Taylor Swift has never been one to shy away from a challenge. She’s broken records, then broken them again; taken Grammy snubs as a sign to work even harder; and pulled off what might be the most physically demanding tour of all time. But writing a song for Toy Story’s cowgirl Jessie? That’s a whole different kind of challenge. How could anyone top Randy Newman’s heartbreaking When She Loved Me—Jessie’s song about being left behind by her owner, Emily, in Toy Story 2?
Newman’s work for the Disney Pixar series is some of the best film music ever written, and Swift knows it. In a post about her new song, she called Newman “incomparable,” saying, “You created the Toy Story musical world, and we are lucky to get to live in it.” Her own soundtrack work hasn’t had much lasting impact (except maybe the Zayn collaboration I Don’t Wanna Live Forever from Fifty Shades Darker).
Thankfully, she doesn’t try to compete. I Knew It, I Knew You feels like a response to When She Loved Me, as Jessie and Emily are (presumably) reunited. It’s not a ballad—it’s a gentle, joyful moment as the once-favorite toy recognizes everything about her former owner years later: her smile, the sound of her bare footsteps.
It’s classic Swift nostalgia, with some of her loveliest and tightest songwriting in a while. Toys are “parachutes for the free fall of being younger”; Jessie knew “all your blues like a mood ring changing colours.” Last month, Swift told the New York Times about the tiny details in how she pairs words and sounds. Her singing here is beautiful and deliberate—the soft, staccato delivery trembles with a hint of anxiety, reminding us how fragile even deep love can be.
Taylor Swift: I Knew It, I Knew You – video
Forget the plot of Toy Story 5—this is a Taylor Swift song, so the subtext runs deep. Fans have often wondered if she’ll return to her country roots, and the message and earthy soul of I Knew It, I Knew You feel like she’s acknowledging that long connection with her audience. There are new melodic touches—like the rising chords in “life has ways of leaving those days behind”—but also classic Swift moments, like the hesitant whisper in “all you said was: ‘Hi…’”
In Toy Story 5, the toys face being replaced by tablets and AI gadgets. The organic sound of I Knew It, I Knew You—right down to the warm, roomy drums—feels handmade and careful, the opposite of AI-generated content. (After rumors of a falling out, Jack Antonoff is back on production; the sax at the end has his signature, slightly jarring blare.)
‘I prepared for the role by playing in my room’: the making of Toy Story as it turns 30
[Read more](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jun/19/toy-story-30-years-making-of)
But maybe there’s also some unease in this country turn. Swift’s latest album, last year’s The Life of a Showgirl, was her worst-received, with shallow, self-serving lyrics. I Knew It, I Knew You can’t help but feel like a reminder of what fans love about her. “My boy only breaks his favourite toys,” she sang on 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department, about being discarded by an ex. It’s not just Woody and the gang who fear being thrown away. And maybe the way she brings Jessie’s emotions to life suggests that Swift is no longer her own best subject. On Folklore, she started writing more fictional stories—and thrived. That shift changes what fans expect from her, especially those used to personal confessions in her lyrics.
Either way, the circularity of it all is almost unbearably touching. When the song was announced, Swift said she’d loved the Toy Story series since the first movie came out when she was five. She’s 36 now, and many fans who grew up alongside her will be watching.This film is for parents with their own five-year-olds. Pixar movies—and Newman’s songs—have always been made to emotionally overwhelm adults while their kids laugh at a spork with a funny face. Any Swiftie parent listening to “I Knew It, I Knew You” at the cinema later this month can use their own tears to salt their popcorn. It’s really quite lovely to think about that invisible string connecting us all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the review of Taylor Swifts song I Knew It I Knew You for Toy Storys Jessie
1 What is I Knew It I Knew You
Its a brand new song written by Taylor Swift for the character Jessie in the Toy Story franchise Its featured on the soundtrack for Toy Story 5
2 Why is this review saying its Swifts best in years
The review argues the song is a huge return to form It combines Swifts signature storytelling with a fun countrypop sound reminiscent of her Fearless era but with the mature songwriting she has now
3 Is this song actually on an album
No its a standalone soundtrack single for Toy Story 5 not part of a Taylor Swift studio album like Midnights or The Tortured Poets Department
4 What is the song about
Its told from Jessies perspective Its a giddy joyful song about finally finding a forever home and a best friend Its about trusting love after being abandoned
5 How does it fit with Taylor Swifts other work
Fans are comparing it to her Speak Now and Fearless eras because of the banjo upbeat tempo and heartfelt lyrics It feels like a natural evolution of songs like Our Song or Mean but for a cartoon cowgirl
6 Does the review mention any specific lyrics
Yes the review highlights lines like I knew it I knew you You were the one I was running to as being incredibly catchy and emotionally resonant for anyone who loves the Toy Story movies
7 Is this a duet or just Taylor Swift
It is just Taylor Swift singing as Jessie There is no featured artist
8 Why is this song getting so much attention from Swifties
Because it feels like a gift to longtime fans Its a lighthearted fun song that doesnt take itself too seriously which is a welcome break from her recent more serious albums
9 Does the review have any criticism
The review is overwhelmingly positive but it
