“Is It Over Now?” Taylor Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” album has finally made its long-awaited return after nine years since its 2014 release, and fans are thrilled to confirm that the re-recorded version was well worth the wait. Alongside the original 13 tracks and three deluxe edition songs, this new “Taylor’s Version” includes five never-before-heard “From the Vault” tracks, which has piqued significant interest among listeners due to the song’s vivid and specific lyrics. The center of attention is the closing track of the re-released album: “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version).”
What’s the Meaning Behind Taylor Swift’s “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)”? “Is It Over Now?” delves into the aftermath of a tumultuous romance filled with ups and downs, leaving the narrator, presumably Taylor Swift, pondering if the relationship has truly ended. Given that it was originally intended for “1989,” the song naturally aligns with the album’s themes, making its meaning somewhat more accessible to discern.
Who’s the Subject of “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)”? The song kicks off with the echoing phrase “Is it?” that reflects a state of turmoil and unease, reminiscent of the feelings expressed in the fourth track of the album, “Out of the Woods,” which is rumored to be about Swift’s whirlwind relationship with Harry Styles between 2012 and 2013. However, the connections between the two songs don’t stop there. “Once the flight had flown,” she sings in the first verse, possibly alluding to “Out of the Woods,” where she mentions “two paper airplanes flying.” “I slept all alone / You still wouldn’t go,” she adds, describing the loneliness that accompanies heartache while still holding onto what might have been.Is it Over Now….
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- In the pre-chorus, Swift fast-forwards to the bitter end of a doomed love, implying that her ex’s infidelity caused the eventual downfall of the relationship. “You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor / You search in every maiden’s bed for somethin’ greater, baby,” she sings. It’s noteworthy that Swift touches on similar themes of unfaithfulness in the synth-heavy “Style,” which is likely also inspired by Styles.
The chorus highlights the lack of closure and communication issues between the former couple, with Swift confusingly questioning when the relationship actually ended. “Was it over when she laid down on your couch? / Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?” she sings, implying that both have moved on but are still unable to fully let go of each other. Moreover, the mention of her ex’s “couch” brings to mind a similar lyric from “Out of the Woods,” where Swift reminisces about happier times in the previous relationship. “We were lying on your couch / I remember,” she sings.
The second verse delves into more specifics about Swift’s former partner. “When you lost control / Red blood, white snow,” she mentions, alluding to Swift and Styles’s 2012 snowmobile accident, which reportedly left Styles injured — as noted in “Out of the Woods,” where it mentions “20 stitches.” “Blue dress on a boat / Your new girl is my clone,” she continues, referring to another public incident involving Styles. Swift was seen alone on a ship shortly after her breakup with Styles, wearing a blue dress, which many believe resembles the one she wore in the “Out of the Woods” music video.
Here, Swift also accuses her former lover of dating someone who looks like her, which aligns with Styles admitting to such a situation in his 2017 song “From the Dining Table”: “Woke up the girl who looked just like you / I almost said your name.” Swift’s clear implication is further elaborated as she sheds light on her ex’s preference for women with blue eyes, stating, “If she’s got blue eyes, I will surmise that you’ll probably date her.”
In the bridge, Swift discards subtlety and directly calls out her former partner for their lack of discretion in flaunting their new romance publicly shortly after their breakup. “There were flashin’ lights / At least I had the decency / To keep my nights out of sight,” she sings, revealing that she even fantasized about putting herself in harm’s way to prompt her ex to express their true feelings.
The second pre-chorus echoes a similar vocal harmony heard repeatedly in the background of “Out of the Woods,” further linking the subjects of the two songs. “Is It Over Now?” concludes on a definitive note, implying that the two ultimately parted ways for good, as her former lover didn’t express his true feelings for Swift as she had hoped. “I was hoping you’d be there / And say the one thing / I’ve been wanting / But no.”
Taylor Swift’s “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)” Lyrics You can read the complete lyrics of “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)” below (via Genius).
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INTRO (Is it? Is it? Is it? Is it? Is it?)
VERSE 1
Once the flight has flown (Uh-huh)
With the wilt of the rose (Uh-huh)
I slept all alone (Uh-huh) You still wouldn’t go
PRE-CHORUS
Let’s fast forward to 300 takeout coffees later
I see your profile and your smile on unsuspecting waiters
You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor
You search in every maiden’s bed for somethin’ greater, baby
CHORUS
Was it over when she laid down on your couch?
Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?
“Come here,” I whispered in your ear
In your dream as you passed out, baby
Was it over then?
And is it over now?
POST-CHORUS (Is it? Is it? Is it?)
VERSE 2
When you lost control (Uh-huh)
Red blood, white snow (Uh-huh)
Blue dress on a boat (Uh-huh)
Your new girl is my clone
BRIDGE
And did you think I didn’t see you?
There were flashin’ lights
At leastI had the decency
To keep my nights out of sight
Only rumors ’bout my hips and thighs
And my whispered sighs
Oh Lord, I think about jumpin’
Off of very tall somethings
Just to see you come runnin’
And say the one thing I’ve been wanting, but no
PRE-CHORUS
Let’s fast-forward to 300 awkward blind dates later (Oh)
If she’s got blue eyes, I will surmise that you’ll probably date her (Oh, no)
You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor (Oh)
You search in every model’s bed for somethin’ greater, baby
CHORUS
Was it over when she laid down on your couch?
Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?
“Come here,” I whispered in your ear
In your dream as you passed out, baby
Was it over then?
And is it over now?
POST-CHORUS Uh-huh (Is it? Is it?) Uh-huh
BRIDGE
Think I didn’t see you?
There were flashin’ lights
At least I had the decency
To keep my nights out of sight
Only rumors ’bout my hips and thighs
And my whispered sighs
Oh Lord, I think about jumpin’
Off of very tall somethings
Just to see you come runnin’ (Runnin’)
And say the one thing I’ve been wanting, but no
OUTRO
Flashin’ lights, oh,
Lord (Oh) Let’s fast forward to 300 takeout coffees later (Oh)
(Flashin’ lights) I was hoping you’d be there
And say the one thing (Oh, Lord)
I’ve been wanting (Oh, Lord)
But no
Is it Over Now….
