Back To December

"Back to December" by Taylor Swift is a poignant confession wrapped in the melancholy of regret and the relentlessness of time passing. This song, unmistakably an ode to lost love, draws on the rich imagery of a past relationship with actor Taylor Lautner, marked by tenderness and a sincere apology. It unfolds like a delicate tapestry of memories, each thread soaked in the hues of nostalgia and longing.

The line "You gave me roses and I left them there to die" is particularly expressive, transforming the withered roses into a somber metaphor for the deterioration of their love. These roses, once vibrant symbols of affection as ancient as the myths of Aphrodite, now signify neglect and the decay of what was once beautiful. This image resonates deeply, casting a shadow over the warmth they once shared, a shadow that extends into the chill of December—a month that, in Swift’s narrative, becomes a symbol of endings and the harshness of winter.

The verses "Then I think about summer, all the beautiful times / I watched you laughing from the passenger side / And realized I loved you in the fall" capture the fleeting beauty of their moments together. The memory of laughter, light and effortless during the summer months, starkly contrasts with the sadness of realization in autumn, an understanding that came too late. This juxtaposition between the carefree joy of summer and the poignant clarity of autumn mirrors the changing seasons, echoing the natural cycle of growth and decay.

Swift’s reflections are laden with the weight of missed opportunities and unspoken words. "I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile," she sings, recalling the physical features that made Lautner distinctive, features that are now fragments of a past she longs to revisit. The mention of how Lautner held her "in your arms that September night, the first time you ever saw me cry" ties back to a public moment of vulnerability at the 2009 VMAs, an episode where Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech to say she did not deserve the award. In an interview, Taylor Lautner expressed his regret for not taking action: "I was anaware that the Kanye thing was not a skit. I gave her the award, I took five steps back and was standing five feet behind her. And in the middle of her giving her ‘thank you’ speech, Kanye jumped up onto the stage. The second she turned back around and I saw her face for the first time, I was, like, 'Oh. No, that wasn’t good. Probably should’ve said something'".

The chorus, "And I go back to December, turn around / And make it all right," is an expression of regret, a desire to reverse the course of events, to say what was unsaid, to mend what was broken. It's a lament for the coldness that December brought, not just in the weather but in her heart—a coldness that led to a farewell neither of them desired.

In essence, "Back to December" is a song of reflection and redemption. It is Swift’s heartfelt admission of her own flaws, her acknowledgment that she let something precious slip through her fingers. The song is a journey through time, a desire to alter the past, interspersed with the painful realization that some things, once passed, remain beyond our reach, leaving only the hope for understanding and forgiveness in their wake. Through this introspective exploration, Swift not only confronts her own imperfections but also encapsulates the universal ache of looking back on lost love, making "Back to December" a resonant anthem of remorse and yearning.