I Knew You Were Trouble

## Music Video

**I Knew You Were Trouble** is the fourth track and third single of Taylor's fourth album Red. It was released on October 9, 2012. It became a single on November 27, 2012.

## Meaning and Background

After Taylor performed this song at the Brit Awards, she was asked if it was difficult to perform. Taylor replied: “Well, it’s not hard to access that emotion when the person the song is directed at is standing by the side of the stage watching.”, indicating that she wrote the song about Harry Styles.

## Music Video

The music video was released on December 13, 2012. It's directed by Anthony Mandler.

**Storyline**

The music video starts with Taylor lying on the ground in a dessert, surrounded by trash. Taylor has pink-tipped hair and dark make-up. Short flashbacks of Taylor and her ex-boyfriend play as there's a voice-over that says:

> "I think, I think when it's all over it just comes back in flashes you know. It's like a kaleidoscope of memories, but it just all comes back. But he never does. I think part of me knew the second I saw him that this would happen. It's not really anything he said or anything he did. It was the feeling that came along with it. And crazy thing is, I don't know if I'm ever going to feel that way again, but I don't know if I should. I knew his world moved too fast and burned too bright, but I just thought,
> How could the devil be pulling me towards someone who looks so much like and angel when he smiles at you? Maybe he knew that when he saw me. I guess I just lost my balance. I think that the worst part of it all wasn't losing him, it was losing me."
>
>

When the video starts, Taylor meets a guy. They get into a relationship and are having a good time together as they go on dates, drive, dance together, get tattoos and the guys gives Taylor a necklace. However, their relationship takes a turn for the worse. Police arrive while they're kissing in his car, he gets into a fight with some guys at a bar (which Taylor tries to stop) and at a concert Taylor sees him kissing other girls. The last scene shows Taylor dropping the necklace the guy gave her and a voice-over saying:

> "I don't know if you know who you are until you lose who you are."
>
>

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**
Once upon a time, a few mistakes ago
I was in your sights, you got me alone
You found me, you found me, you found me
I guess you didn't care, and I guess I liked that
And when I fell hard, you took a step back
Without me, without me, without me

**[Pre-Chorus]**
And he's long gone, when he's next to me
And I realize the blame is on me

**[Chorus]**
'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
'Til you put me down, oh
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground
Oh, oh-oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Oh, oh-oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble

**[Verse 2]**
No apologies, he'll never see you cry
Pretend he doesn't know
That he's the reason why
You're drowning, you're drowning
You're drowning
And I heard you moved on
From whispers on the street
A new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be
And now I see, now I see
Now I see

**[Pre-Chorus]**
He was long gone when he met me
And I realize the joke is on me, hey!

**[Chorus]**
I knew you were trouble when you walked in (oh)
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
'Til you put me down, oh
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been (yeah)
Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground
Oh, oh-oh (yeah)
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Oh, oh-oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble

**[Bridge]**
And the saddest fear
Comes creeping in
That you never loved me
Or her, or anyone, or anything, yeah

**[Chorus]**
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been (Never been)
'Til you put me down, oh
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
(Knew it right there)
So, shame on me now (Knew it right there)
Flew me to places I'd never been (ooh)
Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground
Oh, oh-oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble (oh)
Oh, oh-oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble

**[Outro]**
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
Trouble, trouble, trouble
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
Trouble, trouble, trouble

## Videos

Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were TroubleI Knew You Were Trouble.I Knew You Were Trouble. (Karaoke Version)

## References

1. ↑ Don’t mess with Taylor Swift | The Times - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dont-mess-with-taylor-swift-32xldnzlzpm/