:The Last Time (Taylor Swift song)
{{Short description|2013 single by Taylor Swift featuring Gary Lightbody}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = The Last Time
| cover = Taylor Swift - The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody) (Official Single Cover).png
| alt = Cover artwork of "The Last Time", showing Swift standing in a stream
| type = single
| artist = Taylor Swift featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol
| album = Red
| released = {{Start date|2013|11|04}}
| studio =
- The Garage (Topanga Canyon, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Red|type=CD liner notes|others=Taylor Swift|publisher=Big Machine Records|year=2012}}
- The Village Recorder (Los Angeles, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Red|type=CD liner notes|others=Taylor Swift|publisher=Big Machine Records|year=2012}}
| genre = * Alternative rock
| length = 4:59
| label = Big Machine
| writer = * Taylor Swift
- Gary Lightbody
- Jacknife Lee
| producer = Jacknife Lee
| chronology = Taylor Swift
| prev_title = Everything Has Changed
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Shake It Off
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|QuijXg8wm28|"The Last Time"}}}}
}}
"The Last Time" is a song by Taylor Swift featuring Gary Lightbody, taken from Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift wrote the track with Lightbody and Jacknife Lee; the latter two are members of the rock band Snow Patrol. A power ballad, the song sees Swift's and Lightbody's characters expressing their perspectives on a failed relationship, torn between heartbreak and forgiveness. The production combines alternative rock and folk over dramatic string instruments and an orchestral background in the refrain. "The Last Time" was released in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2013, as a single from Red.
Critics praised "The Last Time" for its production and Lightbody's performance, but some felt that Lightbody's and Swift's vocals do not complement each other. Retrospectively, they considered it one of Swift's weakest songs in her discography. Commercially, the song reached the top 30 in Scotland, on the Irish Singles Chart and the UK Singles Chart. A re-recorded version, "The Last Time (Taylor's Version)", was included on Swift's re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021.
Background and release
Swift released her third studio album, Speak Now, in October 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-speak-album-31396/|title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's Speak Now|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Chris|last=Willman|date=October 19, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201357/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-speak-album-31396/|url-status=live}} She wrote the album by herself and co-produced it with Nathan Chapman.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/500-greatest-albums-taylor-swift-red-1059586/|title=500 Greatest Albums: Taylor Swift Looks Back on Her 'Only True Breakup Album' Red|first=Jonathan|last=Bernstein|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204182537/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/500-greatest-albums-taylor-swift-red-1059586/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp|title=Taylor Swift Speak Now|work=Sound on Sound|first=Paul|last=Tingen|date=February 2011|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910113359/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp|url-status=live}} Speak Now was similar to Swift's previous album, Fearless (2008), in its country pop production style.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410|title=Speak Now – Taylor Swift|publisher=AllMusic|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=March 2, 2019|archive-date=November 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105185251/https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2010/10/disc-review-maybe-it-wasnt-time-for-taylor-swift-to-speak-now.html|title=Maybe It Wasn't Time for Taylor Swift to Speak Now|work=The Morning Call|first=John J.|last=Moser|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929071627/https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2010/10/disc-review-maybe-it-wasnt-time-for-taylor-swift-to-speak-now.html|url-status=live}} On her fourth studio album, Red (2012), Swift wanted to experiment with other musical styles.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/|title=Taylor Swift sees Red all over|first=Brian|last=Mansfield|author-link=Brian Mansfield|date=October 17, 2012|work=USA Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221175440/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/|archive-date=December 21, 2012}} To this end, she approached different producers beyond her career base in Nashville, Tennessee. Swift worked with musicians Gary Lightbody and Jacknife Lee of the Irish-Scottish band Snow Patrol, admiring their sentimental music "about loss or longing".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22|title=Taylor Swift Q&A: The Risks of {{'}}Red{{'}} and The Joys of Being 22|first=Phil|last=Gallo|date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224174636/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22|archive-date=February 24, 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 19, 2022}} She was connected with Lightbody by their mutual friend, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, when they were recording in the studio one day.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1115414787|title=Taylor's snow impressed with Gary country|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=October 28, 2012|page=26|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 13, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1115414787}}|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922100828/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1115414787|url-status=live}} The song that Swift and Lightbody worked on together for Red is "The Last Time", which features Lightbody on guest vocals and Lee on writing and producing.
