Innocent

Taylor Swift

About Innocent

"Innocent" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Allegedly written in response to Kanye West's interruption of her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift performed the song at the following year's ceremony as a means of putting the controversy behind them. The song achieved moderate critical and commercial success, debuting at #53 and #27 on the Canadian Hot 100 and Billboard Hot 100, respectively, following the release of Speak Now.  


Year:
2010
97 
#1

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I guess you really did it this time
Left yourself in your warpath
Lost your balance on a tightrope
Lost your mind tryin' to get it back

Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days?
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything?
And everybody believed in you?

It's alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent
You're still an innocent

Did some things you can't speak of
But at night you'll live it all again
You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you had seen what you know now then

Wasn't it easier in your firefly-catchin' days?
And everything out of reach, someone bigger brought down to you
Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild 'til you fell asleep?
Before the monsters caught up to you?

It's alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent

It's okay, life is a tough crowd
Thirty two and still growin' up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent

Time turns flames to embers
You'll have new Septembers
Every one of us has messed up too

Lives change like the weather
I hope you remember
Today is never too late to
Be brand new

It's all right, just wait and see
Your string of lights are still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent

It's okay, life is a tough crowd
Thirty two and still growin' up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent
You're still an innocent

Lost your balance on a tight rope, oh
It's never too late to get it back

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 14 to pursue a career in country music. more »

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Written by: TAYLOR SWIFT

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Song Release
"Innocent" was released as part of Taylor Swift's third studio album, "Speak Now", which was launched on October 25, 2010.
Song Inspiration
It has been speculated that Taylor wrote the song about Kanye West, following an incident during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye had interrupted Taylor's acceptance speech, prompting much controversy.
Lyrics Writing
Taylor Swift wrote the song all by herself, reflecting her ability as a songwriter. "Speak Now" is the album where she wrote all songs solo.
Song Message
Despite the controversy, the song "Innocent" is renowned for its positivity and forgiving message. The lyrics indicate that everyone, even if they make mistakes, possesses a certain degree of innocence.
Live Performance
Taylor performed "Innocent" live for the first time at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The performance was well-received and added to the public speculation about its relation to the Kanye West incident.
Commercial Success
Though not released as a single, "Innocent" secured a position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at the 27th spot.
Music Style
"Innocent" is known for its soft, country-pop style. It features simple instrumentation, predominantly using the acoustic guitar, banjo, and violin.
Critical Reception
Critics provided mixed reviews for the song. Some praised its sentiment, while others felt it was excessive, given the context. However, its lyrics and Taylor’s delivery were generally admired.
Album Recognition
The "Speak Now" album as a whole was commercially successful and critically acclaimed, earning several awards and nominations. It sold over 1 million copies in its first week.
Song Impact
Despite its status as a non-single, "Innocent" has left a significant impact on Taylor Swift's discography and public image. It has been taken as a symbol of her grace and ability to handle unfavorable situations elegantly.
Release Information
The song "Innocent" is featured on Taylor Swift's third studio album, "Speak Now," which was released in October 2010.
Relation to Personal Life
Swift wrote "Innocent" as a response to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards incident when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech.
Songwriting Details
Like all the songs on the "Speak Now" album, "Innocent" was solely written by Taylor Swift, showing off her talent as a songwriter.
Emotional Background
The song serves as Swift's forgiveness to West and emphasizes her views on the importance of maintaining innocence and a sense of wonder, despite facing difficulties and public humiliation.
Live Performance
Taylor Swift performed "Innocent" live at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, a year after the incident, making a strong statement of moving on from the past.
Reception
Despite its personal and emotional touch, the song didn't chart as high as other songs from the album. It peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Song Composition
"Innocent" is a soft rock and pop song running for approximately five minutes. With prominent usage of guitars, drums, and cello, it has a calm but powerful melody that supports the song's message well.
Critical Reviews
The song received polarizing reviews from critics. Some praised Swift's maturity and her handling of the situation, while others criticized the song for being too self-serving.
Inspiration
Swift revealed that a quote from her mother inspired a line in the song - "You'll have new Septembers" - which signifies new beginnings and the chance to start over.
Album Success
Even though "Innocent" did not do as well as expected, the "Speak Now" album was a big success. It sold over one million copies in its first week and is certified 6x Platinum in the United States.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 2010

    Billboard #27


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