteriorates one's mental and physical state


Don't you let it touch your soul
Therefore, one must safeguard their inner essence from the influence of time


It was like an age-old classic
It resembled a well-established masterpiece


The first time that you saw me
When you initially laid eyes upon me


The story started when you said, 'Hello'
The narrative began at the precise moment you uttered the word 'Hello'


In a crowded room a few short years ago
Within a space filled with numerous individuals, a couple of brief years ago


And sometimes there's no proof, you just know
Occasionally, evidence is lacking, yet you possess an intuitive understanding


You're always gonna be mine
You shall forever remain my beloved


We're gonna be
We will endure as a couple


I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray
I shall continue to adore you even as our hair loses its color


We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've made
Together, we will possess a container made of thick paper, filled with snapshots depicting the life we have constructed


And you'll say, 'Oh my, we really were timeless'
At that moment, you will exclaim, 'Oh my, we genuinely existed beyond the constraints of time'


We're gonna be timeless, timeless
We shall endure as a couple, transcending the limitations of time


You still would've been mine
Still, you would have remained my beloved


We would've been
Together, we would have existed


Even if we'd met on a crowded street in 1944
Even if we had encountered each other on a busy road in the year 1944


You still would've been mine
Nevertheless, you would have remained my beloved


We would've been
Together, we would have existed


Down the block, there's an antique shop
Located nearby, there exists a store selling old, valuable items


And something in my head said, 'Stop,' so I walked in
A mental sensation compelled me to halt and subsequently enter the shop




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Swift

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Noremac95

I think it's safe to say that this is her best album closing song. The storytelling and lyricism is top notch.

@anyier-

I feel like this is her best album, I’ve always hated speak now but now she REALLY went up with the vocals, lyrics, and for the vault songs she took a new turn with different styles but it still hit.

@evelyn_sea

But Daylight.. I’m obsessed with timeless tho!
I also LOVEE the lakes, might be a unpopular opinion, And ATW ofc. Daylight is my favorite TS song of all time tho ☺️

@BeatrizLee

It is especially because the album starts with Mine, telling us the beginning of their story building a life together. She ends it with Timeless showing us the life they had together. It’s perfection. 🥺

@N08R76H

Eh New Year’s Day and daylight are better, not saying this is a bad song it’s just not one of her best songs as a closing song

@totallynotmarcie

10000%!

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@younan_taylors_version

I love how she wrote a song about her grandparents
It's so emotional I'm already crying 💜💜😭

@afago.

And was written before epiphany n' marjorie from 2020

@ach4049

it is?

@Adriana.174

@@ach4049yes, from the vault tracks mean that taylor wrote them in the time that the album came out, but didn't release them

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