Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

You're Not Sorry

"You're Not Sorry" is a piano ballad written solely by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and co-produced with Nathan Chapman for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). The track was released digitally as a promotional single on October 28, 2008, as part of the "Countdown to Fearless" campaign by Big Machine Records, debuting at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart where it spent 12 weeks. Lyrically, the song portrays a narrator rejecting an ex-lover's hollow apologies following repeated betrayals in a toxic relationship, emphasizing emotional exhaustion and finality. A re-recorded version, "You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version)," appeared as the ninth track on Swift's 2021 re-release Fearless (Taylor's Version), produced to regain ownership of her early masters. The original recording achieved platinum certification from the RIAA for one million units sold in the United States. Swift has frequently performed the song live, including notable mashups during her Eras Tour, such as pairings with tracks from other albums.

Development

Songwriting and inspiration

"You're Not Sorry" was written solely by during the creation of her second studio album, Fearless, which was released on November 11, 2008. The track emerged from Swift's reflections on a failed relationship marked by insincere remorse, where her ex-boyfriend repeatedly apologized without altering his behavior. Swift explained in an interview with That's Country magazine that the song portrays a man who "came across as this charming person, but then he started showing me his true colors," emphasizing his pattern of verbal contrition unaccompanied by genuine change. The inspiration stemmed from Swift's gradual realization of the partner's dishonesty, a process she described as taking time to discern amid his outward appeal. In discussing the lyrics with , she highlighted the protagonist's superficial apologies, underscoring a theme of unrecognized that fueled the ballad's emotional core. This aligns with Swift's songwriting approach during the era, where she drew directly from relational experiences to craft introspective country-pop compositions without co-writers for this particular .

Recording and production

"You're Not Sorry" was co-produced by and Nathan Chapman at various studios in , including The Castles Recording Studio in Franklin.) , making her production debut on the album, collaborated closely with Chapman to craft the track's piano-led power structure, starting with sparse verses and building to a dramatic crescendo with added such as strings, percussion, and . Recording engineer Chad Carlson captured Swift's lead vocals and piano performance, while harmony vocals were contributed by Caitlin Evanson, Chapman, and Swift herself. The mix, handled by Niebank with assistant Steve Blackmon, emphasized emotional intensity through dynamic swells and reverb on the piano to evoke a sense of isolation and regret. This production approach aligned with the album's overall sound, blending country roots with pop-rock elements to highlight Swift's vocal delivery and lyrical vulnerability.

Composition and lyrics

Musical elements

"You're Not Sorry" is structured as a slow-building in , with Swift's vocals spanning from G♭3 to C♭5 across two octaves. The song employs a relative to its tonal center, contributing to its harmonic tension and resolution typical of power ballads. Chord complexity exceeds average for pop songs, featuring elevated chord-melody tension and progression novelty, with primary chords built on the (E♭m), subdominant (A♭m), and dominant (B♭m) scale degrees. The arrangement begins with sparse accompaniment underscoring the verses, gradually incorporating strings and backing electric guitars midway, culminating in a that amplifies the dramatic intensity. Produced by and Chapman, the track maintains a of 134 beats per minute, though its rhythmic feel evokes a more languid pace around 67 , enhancing the mournful atmosphere. The form follows a – structure with a , where the hook prominently features rising melodic lines over sustained chords, building emotional crescendo through layered instrumentation. This progression from intimate to fuller rock elements underscores the song's power classification, distinguishing it within 's early catalog.