"The Last Time" was released commercially as part of the album Red, on October 22, 2012, by Big Machine Records.{{cite magazine|title=Taylor Swift, {{'}}Red{{'}}: Track-By-Track Review|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066798/taylor-swift-red-track-by-track-review|magazine=Billboard|date=October 19, 2012|access-date=July 4, 2013|archive-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129071359/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066798/taylor-swift-red-track-by-track-review|url-status=live}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228034534/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-30-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-20121031-story.html|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-30-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-20121031-story.html|title=Taylor Swift raises the bar with a savvy {{'}}Red{{'}} marketing campaign|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Randy|last=Lewis|url-access=limited|date=October 30, 2012|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=December 28, 2020|url-status=live}} It was released as a single in the United Kingdom for the week of November 4, 2013, by Mercury Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/this-weeks-new-releases-04-11-2013-2586/ |title=This week's new releases 04-11-2013 |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=July 1, 2014 |author=Lane, Daniel |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140325125231/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/this-weeks-new-releases-04-11-2013-2586/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1840853049|title=Key releases|newspaper=Music Week|date=November 8, 2013|pages=40–41|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 6, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1840853049}}|archive-date=November 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112161751/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1840853049|url-status=live}} Swift and Lightbody performed the track live during the Sacramento, California, concert of Swift's Red Tour on August 27, 2013—their first time singing live together. The performance was recorded by director Terry Richardson and released as the song's live music video on November 15, 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/taylor-swift-and-snow-patrols-gary-lightbody-in-the-last-time-video-watch | title=Taylor Swift and Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody in 'The Last Time' video | last=Newman | first=Melinda | date=November 18, 2013 | website=HitFix | access-date=December 19, 2013 | archive-date=December 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219151655/http://www.hitfix.com/news/taylor-swift-and-snow-patrols-gary-lightbody-in-the-last-time-video-watch | url-status=dead }} The pair performed the song once again on the tenth season of British version of The X Factor on November 3, 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1448004083|title=Lightbody to appear on X Factor tonight|last=McGurk|first=John|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=November 3, 2013|page=3|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 6, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1448004083}}|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122134921/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1448004083|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-the-last-time-x-factor/|title=Taylor Swift Performs 'The Last Time' with Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody on 'X Factor UK'|website=Taste of Country|last=Vinson|first=Christina|date=November 4, 2013|access-date=September 20, 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171618/https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-the-last-time-x-factor/|url-status=live}} On June 16, 2023, Swift performed "The Last Time" as a "surprise song" at the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, as part of her sixth concert tour the Eras Tour.{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=2023-06-18 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |url-status=live }}
Composition and lyrics
"The Last Time" is a power ballad.{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Randall|title='The Last Time' connects Taylor Swift with Arcade Fire|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-31-la-et-ms-the-last-time-connects-taylor-swift-with-arcade-fire-20121031-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 13, 2013|date=October 31, 2012|url-access=limited|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306070538/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/31/entertainment/la-et-ms-the-last-time-connects-taylor-swift-with-arcade-fire-20121031|url-status=live}} Lewis Randy of the Los Angeles Times said that it is an alternative rock song, following the musical style of Snow Patrol.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-video-last-time-gary-lightbody-20131118-story.html|title=Watch new Taylor Swift video 'The Last Time' with Gary Lightbody|date=November 18, 2013|last=Lewis|first=Randy|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 12, 2014|archive-date=May 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513080500/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-video-last-time-gary-lightbody-20131118-story.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Reviews from The Philippine Inquirer and The Daily Telegraph categorized the song as folk, with a relatively dark production compared to Red{{'s}} upbeat tracks.