When Emma Falls in Love
Taylor Swift Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When Emma falls in love, she paces the floor
Closes the blinds and locks the door
When Emma falls in love, she calls up her mom
Jokes about the ways that this one could go wrong
She waits and takes her time
'Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it's gonna rain
When Emma falls in love, I know
That boy will never be the same

'Cause she's the kind of book that you can't put down
Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
And all the bad boys would be good boys
If they only had a chance to love her
And to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I was her

When Emma falls in love, it's all on her face
Hangs in the air like stars in outer space
When Emma falls in love, she disappears
And we all just laugh after seein' it all these years
When Emma falls apart, it's when she's alone
She takes on the pain and bears it on her own
'Cause when Emma falls in love, she's in it for keeps
She won't walk away unless she knows she absolutely has to leave

And she's the kind of book that you can't put down
Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
And all the bad boys would be good boys
If they only had a chance to love her
And to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I was her

Well, she's so New York when she's in LA
She won't lose herself in love the way that I did
'Cause she'll call you out, she'll put you in your place
When Emma falls in love, I'm learning

Emma met a boy with eyes like a man
Turns out her heart fits right in the palm of his hand
Now he'll be her shelter when it rains
Little does he know, his whole world's about to change

'Cause she's the kind of book that you can't put down
Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
And all the bad boys would be good boys
If they only had a chance to love her




And to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I was her
Yeah, between me and you, sometimes I wish I was her

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taylor Swift's song "When Emma Falls in Love" depict the experiences and emotions of a woman named Emma when she falls in love. The first verse highlights Emma's anticipation and cautious approach to love. She becomes anxious, pacing the floor, closing herself off from the world, and joking about the potential pitfalls of the relationship with her mother. Emma, characterized as "Little Miss Sunshine," always expects the worst, even when falling in love.


The chorus further explores Emma's captivating nature. She is compared to a book that you cannot put down, an irresistible force. The analogy of Cleopatra growing up in a small town emphasizes Emma's allure and potential to transform those around her. The lyrics suggest that bad boys would become good if they had the chance to love her. This implies that Emma has the power to bring out the best in people.


The second verse delves deeper into Emma's behavior and the impact of love on her. When she falls in love, her emotions are transparent, visible on her face and palpable in the air. However, when she experiences heartbreak or difficulties, she withdraws and bears the pain alone. Emma's commitment to love is also highlighted; she will only leave a relationship if absolutely necessary.


The bridge contrasts Emma's strength and self-awareness with the singer's own experiences. Emma is portrayed as someone who maintains her identity even in different environments, such as being "so New York when she's in LA." She won't lose herself in love like the singer did. In this self-discovery, the singer admits to admiring Emma's ability to stand up for herself and wishes she could be as confident and self-assured in matters of love.


The final verse introduces a significant turning point in Emma's love life. She meets a man who captures her heart, and it is indicated that he will provide comfort and become her safe haven during difficult times. However, the lyrics reveal that Emma's love has the power to deeply change and impact this man's life, though he may not yet be aware of it.


Overall, "When Emma Falls in Love" explores the complex experiences and nature of love through the character of Emma. She is portrayed as an enigmatic and influential figure, capable of transforming others' lives. The lyrics evoke themes of anticipation, vulnerability, strength, and self-discovery, providing insight into the multifaceted aspects of love and relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

When Emma falls in love, she paces the floor
When Emma falls in love, she becomes restless and anxious


Closes the blinds and locks the door
She isolates herself, creating a sense of privacy and protection


When Emma falls in love, she calls up her mom
She seeks guidance and shares her excitement with her mother


Jokes about the ways that this one could go wrong
She lightens the situation by making humorous remarks about potential problems


She waits and takes her time
Emma is patient and deliberate in her approach to love


'Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it's gonna rain
Emma, being cautious, has a tendency to expect difficulties or challenges


When Emma falls in love, I know
It's evident and obvious when Emma is in love


That boy will never be the same
The person she falls in love with will undergo a transformative experience


'Cause she's the kind of book that you can't put down
Emma is intriguing and captivating, just like a book you can't stop reading


Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
She possesses a captivating and magnetic presence similar to Cleopatra, but in a smaller setting


And all the bad boys would be good boys
Her radiant personality could potentially change the behavior of bad boys, making them better


If they only had a chance to love her
If those bad boys had the opportunity to experience her love, they would transform


And to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I was her
The singer admits to occasionally longing to have the same allure and impact as Emma


When Emma falls in love, it's all on her face
Her emotions are clearly visible and evident on her face


Hangs in the air like stars in outer space
The atmosphere is filled with the intensity of her love, like stars decorating the sky


When Emma falls in love, she disappears
She becomes fully absorbed in her romantic feelings and temporarily loses her usual self


And we all just laugh after seein' it all these years
Those close to Emma find it amusing and endearing to witness her falling in love repeatedly over the years


When Emma falls apart, it's when she's alone
Her vulnerability and struggles become apparent when she is by herself


She takes on the pain and bears it on her own
Emma internalizes her pain and deals with it independently


'Cause when Emma falls in love, she's in it for keeps
When Emma commits to love, she is fully and permanently invested


She won't walk away unless she knows she absolutely has to leave
Emma is determined to sustain the relationship unless there is a compelling reason to end it


Well, she's so New York when she's in LA
Even when in a different location, Emma's personality and essence remain true to her New York origins


She won't lose herself in love the way that I did
Unlike the singer, Emma will not allow love to consume or diminish her sense of self


'Cause she'll call you out, she'll put you in your place
Emma has the courage and assertiveness to confront others and demand respect


When Emma falls in love, I'm learning
The singer is gaining insights and lessons from observing Emma's experiences of falling in love


Emma met a boy with eyes like a man
Emma encountered a mature and captivating young man


Turns out her heart fits right in the palm of his hand
She discovered that her feelings perfectly match and fit within his grasp


Now he'll be her shelter when it rains
He will provide her support and protection during challenging times


Little does he know, his whole world's about to change
Unbeknownst to him, his life will undergo a significant transformation due to his connection with Emma


Yeah, between me and you, sometimes I wish I was her
Confidentially, the singer occasionally desires to possess the qualities and experiences of Emma




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Swift

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@madden919

“SHE’S THE KIND OF BOOK YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN” That’s so lovely 😭💜

@ClarissaRose

I AGREE I LOVEDDDD THAT WHEN I FIRST SAW IT!!!!!!!!

@grapefanta5975

I'm not even Emma but this line makes me get butterflies 😭😭

@bawin384

like that's the best compliment ever

@Bea.the.librarian

As a librarian Swiftie I am absolutely in love with this lyric

@Jackzay90

why?

9 More Replies...

@estplorer

“She’s the kind of book that you can’t put down” is such a clever metaphor…describing how she’s so fascinating & can hold one’s attention, but also describing her like the book “Emma”

@melodieknowsit

i was thinking about Emma Woodhouse too !

@EmmaMiller-20lou08

My name is Emma and I am literally reading the book currently coincidentally and a song came out at the same time 😅

@estplorer

@@EmmaMiller-20lou08this makes me think of her lyrics “Once upon a time, the planets and the fates, and all the stars aligned” and “It's like a million little stars spelling out your name”, all the fates and stars aligned spelling out your name

More Comments

More Versions