Thematic content and interpretation

"You're Not Sorry" explores themes of insincere and the emotional toll of repeated in a romantic relationship. The narrator recounts extending multiple chances to a partner despite ongoing hurt, only to recognize the hollowness of their apologies, as evidenced by such as "All this time I was wasting, hoping you change / That you just need time" and "You can tell me that you're sorry but I don't believe you / Baby like I did before." described the in a as an "angry" track about a situation where "someone can apologize and you know it's not sincere," capturing the of feigned without behavioral change. The depict a progression from to disillusionment, with the partner portrayed as initially captivating—"You had me several years ago when I was still naïve"—but ultimately unchanging and unrepentant. This narrative arc underscores a causal link between unaddressed patterns of and the erosion of trust, culminating in the emphatic rejection: "Well you're not sorry, no no no no." Interpretations often highlight the song's motif, where the act of withholding serves as a for , breaking a cycle of optimistic in favor of realistic assessment of the partner's character. While has not publicly identified a specific individual as inspiration, the track aligns with the broader context of her post-2008 breakup songwriting, including confirmed references to in contemporaneous songs like "," fueling speculation that it draws from similar relational disappointments where initial perceptions clashed with revealed realities. Thematically, it contrasts superficial contrition with the need for genuine transformation, a rooted in empirical observation of relational dynamics rather than idealized . The instrumental build from introspection to rock-infused intensity mirrors this interpretive shift, symbolizing escalating resolve against passive endurance.

Release

Original release

"You're Not Sorry" was first issued as a promotional on October 28, 2008, exclusively via as part of Big Machine Records' "Countdown to Fearless" marketing initiative, which previewed tracks from Taylor 's forthcoming second album ahead of its full launch. The track was distributed digitally in standard audio formats, produced by Nathan Chapman and solely written by , emphasizing its role in building anticipation for the parent album. It subsequently appeared as the eleventh track on the standard edition of , released worldwide on November 11, 2008, by in both physical CD and digital download configurations across major retailers and online platforms.

Re-recording and Taylor's Version

In November 2018, Taylor Swift's original master recordings for her early albums, including , were sold by to Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings for $300 million without her consent or opportunity to purchase them herself. Swift publicly criticized the deal, stating it stripped her of control over her work, prompting her to announce plans in 2019 to re-record her first six albums to create new masters she fully owns, thereby incentivizing licensees to use the updated versions over the originals. The re-recording of "You're Not Sorry" formed part of Fearless (Taylor's Version), Swift's first such project, released on April 9, 2021, via . Positioned as the ninth track, "You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version)" was produced by Swift alongside Christopher Rowe, featuring her re-recorded vocals layered over refreshed instrumentation that preserved the original's piano-driven ballad structure while incorporating subtle production enhancements for contemporary clarity. Upon release, the track debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending April 15, 2021, benefiting from the album's overall streaming surge, which saw Fearless (Taylor's Version) accumulate over 252 million global streams in its first week. This re-recording aligned with Swift's broader strategy, as evidenced by clauses in licensing agreements that prioritized "Taylor's Version" tracks when available, effectively reducing revenue streams to the Braun-controlled originals.

Reception

Critical response

"You're Not Sorry" received moderately positive reviews from critics upon its inclusion on Taylor Swift's 2008 album , with praise centered on its and emotional structure. Jonathan Keefe of highlighted the track's strong as a factor in the album's appeal, grouping it with standout cuts like "Love Story" and "" that demonstrated effective songcraft amid broader critiques of Swift's vocal delivery. Subsequent evaluations have emphasized the song's dramatic elements and vocal maturity. In a 2017 Rolling Stone feature on Swift's deep cuts, the publication described "You're Not Sorry" as a brooding piano ballad that represented an atypical introspective side of her early work, diverging from her more upbeat persona. Rob Sheffield, writing for Rolling Stone in 2025, characterized it as a "dramatic piano-and-strings ballad from Fearless, showing off how much her voice has deepened between her first two albums," underscoring its role in displaying artistic growth. The 2021 re-recording on Fearless (Taylor's Version) drew acclaim for Swift's evolved vocals, which added greater resonance and emotional weight to the track's themes of betrayal and regret. Reviewers noted the enhanced production and maturity amplified the original's mournful tone without altering its core arrangement.

Commercial performance

"You're Not Sorry" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart upon its digital release on November 11, 2008, and reached number one on that tally for one week. This performance propelled the track to a peak of number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, where it charted for twelve weeks ending November 15, 2008. It simultaneously peaked at number eleven on the Canadian Hot 100. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the song platinum in recognition of one million digital units sold in the United States. "You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version)", released on April 9, 2021, as part of the re-recorded Fearless (Taylor's Version), did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at number eleven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart. It reached number forty on the Hot Country Songs chart, logging twelve weeks. The re-recording also charted at number 165 on the Billboard Global 200 for twelve weeks starting April 24, 2021, and entered the Canadian Hot 100 at number 90. As of October 2024, the Taylor's Version has accumulated over 94 million streams on Spotify.