{{cite web|last=Atilano|first=Joseph R.|title=Album Review: Red by Taylor Swift|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/67266/red-by-taylor-swift|work=The Philippine Inquirer|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224102857/http://entertainment.inquirer.net/67266/red-by-taylor-swift|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Lachno |first=James |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Pop CD of the Week |page=14 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1113466069 |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|1113466069}}}} The refrain is accentuated by an orchestral background consisting of strings and brass.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1119169613|title=New Music Review|newspaper=The National|location=United Arab Emirates|date=October 30, 2012|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 5, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1119169613}}}} The track ends with a strings-laden coda. The strings were arranged and conducted by Owen Pallett.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Ian|title=Update – Owen Pallett|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/update/9358-owen-pallett/|website=Pitchfork|date=March 18, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2015|archive-date=January 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107183706/http://pitchfork.com/features/update/9358-owen-pallett/|url-status=live}} Musicologist James E. Perone noted that "The Last Time" uses the '50s progression, I–vi–IV–V, which is associated with many American pop songs from the 1950s; Perone argued that this quality lent "The Last Time" a timeless feel. He further remarked that the orchestral stringed instruments are reminiscent of the music by the 1970s and early-1980s group Electric Light Orchestra.{{sfn|Perone|2017|pp=49–50}}
The lyrics tell the story of a crumbling relationship, with the two narrators detailing a vicious cycle of heartbreak and forgiveness. Swift said she was inspired to write "The Last Time" by a relationship with an unreliable ex-lover, "You never know when he's going to leave, you never know when he's going to come back, but he always does come back."{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/11/03/164186569/taylor-swift-my-confidence-is-easy-to-shake|title=Taylor Swift: 'My Confidence Is Easy To Shake'|website=NPR|series=All Things Considered|date=November 3, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=April 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428003156/https://www.npr.org/2012/11/03/164186569/taylor-swift-my-confidence-is-easy-to-shake|url-status=live}} Swift imagined a scenario where outside a door is a boyfriend on his knees on the ground, with the girlfriend waiting inside the room, torn between allowing him to come back or not, after having been heartbroken many times. The song features both Lightbody and Swift on lead vocals; Lightbody sings of his character's perspective on the failed relationship in the first verse, followed by Swift's presentation of her character's in the second.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} Swift recalled, "It's a really fragile emotion you're dealing with when you want to love someone, but you don't know if it's smart to."
Critical reception
File:20180603 Nürnberg Rock im Park Snow Patrol 0139.jpg's vocals and performance on "The Last Time".|alt=Gary Lightbody performing]]
In album reviews of Red, some critics selected "The Last Time" as an album highlight. Joseph Atilano of The Philippine Inquirer considered it the most mature album track because it "proves [Swift] is ready for the adult-pop realm", which lends her artistic credibility. Allison Stewart from The Washington Post similarly lauded it as an album standout, opining that Lightbody's creative input helped Swift accordingly develop her artistry in experimenting with styles beyond country-pop.{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Allison |date=October 23, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: Great when she's grown-up |page=C.2 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1114200333 |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|1114200333}}}} Sharing the same sentiment, James Lachno from The Daily Telegraph commended the production and vocals: "[The song] digs into a hidden side to [Swift's] talent." Reviews from Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press{{Cite news|last=Fekadu|first=Mesfin|date=October 24, 2012|title=Taylor Swift's Red fades to mediocrity|pages=E10|work=The Des Moines Register|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966343/taylor-swifts-red-fades-to-mediocrity/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724154608/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966343/taylor-swifts-red-fades-to-mediocrity/|url-status=live|via=Newspapers.com}} and Michelle Prosser of Times Record News considered "The Last Time" an album highlight, specifically thanks to Lightbody's performance.{{cite news|last=Prosser|first=Michelle|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2610935363|title=CD shows Swift evolving|newspaper=Times Record News|date=November 2, 2012|page=N.7|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 5, 2022|id={{ProQuest|2610935363}} }} Randall Roberts of The Los Angeles Times praised the track as "well-crafted" and the refrain as "instantly hummable".
