Taylor’s own ‘Speak Now’ album just got released and it’s a whole lot of nostalgia. Taylor’s version of the album comes 13 years after the release of the original and she has a few new songs for us, too. “I Can See You” is a track ‘From the Vault’ meaning it did not make the cut to the album over a decade ago. But it is here now and it is as good as the rest.
‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ was released on July 7, 2023, as part of Taylor Swift’s ongoing re-releases of her original albums following a dispute with her first label Big Machine Records. She has, so far, released ‘Red’ and ‘Fearless’ albums fully re-recorded giving her the rights to own her own masters.
‘Speak Now’ was an era of love and the “I Can See You” track from the vault does not sway far from this theme. In this song, we find Taylor Swift head over heels for a guy. There is tangible sexual tension in this track, which is not something we came across a lot in the ‘Speak Now’ era.
Listen to “I Can See You” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift “I Can See You” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
Taylor Swift, the storyteller, paints a picture of a crowded hallway (maybe in school?). This guy walks right past her–he barely breaks the stride. But she has been watching him walk toward her all this time. Is this the day he is going to notice her? Well, not so much!
But what would you do if I went to touch you now?
Reality escapes her mind now. What if he did notice her? What then? Will he sweep her off her feet? Take her to some corner in the corridor and look deep into her eyes. Would it be so bad if she touched him? In her head, everything is just fine. He is hers.
Toward the end of the song, Taylor Swift plays out another fantasy in her imagination. One of these days, he is going to pass her in the hallway and his stride is going to break for a second. In this second, he is going to pass her a folded note. After Taylor recovers her breath, she is going to read “meet me tonight” scribbled on it. And fireworks! Kisses and cuddles and romantic walks. But they keep it a secret. It’s better this way. There is a certain thrill in making plans in secrecy to meet him. It is a rush to keep all the emotions bottled inside when everyone is around and release them at night in private.
Or is she just being naive?
If only he could see her in the same way that she does with him, this love story would be so much more different.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics to the song on Genius.