Summary

• Swift's extended version of "All Too Well" seems to reference her past romance with Jake Gyllenhaal, including age difference and scarves.
• Fans speculate that Gyllenhaal inspired Swift's lyrics. Gyllenhaal states the song isn't about him, leading to mixed reactions.
• The success of "All Too Well" includes breaking records and winning awards, solidifying it as a favorite among Swift fans and music critics.

Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" 10-minute version is packed with references, including several allusions to her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, and fans have continued to dissect the track to figure out the "All Too Well" meaning. Nine years after the release of the singer/songwriter's Red album in 2012, she has released its re-recording. Red (Taylor's Version), which runs for about 130 minutes. This is due to the change of ownership of the masters of Swift’s first six studio albums, which hinders her from legally performing their songs.

Instead of simply recreating the tracks, Swift also opted to update some of them, including the fan-favorite "All Too Well," which now has an extended version. There's a ton to unpack from the extended version's lyrics, including the "All Too Well" Jake Gyllenhaal controversy, which appears to be a centerpiece of the song. Swift is known for incorporating elements from her personal life into her narrative songwriting, which is a significant aspect that makes her music so resonant and powerful.

Is All Too Well About Jake Gyllenhaal? Why Taylor Swift Fans Think So

Taylor Swift fans have deduced that Jake Gyllenhaal is likely the song's subject based on context clues.

Swift also wrote and directed a short film for "All Too Well," based on the song's lyrics. The short stars Dylan O'Brien and Sadie Sink, who perform the highs and lows of the subject relationship, which ultimately ends in a breakup. Fans are convinced that it's about Swift's romance with Jake Gyllenhaal, which started in the fall of 2010. Apropos of the "All Too Well" Easter eggs and overall message, the short film starts with Pablo Neruda's quote: "Love is so short, forgetting is so long" — a potential reference to Swift and Gyllenhaal's relationship.

It's worth noting that the pair supposedly only dated for three months. The "All Too Well" Jake Gyllenhaal controversy is furthered by the lyrics, which feature allusions to Gyllenhaal, and its new 10-minute version reveals more about their doomed romance. Among the lyrics, which explore a brief, tumultuous, and passionate relationship, there are several elements that fans believe point to her momentary romance with Gyllenhaal.

All Too Well Verse 1's Full Lyrics & Meaning

Dating Jake Gyllenhaal & what the scarf means.

I walked through the door with you, the air was cold

But something 'bout it felt like home somehow

And I left my scarf there at your sister's house

And you've still got it in your drawer, even now

Oh, your sweet disposition and my wide-eyed gaze

We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate

Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place

And I can picture it after all these days

Taylor Swift sings the song from a first-person perspective, making "All Too Well" likely her story. The lyrics of the "All Too Well" 10-minute version start with her memory of visiting her boyfriend's sister's place. The description of the weather fits the timeline of her relationship with Gyllenhaal, as the pair started dating in October 2010. Her lover's sister could be Maggie Gyllenhaal, who confirmed then that she did have Swift in her home for dinner.

Her lover's sister could be Maggie Gyllenhaal, who confirmed then that she did have Swift in her home for dinner.

As for the scarf, it's been the subject of discussions among Swift's fans for years. The piece of clothing has also been a signature of the singer's real-life aesthetic for a while, and it has even been a focal point in some of her music videos. Paparazzi photos of Swift around the time of the romance show her wearing a scarf that Gyllenhaal was previously spotted sporting. This could very well be the same one referenced in the aforementioned song, only exacerbating the "All Too Well" Jake Gyllenhaal controversy.

All Too Well Verse 2's Full Lyrics & Meaning

Taylor Swift's ex's family, love & breakup.

Photo album on the counter, your cheeks were turning red

You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-sized bed

And your mother's telling stories 'bout you on the tee-ball team

You tell me 'bout your past, thinking your future was me

And you were tossing me the car keys, fuck the patriarchy

Key chain on the ground, we were always skipping town

And I was thinking on the drive down, any time now

He's gonna say it's love, you never called it what it was

'Til we were dead and gone and buried

Check the pulse and come back swearing it's the same

After three months in the grave

And then you wondered where it went to as I reached for you

But all I felt was shame and you held my lifeless frame

The second verse of the song is a mix of old and new lyrics for fans to read more of the "All Too Well" meaning within. Its first half sings of Taylor Swift talking about spending time with the mystery man's family, with a specific memory of his mom sharing stories about his childhood. The guy himself also becomes forthcoming with his past. He starts opening up about his life before he met her because he supposedly believes that there's a future for them and their relationship.

Swift's additional lyrics focus on an entirely new incident of her expecting him to admit that things were getting serious between them, but the guy never did. She accuses him of denying the true nature of their relationship, refusing to call it love. The last three lines in this part of "All Too Well" get metaphorical, but songwriter/actress Taylor Swift could be referring to the man's effort to reconcile months later. Interestingly, the song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is also supposedly about Gyllenhaal, which would check out with the idea behind the "All Too Well" Jake Gyllenhaal controversy.

All Too Well Bridge Full Lyrics & Meaning

Taylor Swift remembers what went wrong.

Well maybe we got lost in translation

Maybe I asked for too much

But maybe this thing was a masterpiece

'Til you tore it all up

Running scared, I was there

I remember it all too well

And you call me up again

Just to break me like a promise

So casually cruel in the name of being honest

I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here

'Cause I remember it all, all, all

The bridge for the "All Too Well" 10-minute version is about Taylor Swift ruminating on why their relationship ended in the first place. In it, she comes up with a couple of reasons, including the part where she blames herself for asking too much. But after that, she realizes that, perhaps, it isn't her fault at all. Maybe the guy is to blame for meekly walking away from the relationship. This bodes well in the "All Too Well" 10-minute short film, as this is the point where Teen Wolf star O'Brien and Sink's characters break up.

Based on the feature, he decides to split, and while the actual conversation cannot be heard, it's clear that she finds his reason for giving up preposterous. Despite her objections, his mind has been made up. As Verse 2 of the song notes, however, the man eventually returns. But her description of their reunion makes it look like it's a bad idea overall, as it only worsens the break-up.

All Too Well Verse 3's Full Lyrics & Meaning

Swift & Gyllenhaal's age difference.