Other reviewers were less complimentary, taking issue with the duo's vocal performance. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country was more critical of the song, as he felt Lightbody dominates the track and Swift "stretches out in the back seat"; he called "The Last Time" the "only pure skip-ahead moment" on Red.{{cite web|last=Dukes|first=Billy|title=Taylor Swift, Red – Album Review|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red/|work=Taste of Country|date=October 19, 2012|access-date=October 13, 2013|archive-date=November 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104175536/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red/|url-status=live}} Perone commented that Lightbody's vocals fit the song better than Swift's, who performs with "a sense of urgency in her singing".{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} In a negative review, James Reed from The Boston Globe criticized the duo's singing: "his morose croon sounds dreary alongside her thin, unadorned vocals."{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1113963946|title=Golden, but no longer a girl: On her new album, Taylor Swift pursues pop hits – and more mature songwriting|last=Reed|first=James|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 22, 2012|page=G.3|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 5, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1113963946}}|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207164631/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1113963946|url-status=live}} Tony Clayton-Lea writing for The Irish Times deemed the track and "Everything Has Changed" featuring Ed Sheeran, the other collaboration effort on Red, as Swift's "desperate attempts" to reach out to new audiences.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1125343503|title=Album Review: Taylor Swift, Red|last=Clayton-Lea|first=Tony|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=November 2, 2012|page=14|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 4, 2022|id={{ProQuest|1125343503}}|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207170914/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1125343503|url-status=live}}
Retrospective rankings have considered "The Last Time" one of Swift's weakest songs in her discography. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone, in a 2021 ranking of Swift's 237-song catalog, ranked the track at number 228; he commented that Swift's and Lightbody's vocals do not complement each other.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/the-last-time-ft-gary-lightbody-2012-195831/|title='The Last Time' (2012)|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|author-link=Rob Sheffield|url-access=limited|access-date=September 5, 2022|date=October 26, 2021}} In another 2021 ranking of Swift's 207 songs, Nate Jones from Vulture placed it at number 186 and remarked that it is Red{{'s}} worst song, criticizing the production "that you've got to slog through to get to the end".{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|title=All 162 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked|first=Nate|last=Jones|work=Vulture|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2022|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814090919/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|archive-date=August 14, 2022}} Billboard placed it last on a ranking of all Swift's collaboration singles, deeming it forgettable.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-taylor-swift-collaborations-songs/the-last-time-feat-gary-lightbody/#!|title=Taylor Swift's Top Collaborations, Ranked: Critics' Picks|first1=Danielle|last1=Pascual|first2=Taylor|last2=Weatherby|date=August 19, 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 19, 2022}} Alexis Petridis in The Guardian was more positive, placing "The Last Time" 29th out of 44 singles Swift released in a 2019 ranking; while saying that it is not a bad song, Petridis commented that it is not one of Swift's most memorable singles.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked|title=Taylor Swift's singles – ranked!|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|work=The Guardian|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=December 9, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427062612/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked|url-status=live}}
Commercial performance
Upon Red{{'s}} release, "The Last Time" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart dated November 10, 2012. During the same time frame, the song charted at number 73 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. In the United Kingdom, "The Last Time" debuted and peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of November 10, 2013. The track charted in the top 20 on the singles charts in Ireland and Scotland.
