«I have always dreamed of writing for these characters that I adore since I saw the first film at the age of 5 Toy Story. When I was lucky enough to see Toy Story 5 in the early stages of production I immediately fell in love with it and wrote the song immediately after returning home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”
So three days ago Taylor Swift announced the release of the new single linked to the fifth episode of the toy saga. It's called I Knew It, I Knew Youcame out this morning and has a 70s country-pop flavor. It's written and produced with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, who handles many key instruments, from harmonica to banjo. The rest is essentially played by Antonoff's group, the Bleachers (Hammond organ, sax, drums). At this link the interview with Antonoff about their latest album. It is the first song from the pair to be released after the singer recorded The Life of a Showgirl with Max Martin and Shellback.
“Seeing you tonight / I remembered how much I loved you / It all came back when it mattered, I saw you / Standing there in the light of the window with the same smile / Wow, it's been a long time / But I knew, I knew you,” Swift sings in the track, the story of two friends who meet and reunite after a long time. There are also an acoustic and a piano version, in addition to the instrumental which is the “back” of the single CD on sale on the pop star's official website.
«Writing this song was like taking a new path musically speaking and at the same time returning home», Swift writes today. «Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge, but at the same time it seemed completely natural to me. Be a fan of Toy Story from the age of 5 until today… it is an adventure that I intend to continue, towards infinity and beyond.”
In the message Swift thanks, in addition to filmmaker Andrew Stanton, also «the incomparable Randy Newman for the splendid sonic tapestry of songs and soundtracks that you have meticulously woven over the years. You created the musical world of Toy Story and we are lucky to be able to live there. By “we” I mean me and my friend Jack Antonoff. We wrote this piece out of adoration for these characters who made us laugh and helped us learn life lessons and think beyond the horizon throughout our childhood.”
The publication of I Knew It, I Knew You was preceded by a countdown on the pop star's website which immediately disappeared, statements from Disney executives who denied the existence of the song, some teasers from which it was understood that Swift was actually involved in the film. The return to country-pop sounds has also led some to think that Swift could release the album in 2026 Taylor's Version of the debut album. When the pop star regained possession of the masters of her albums in May 2025, she stopped publishing the re-recorded versions that competed with the original ones. He wrote at the time that unlike Reputation actually Taylor Swift «it was completely re-recorded» and that «I like how it sounds now».
