You Belong With Me

Why does You Belong With Me get everyone? Because it's too honest — who hasn't been the one who "gets him better but wasn't chosen"? Taylor nails that grievance: I'm not the bad girl, I'm just in sweatpants and braces, standing outside his window.

Every time the chorus hits I'm a little frustrated for her, and a little for myself. That "can't you see me?" stubbornness is something we all played at in our teens. Its grace is in not pretending to be the bigger person — just a small, lovable, righteous "why not me, it's obviously me."

This is an interpretation based on publicly available material. Not official commentary.

Full lyrics are not reproduced here to respect copyright.