Begin Again 重新開始－Carpe diem!

Begin Again is a song that I wrote about...getting through a breakup and...really being still kind of sad about it, and feeling a little insecure about all the things that relationship made you feel"we're wrong with yourself". And after months and months and months having the courage to stand back up and dust yourself off and go on that first date. It's about kind of the vulnerability involved with that, the idea that you realized that "Wow, this could be great and maybe I don't have to be hurt anymore".---------------Taylor on Begin Again(via Red track-by-track)

這首歌寫的是，剛從分手之中走出來的我，雖然還會感到一絲絲難受和不安，因為...彼此對對方都有做得不對的地方；但在經過了數個月後，我終於有勇氣再站起來，並重新整理自己，使自己從上一段戀情之中恢復過來。這種害怕自己再度受傷的感覺，有點像是...妳自己終於體會到：Wow, 現在這一段戀情應該會很美好，或許我不必再為此而受傷了。-------------------------泰勒談到Begin Again的創作歷程(節錄自Red track-by-track)

個人推測，這首歌寫於11年年底，並跟Everything Has Changed有著前後關係。

首先大概分析一下歌詞：

首先是主詞變化
泰勒有時會以此來表示新舊感情的交替(詳見Style)
所以：He代表Jake或其他人，you跟him則是Dianna

再來是throw your head back laughing like a little kid這句
我是沒看過Dianna仰頭大笑的樣子
(那時候這兩人公開出街的照片可是極少)
但聽說在Glee中有這樣過。(某K好像也會XD)

因此，在與Dianna的相遇的過程中，泰勒發現，她與這名女孩簡直是一見如故
雙方開心地聊著，竟也讓自己慢慢忘卻了那位讓她傷心將近8個月的愛人....

所有的恐懼與不快，在這時通通煙消雲散...(Let go all of my fears and ghosts)

嶄新的愛情、嶄新的人生篇章

就在此時重新開始。

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Begin Again 重獲新生

(隱藏訊息： I Wear Heels Now 現在，我能穿高跟鞋了)

Took a deep breath in the mirror
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
But I do
Turn the lock and put my headphones on
He always said he didn't get this song
But I do, I do

我對著鏡子深呼吸

因為他說，他以前不喜歡看我穿高跟鞋
但是現在我穿了

他把門關上，開始用我的耳機聽歌
他以前總是說：「這首歌的意境好難懂啊。」

但是現在，我懂了…

Walked in expecting you'd be late
But you got here early and you stand and wave
I walk to you
You pull my chair out and help me in
And you don't know how nice that is
But I do

我先進去，以為妳會比我晚到
但妳不僅早到了，還站在那裏對我揮著手

我走向妳
妳隨即幫我拉開椅子，並邀請我坐下

妳不知道這舉止對我來說有多貼心
但我確實感受到了

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

然後妳像個孩子般仰頭大笑，好似覺得這一切很有趣
我突然覺得好不習慣，因為他從來不會這麼做

這八個月來，我不斷在想
愛情，不就是心動，狂熱，最後走向終點？

但在這個星期三、這個下午、這間咖啡廳裡
我已經漸漸放下一切，準備邁向新生

You said you never met one girl
Who had as many James Taylor records as you
But I do
We tell stories and you don't know why
I'm coming off a little shy
But I do

妳曾說過
從沒遇過一個女生家裡收藏那麼多James Taylor的唱片
但我就是第一個

我們不斷分享著彼此的過往
但妳還不知道，為何我總是怯於談論自己的感情

因為，只有我自己才懂

But you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

但妳還是像個孩子般仰頭大笑，好似覺得這一切依然有趣
我突然覺得好不習慣，因為他從不會關心這些

這八個月來，我不斷在想
愛情，就是心動，狂熱，最後走向終點

但在這個星期三、這個下午、這間咖啡廳裡
我卻已經能放下一切，準備重新開始

And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up
But you start to talk about the movies that your family
Watches every single Christmas and I want to talk about that
And for the first time what's past is past

當我們穿過街角，我停的車就在不遠處
正準備要上車之時，她卻停下腳步
並開始講起，每次在過聖誕節時，和自己家人所看的每一部電影
正好，我也想跟她聊這個話題

這是頭一次
我感覺到，過去的一切都已經不再重要了

'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months

Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

因為妳如孩子般的仰頭大笑，讓我忘卻一切不快回憶
我覺得好不習慣，因為他從不會這樣

這八個月來，我總算了解到
愛情給我的，只有心碎、煎熬以及分離

但在這個星期三、這個下午、這間咖啡廳裡
我終於能放下一切，重獲新生。

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*這是本張專輯我第一首翻好的歌曲，也是這項project的產生契機。

*很多人說這首歌
是自泰勒與Jake Gyllenhaal分手之後，遇到Conor Kennedy所寫成的，然而真是如此嗎?
(當然知情的人們例外)

在此之前，先釐清一下時間線
跟Jake(or someboby else)分手是在2010年底，跟Conor相遇是在2012年8月
難道Jake真能讓泰勒難以忘懷超過一年半?
那歌詞中的"8個月後，我已經begin again"不就不合邏輯了嗎?

難道一位年僅18歲的名門之後
真的有那魅力能讓泰勒忘卻"寫了將近整張Red"的Jake(or somebody else)?
但，那時候泰勒是還沒認識Conor Kennedy這個人的

而且，這位Conor Kennedy
僅跟泰勒在一起不到一個月就"分手"了
這段"戀情"還真斷得如此之快

其實歸根究柢，他們不過是炒作出來的PR罷了
(據說還是甘迺迪家先要求的，但無從考證)
但礙於篇幅，這裡就不再多加描述細節，要真相請自行挖掘。