“Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” by Taylor Swift (ft. Fall Out Boy)
The full, official title of this song is “Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]”. That “Taylor’s Version” part would indicate that it belongs to one of Swift’s re-recorded albums, which in this case would be “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”. Said project came out on 7 July 2023, via Republic Records, with the original “Speak Now” being a 2010 release through Big Machine Records.
Then, that “From the Vault” subtitle would imply that this is a song which Swift wrote and maybe even recorded during the original “Speak Now” sessions, but it was never released and now has been re-recorded for the sake of the “Taylor’s Version” of the album.
But as of this release, neither of those facts have been verified. But what Swift has implied is that this song was written back in the day, and she decided to enlist Patrick Stump and co. because they are amongst ‘the artist who influenced her most powerfully as a lyricist at that time’.
And for the record, Taylor did once perform onstage beside Fall Out Boy, that being in 2013. And it is in fact she who wrote this piece solo, in addition to having produced it with one of her regular collaborators of the 2020s, Aaron Dessner.
The Lyrics of “Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]”
The term “electric touch”, as utilized in this song, is metaphorical. What it seemingly alludes to is that type of spark – or without using the metaphor ourselves, let’s say rapport – which can be experienced between two potential lovers and that can lead to a full-fledged romance.
As depicted, both of the parties involved in this case aren’t expecting things to go well as they are about to embark on their first date. Taylor’s character has “a history of stories ending sadly”, presumably when it comes to romance in particular. And the one Patrick is portraying is such that he’s trying to come off as casually as possible, because “every time (he) tried hard for love, it fell apart”.
But that said, both of them are also wise enough to know that it takes “just one time” for things to jump off. Or let’s say that a romance which lasts a lifetime begins with a single “electric touch”, if you will.
In context, the reason they use that type of terminology is to point to the way a defibrillator works. That’s the machine that hospitals use to re-initiate a heartbeat using electricity. And likewise, the vocalists are hoping that the other party possesses an “electric touch” which can bring their heart “back to life”.
But that said, they also understand that the opposite may be true, and this experience may become yet another disheartening disappointment. So reading in-between the lines, it’s almost as if the mentality of never giving up in romance is being espoused.