Performances and media appearances

Live performances

"You're Not Sorry" was regularly featured in Taylor Swift's (2009–2010), often performed as a piano-led mashup with Justin Timberlake's "," emphasizing the songs' shared themes of regret and betrayal. This arrangement highlighted Swift's vocal delivery during the tour's acoustic segments, with documented performances in cities including . During the (2011–2012), the track appeared in a medley with "" and OneRepublic's "Apologize," blending apology motifs across the songs; this version was recorded for Swift's live album , released on November 21, 2011. The medley underscored recurring lyrical elements of remorse, performed consistently throughout the tour's 110 shows across , , , and . Swift delivered an acoustic rendition of "You're Not Sorry" on select dates of (2013–2014), adapting it for intimate fan interactions in arenas. The song also received isolated performances, such as at the 2009 , where it was presented in a format. In (2023–2024), "You're Not Sorry" emerged as a surprise song on multiple occasions, including mashups like × "You're Not Sorry" during the February 23, 2024, show in , , and an emotional standalone acoustic set on April 22, 2023, in , , which drew notable audience response. These acoustic interpretations, drawn from the era segment, varied nightly under the tour's surprise song format.

Other media uses

A remix version of "You're Not Sorry," incorporating electronic beats and atmospheric production, was created specifically for Taylor Swift's guest appearance on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The track featured in season 9, episode 16, titled "Turn, Turn, Turn," which originally aired on CBS on March 5, 2009; Swift portrayed Haley Jones, a 17-year-old runaway involved in a kidnapping scheme, with the song underscoring a moment of her character's despair. Titled "You're Not Sorry (CSI Remix)," it was released digitally as a promotional single by Big Machine Records on the same date, running 4:22 in length and credited to Swift as writer and co-producer alongside Nathan Chapman. The remix's release prompted a brief chart resurgence for the original track, which re-entered the at number 67 the following week. No other significant uses of the song in film, television, or advertising have been documented, though fan covers and instrumental versions exist on platforms like .

