'Speak now 또는 forever hold your peace', the words said 의해 preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It's a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone's 심장 race, and a moment I've always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they'd kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.

Real life is a funny thing, 당신 know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've began to fear 더 많이 than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.

I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I 사랑 you'. When we should've said 'I'm sorry'. When we didn't stand up for ourselves 또는 someone who needed help.

These songs are made up of words I didn't say when the moment was right is front of me. These songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person. To the beautiful boy whose 심장 I broke in December. To my first 사랑 who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who 스톨, 훔친 something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world.

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope 당신 use yours for good, because the only words you'll regret 더 많이 than the ones left unsaid are the ones 당신 use to intentionally hurt someone.

What 당신 say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you'll stutter and you'll walk away embarrased, wincing as 당신 play it all back in your head. But I think the words 당신 stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt 당신 the longest.

So say it to them. 또는 say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you'll never send 또는 in a book millions might read someday. I think 당신 deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying 'I could've, but it's too late now.'

There is a time for silence. There is a time waiting your turn. But if 당신 know how 당신 feel, and 당신 so clearly know what 당신 need to say, you'll know it.

I don't think 당신 should wait. I think 당신 should speak now

Love,
Taylor

PS: To all the boys who inspired this album, 당신 should've known. ;)