'Speak Now': How Taylor Swift Explained Album's Title and Her Songwriting Process in 2010 (Flashback)

etonline.com:

, the GRAMMY winner’s third re-recorded album, after and in 2021. To celebrate, ET is revisiting Swift’s original interview from 13 years ago, when she explained how the album’s title compliments its central themes and what led to her being the sole songwriter for all 14 tracks.For the songstress, was «more personal than anything» she had put out before at the time, with its release following two «really intense» years for her personally, professionally and everything in between.«I don't think I would have been happy about this album if I hadn't written about all of it,» Swift told ET in 2010. «I tend to include details and the entire story, because, for me, the most fun part about this, and the most intriguing part about music, is the storytelling that's woven into it with the lyrics.»The album’s titular song was inspired by the wedding ceremony staple, which Swift interpreted for track number four as «a metaphor for waiting until it's too late to say something,» an experience all too familiar to the then-20-year-old. «That's been a habit that I've had in my life… Where I don't know what to say or I don't know what to think about,» she admitted. «I just go silent, until I know what to say.

And that's usually when I write a song about it. And so this album is called, because I'm finally saying all of it.»The track list ran the gamut, boasting love songs («Mine,» «Sparks Fly,» «Ours»), breakup anthems («Last Kiss,» «Dear John,» «Haunted»), alongside a response to past critics («Mean») and a tribute to Swifties («Long Live»).