Recorded 2008; 2009 Writer(s) Taylor Swift | Genre Country pop | |
Length 3:46 (original version)
4:27 (piano version) Producer(s) Nathan Chapman
Taylor Swift | ||
"Forever & Always" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). It was a last-minute addition to the albumbut went on to become a fan favorite. It received mixed reviews from music critics and became certified Platinum by the RIAA peaking within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, despite not being individually released or promoted as a single. "Forever & Always" revolves lyrically around a breakup and the resultant heartache.
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Background and recording
Inspired by her recent break-up with Joe Jonas, Swift quickly wrote and recorded the song at the last minute for inclusion on Fearless. As Swift explained in a track-by-track insight into the album, the song was written about a man in her life who she could see "slowly [slipping] away" from her and the confusion she felt in dealing with a crumbling relationship. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Swift described the fallout of that relationship as a "really dramatic and crazy" experience that she "[needed] to address" through her music.
Jonas addressed the song in the June 2009 issue of Seventeen Magazine. When talking about it, he said he wasn't bothered by Swift writing a song about their relationship. "It's flattering," said Jonas. "It's always nice to hear their side of the story."
In 2009, Swift re-recorded the song in an acoustic ballad style for the Platinum Edition re-issue of Fearless. This remastered cut is officially titled "Forever & Always (Piano version)".
Live performances
Swift performed "Forever & Always" at the 2009 CMA Awards and nightly on her 2009–2010 Fearless Tour.