It’s a big weekend for Taylor Swift fans.
Not only has the singer finally released Red (Taylor’s Version) on Friday, as part of her ongoing effort to regain control over her work, she also launched a 14-minute short film – written and directed by her – to accompany one of her songs.
The release of Red (Taylor’s Version) is a big deal in itself. While the original album featured 16 tracks when it was released in 2012, the latest has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics and fans, and features new musical collaborations with bigwigs including Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Bridgers and Chris Stapleton.
It also features nine songs she wrote back in 2012 but didn’t make the cut… until now. So suffice it to say that the internet was delighted by the release.
Why are Taylor Swift fans now reacting to All Too Well?
However, few songs from this album have caught Swifties’ attention quite like All Too Well.
When the song was first released with the rest of the album Red in 2012, it wasn’t meant to be the highlight, and yet somehow that's what it became. While the album received three Grammy nominations that year, All Too Well attained a sort of cult status, with many claiming it to be the best song of her career. It even holds the top spot among Rolling Stone's ranking of Swift’s best work, with the magazine saying "This towering ballad is Swift’s zenith, building to peak after peak.”
These, and rumours of the existence of a 10-minute uncut version of the song, turned All Too Well into something of a folklore.
Friday's reveal of that rumoured version did not disappoint fans:
What’s been uncovered within the song?
It’s long been rumoured that the song was about Jake Gyllenhaal and Swift’s three-month relationship and the new version – which clocks in at 10 minutes and nine seconds – features new lyrics that have left no doubt in the minds of fans.
For starters, the duo dated right before Swift’s 21st birthday, something that is reflected in the extended lyrics: "But then he watched me watch the front door all night, willing you to come/ And he said, 'It’s supposed to be fun…turning 21'".
It also alludes to the reason the two broke up, which happens to be the difference in age: “You said if we had been closer in age/ Maybe it would have been fine”. At the time they were together, she was aged 20 while he was 29.
Finally – and possibly the part fans are raving about most – are the lyrics that point out the hypocrisy of age being a factor in the break-up.
“And I was never good at telling jokes/ But the punchline goes/ 'I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age',” Swift sings in the extended version.
At the moment, Gyllenhaal, 40, is dating model Jeanne Cadieu, 25.
To go with the song, Swift also released a short film written and directed by her, starring Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner). The video clocked more than three million views less than three hours after its premiere.
Why is Taylor Swift remaking her albums?
Taylor Swift has been on a mission to re-record her first six albums, all released under Big Machine Label Group, with the aim of owning the new set of masters – the official sound recording which future editions stem from.
Swift signed the deal with BMLG when she was 15, in return for an advance and a chunk of revenue. However, it is the owner of the masters who finally owns and profits from all copies: including CDs, records and versions streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.
The masters were later acquired by Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings and sold again in November 2020 to private equity firm Shamrock Holdings, which currently owns her first six albums, released between 2006 and 2017. It led Swift to speak out, saying it was “the second time my music had been sold without my knowledge.”
The new release is part of her ongoing feud for ownership of her music.
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Taylor Swift, in an embellished LBD, arrives at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, on November 18, 2007. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Sandy Spika, arrives at the Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in a navy mini dress, arrives for the Grammy Awards nominations in Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Kaufman Franco, arrives at the Brit Awards at Earl's Court on February 18, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in a chiffon-sleeved dress, attends the Echo Music Awards at the O2 Arena on February 21, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Rachel Gilbert, attends the Sydney premiere of '17 Again' on March 11, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Kaufman Franco, arrives at the Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on January 31, 2010. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in a gold mini, holds her award for 'Album of the Year' at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 5, 2009. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Roberto Cavalli, attends the Roberto Cavalli show during Milan Fashion Week on September 27, 2010 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Roberto Cavalli, attends the Roberto Cavalli party as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in a lace skater dress, attends BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards at Hammersmith Apollo, on November 14, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Collette Dinnigan, arrives at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, on November 21, 2010. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, arrives for the Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 3, 2011. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2011. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Reem Acra, arrives for the American Music Awards held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 20, 2011. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Zuhair Murad, arrives for the Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2012. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, USA, on September 6, 2012. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, attends the Elie Saab show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 3, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in a scarlet midi, at Westfield London on November 6, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, attends the MTV EMAs at Festhalle Frankfurt on November 11, 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, arrives at the Aria Awards at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 29, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in a white mini, attends the 40 Principales Awards at Palacio de los Deportes on January 24, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, attends the NRJ Music Awards at Palais des Festivals on January 26, 2013 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, arrives for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, USA, on February 10, 2013. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, attends the Brit Awards at the 02 Arena on February 20, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, attends the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in a shirt and shorts, at the Capital Summertime Ball at Wembley Arena on June 9, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Herve Leger, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, on August 25, 2013. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Julien Macdonald, arrives for the American Music Awards held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 24, 2013. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Reem Acra, arrives at Centrepoint's Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace in London on November 26, 2013. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Carolina Herrera, arrives at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on January 12, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Gucci, arrives for the Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, arrives for the Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 6, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Oscar de la Renta, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Novis, arrives for the Teen Choice Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on August 10, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Sass & Bide, on September 4, 2014 in Hamburg, Germany. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Michael Kors, at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 23, 2014. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in J Mendel, attends the afterparty for the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show at Earls Court on December 2, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Sachin & Babi, attends the Jingle Bell Ball at 02 Arena on December 7, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Elie Saab, arrives for the Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Julien Macdonald, attends the Elle Style Awards on February 24, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Roberto Cavalli, attends the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 25, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images -
Taylor Swift, in Balmain, arrives for the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 17, 2015. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Ashish, arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 30, 2015. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Versace, arrives for the Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 15, 2016. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Alexandre Vauthier, arrives for the Vanity Fair Oscars After-Party following the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, California, on February 28, 2016. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Louis Vuitton, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2016. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Versace, arrives for the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 20, 2018. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Balmain, arrives for the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on October 9, 2018. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Rosa Bloom, at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on March 14, 2019. EPA -
Taylor Swift, wearing J Mendel, arrives for the Time 100 Gala at the Lincoln Centre in New York on April 23, 2019. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Raisa & Vanessa, arrives for the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 1, 2019 -
Taylor Swift, in Versace, arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, on August 26, 2019. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Julien Macdonald, arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 24, 2019. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in Etro, arrives for the Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2020. EPA -
Taylor Swift, in checked Carmen, attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 23, 2020. AFP -
Taylor Swift, in a floral Oscar de la Renta dress, attends the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Centre on March 14, 2021. AFP -
Taylor Swift, in a black Greta Constantine Hockney bodysuit, performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021. AFP -
Taylor Swift, in a velvet Etro suit, attends the 'All Too Well' premiere in New York City on November 12, 2021. Getty Images