Credits and personnel

References

  1. [1]
    Who produced “You're Not Sorry” by Taylor Swift? - Genius
    “You're Not Sorry” by Taylor Swift was produced by Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift. You're Not Sorry · Taylor Swift. 103.6K Views. Read the Lyrics.
  2. [2]
    Taylor Swift – You're Not Sorry Lyrics - Genius
    “You're Not Sorry” is certified Platinum by the RIAA. +1. What was the secret ... You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift: The ...
  3. [3]
    Week of November 15, 2008 - Billboard Hot 100™
    Nov 15, 2008 · The Official U.K. Singles Chart · The Official U.K. Albums Chart ... You're Not Sorry. Taylor Swift. LW; -. PEAK; 11. WEEKS; 1. LW; -; PEAK; 11 ...
  4. [4]
    When did Taylor Swift release “You're Not Sorry”? - Genius
    Taylor Swift released “You're Not Sorry” on October 28, 2008.
  5. [5]
    https://store.taylorswift.com/products/fearless-taylors-version-cd
  6. [6]
    [PDF] RIAA GOLD & PLATINUM AWARDS
    Dec 11, 2015 · TAYLOR SWIFT. BIG MACHINE RECORDS, INC. 5. 8/18/2014. 1/8/2015 ... YOU'RE NOT SORRY. TAYLOR SWIFT. BIG MACHINE RECORDS, INC. 1. 11/11/2008.
  7. [7]
    Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Surprise Songs Complete List - Billboard
    “You're Not Sorry”. Trending on Billboard. Performed at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas (April 21, 2023). You're Not Sorry, tonight #TSTheErasTour ...
  8. [8]
    You're Not Sorry by Taylor Swift - Songfacts
    You're Not Sorry by Taylor Swift song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position.
  9. [9]
    The Story Of Us: 'You're Not Sorry' | Gigwise
    May 27, 2021 · In conversation with BMG, Swift stated the track is “about this guy who turned out to not be who I thought I was. He came across as a charming ...
  10. [10]
    Release “Fearless” by Taylor Swift - MusicBrainz
    Jun 29, 2025 · Tracklist ; 9 ; You're Not Sorry. recording engineer: Chad Carlson; producer: Nathan Chapman ( American producer & songwriter ) and Taylor Swift ...
  11. [11]
    Taylor Swift - Fearless (International Version) Lyrics and Tracklist
    Mar 2, 2009 · You're Not Sorry Lyrics. 104.4K. Track Info. Produced by Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift. Written by Taylor Swift. “You're Not Sorry” is a country ...
  12. [12]
    https://www.discogs.com/release/16581732-Taylor-Swift-Fearless
  13. [13]
    You're Not Sorry by Taylor Swift Chords and Melody - Hooktheory
    In terms of chords and melody, You're Not Sorry is more complex than the typical song, having above average scores in Chord Complexity, Chord-Melody Tension, ...
  14. [14]
    “You're Not Sorry” (2008) - Rolling Stone Australia
    Oct 7, 2025 · A dramatic piano-and-strings ballad from Fearless, showing off how much her voice has deepened between her first two albums.
  15. [15]
    You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version) Lyrics - Genius
    “You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version)” is the ninth track from Swift's first re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version). In this alternative rock piano ...
  16. [16]
    She's the new “Got Milk' girl - The Morning Call
    Nov 9, 2008 · “You're Not Sorry” is more of an angry, “you know what, you're not sorry for anything you did” song. Someone can apologize and you know it's ...Missing: interview | Show results with:interview
  17. [17]
    Fearless (Taylor Swift album) - Wikipedia
    Heartbreak and emotional tumult are explored in songs such as "Tell Me Why", about an on-and-off relationship with an informal love interest; "You're Not Sorry ...Fearless (Taylor Swift song) · Change (Taylor Swift song) · Fifteen (song)
  18. [18]
    The Real Meaning Behind Taylor Swift's 'You're Not Sorry' - Nicki Swift
    Apr 8, 2021 · Taylor Swift has confirmed the identities of some of the ex-boyfriends who inspired the tracks on Fearless. Most notably, Joe Jonas. Swift has ...<|separator|>
  19. [19]
    You're Not Sorry - Taylor Swift Switzerland
    “You're Not Sorry” was first released as a promotional single from Fearless on October 28, 2008, as part of “Countdown to Fearless,” an exclusive campaign by ...Missing: writer | Show results with:writer
  20. [20]
    https://www.vox.com/culture/22278732/taylor-swift-re-recording-1989-speak-now-enchanted-mine-master-rights-scooter-braun
  21. [21]
    Why Taylor Swift is rerecording all her old songs - Vox
    The sale gave Braun the rights to all the master recordings for Swift's old music, meaning that anyone who wanted to license one of Swift's old songs to play ...
  22. [22]
    Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun's Drama Timeline - Cosmopolitan