Personnel
=Production=
{{div col begin}}
- Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriter
- Gary Lightbody – featured vocals, songwriter
- Jacknife Lee – producer, songwriter, guitar
- Mark Stent – mixer
- Matty Green – assistant mixer
- Chris Owens – assistant recording engineer
- Matt Bishop – engineer, editor
- Sam Bell – engineer
- Hank Williams – mastering
{{div col end}}
=Musicians=
{{div col}}
- Owen Pallett – conductor
- Bill Rieflin – drums
- Marcia Dickstein – harp
- Jamie Muhoberac – piano
- Jeff Takiguchi – upright bass
- Simeon Pillich – upright bass
- John Krovoza – cello
- Peggy Baldwin – cello
- Richard Dodd – cello
- Brett Banducci – viola
- Lauren Chipman – viola
- Rodney Wirtz – viola
- Amy Wickman – violin
- Daphne Chen – violin
- Eric Gorfain – violin
- Gina Kronstadt – violin
- Marisa Kuney – violin
- Neli Nikolaeva – violin
- Radu Pieptea – violin
- Wes Precourt – violin
{{div col end}}
Charts
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for "The Last Time" !scope="col"| Chart (2012–2013) !scope="col"| Peak |
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|14|artist=Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody|song=The Last Time|accessdate=October 28, 2013|rowheader=true|refname="Flanders"}} |
{{single chart|Canada|73|artist=Taylor Swift|accessdate=December 10, 2021|rowheader=true|refname="Canada"}} |
{{single chart|Ireland|15|year=2013|week=45|accessdate=November 10, 2013|rowheader=true|refname="Ireland"}} |
{{single chart|Scotland|20|date=2013-11-16|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2021|refname="Scotland"}} |
{{single chart|UK|25|date=2013-11-16|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2013|refname="UK"}} |
{{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|3|artist=Taylor Swift|accessdate=November 28, 2017|rowheader=true|refname="bubbling"}} |
"The Last Time (Taylor's Version)"
{{Infobox song
| name = The Last Time (Taylor's Version)
| artist = Taylor Swift featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol
| album = Red (Taylor's Version)
| released = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:59
| label = Republic
| writer = * Taylor Swift
- Gary Lightbody
- Jacknife Lee
| producer = Jacknife Lee
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|header=Lyric video|{{YouTube|pCH4QrSx2Jg|"The Last Time (Taylor's Version)"}}}}
}}
Following a dispute with Big Machine over the rights to the master recordings of Swift's first six studio albums, Swift re-recorded the whole Red album and released it as Red (Taylor's Version) under Republic Records on November 11, 2021; the re-recording of "The Last Time" is titled "The Last Time (Taylor's Version)".{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/|title=Red (Taylor's Version): Release Date, Tracklist, Why Taylor Swift Is Rerecording Her Albums|work=CNET|first=Abrar|last=Al-Heeti|date=November 11, 2021|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120224012/https://www.cnet.com/news/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/|url-status=live}} Lightbody and Lee both returned on the re-recording as guest vocalist and producer, respectively. The re-recording peaked at number 53 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the Billboard Global 200, it peaked at number 61. In a review of Red (Taylor's Version) for USA Today, Melissa Ruggieri found "The Last Time" one of the album's most beautiful songs, praising its "hushed beauty".{{cite web |first=Melissa |last=Ruggieri |title=Taylor Swift's New Red Is a Fan Feast of 30 Sensitive, Angry and Transformative Songs |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/11/12/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-offers-30-rerecorded-songs-heartbreak-new-songs/6371456001/ |access-date=February 25, 2022 |website=USA Today |date=November 12, 2021 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226180408/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/6371456001 |url-status=live }}
=Personnel=
Adapted from Red (Taylor's Version) album liner notes{{cite AV media notes|title=Red (Taylor's Version)|others=Taylor Swift|year=2021|publisher=Republic Records|type=vinyl liner notes}}
- Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriter
- Gary Lightbody – lead vocals, songwriter, guitar
- Jacknife Lee – producer, songwriter, recording engineer, programming, bass, keyboard, piano, guitar
- Matt Bishop – recording engineer, editor, drums
- Christopher Rowe – vocal engineer
- John Hanes – recording engineer
- Bryce Bordone – assistant mixer
- Serban Ghenea – mixer
- Davide Rossi – cello, viola, violin, strings arranger
- Owen Pallett – strings arranger
=Charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "The Last Time (Taylor's Version)" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
| 53 |
---|
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|61|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021|refname="Global"}} |
{{single chart|UKstreaming|91|date=20211119|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2021}} |
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|66|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021|refname="US"}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite book|first=James E.|last=Perone|title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift|publisher=ABC-Clio|series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection|isbn=978-1440852947|year=2017}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Time, The}}
Category:Alternative rock ballads
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Songs written by Gary Lightbody
Category:Songs written by Jacknife Lee
Category:Song recordings produced by Jacknife Lee
Category:Big Machine Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Terry Richardson
Category:American alternative rock songs