    Oct 6, 2025 · July 2019: Scooter Braun buys Taylor Swift's music masters. Taylor publicly calls out Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta. Big Machine Records ...
  23. [23]
    Review: Taylor Swift, Fearless - Slant Magazine
    Rating 2.5 · Review by Jonathan KeefeNov 16, 2008 · ... You're Not Sorry.” Taken in isolation and disregarding some specifics of form and performance, almost every song here is something of a ...
  24. [24]
    Taylor Swift: 10 Great Deep Cuts You Can Stream Now - Rolling Stone
    Jun 9, 2017 · “You're Not Sorry” (2008). Popular on Rolling Stone. “Brooding” is not a word that is synonymous with Swift's music or public image, but ...
  25. [25]
    Review: Fearless: Taylor's Version - DGN Omega
    Apr 20, 2021 · In “You're Not Sorry”, the resonance in Taylor's voice is increasingly more pleasing to listen to and made me fall in love with it. Not only ...
  26. [26]
    Digital Song Sales - Taylor Swift | Biography, Music & News | Billboard
    Top Current Album Sales · Catalog Albums · Compilation Albums · LyricFind U.S. · LyricFind Global. An image of Taylor Swift. Explore ... You're Not Sorry. Taylor ...
  27. [27]
    Taylor Swift Info Page - Rock On The Net
    November 15: Taylor topped the Billboard Digital Tracks chart for 1 week with "You're Not Sorry." November 22: Taylor topped the Billboard Country Songs chart ...
  28. [28]
    Taylor Swift - Billboard Hot 100
    Peak Pos. Peak Date. Wks. on Chart. Anti-Hero. Taylor Swift. 11/05/22. 1 8 WKS ... You're Not Sorry. Taylor Swift. 11/15/08. 11 12 Wks. 11/15/08. 5. Honey. Taylor ...
  29. [29]
    Hot Country Songs - Taylor Swift | Biography, Music & News | Billboard
    The Official U.K. Singles Chart · The Official U.K. Albums Chart ... You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version). Taylor Swift. 4/24/21. 40 12 Wks. 4/24/21. 1 ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  30. [30]
    Taylor Swift | Biography, Music & News | Billboard
    You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version). Taylor Swift. 4/24/21. 165 12 Wks. 4/24/21 ... Taylor Swift Paces 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'-Heavy Top TV Songs Chart.
  31. [31]
    Taylor Swift - Spotify Top Songs - Kworb.net
    Taylor Swift - Spotify Top Songs | Current charts | YouTube stats. Last ... You're Not Sorry (Taylor's Version). 94,083,035, 24,877. The Other Side Of The ...
  32. [32]
    Taylor Swift - You're Not Sorry (Live on the Fearless Tour) - YouTube
    Nov 19, 2022 · ... Date : various / April 15, 2010 • City : various / Los Angeles, California • Venue : various / Staples Center 0:00 Intro 0:40 "You're Not Sorry ...Missing: details | Show results with:details<|control11|><|separator|>
  33. [33]
    Taylor Swift - You're Not Sorry/What Goes Around ... - YouTube
    Jun 11, 2025 · Taylor Swift performing "You're Not Sorry" live on The Fearless Tour None of these clips are mine. I do not own the rights to any of the ...
  34. [34]
    Taylor Swift Setlist at Staples Center, Los Angeles
    Apr 15, 2010 · Setlist · You Belong With Me · Our Song · Tell Me Why · Teardrops on My Guitar · Fearless · Forever & Always · Hey Stephen · Fifteen.
  35. [35]
    Speak Now - World Tour Live - Album by Taylor Swift - Apple Music
    Listen to Speak Now - World Tour Live by Taylor Swift on Apple Music. 2011. 17 Songs. Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes.
  36. [36]
    Back to December / Apologize / You're Not Sorry (Live/2011) Lyrics
    This track is a live version of “Back to December” that combines the original with two other songs, OneRepublic's “Apologize” and “You're Not Sorry.”
  37. [37]
    Speak Now World Tour - Wikipedia
    The Speak Now World Tour was the second concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, in support of her third studio album, Speak Now (2010).Concert synopsis · Critical reception · Standard set list · Alternations
  38. [38]
    Taylor Swift - You're Not Sorry (Live on the Red Tour) - YouTube
    May 4, 2022 · Taylor Swift performing You're Not Sorry acoustic • Tour : The Red Tour (2013-2014) • Date : various • City : various • Venue : various 0:00 ...
  39. [39]
    You're Not Sorry (Live at the ACM Awards) REMASTERED - YouTube
    Dec 9, 2023 · MUSIC 4K. 1.3K. Subscribe ... Taylor Swift - You're Not Sorry (Live on the Fearless Tour). Taylor ...
  40. [40]
    Taylor Swift (Surprise Songs) at ERAS TOUR SYDNEY N2 - YouTube
    Apr 1, 2024 · Wonderland × You're Not Sorry (Live from The Eras Tour) ... Taylor Swift - Should've Said No (Live on the Fearless Tour) | Full Performance.
  41. [41]
    You're Not Sorry (Live at The Eras Tour) - SoundCloud
    Jan 21, 2024 · Stream You're Not Sorry (Live at The Eras Tour) by Lmac on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.
  42. [42]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy__6--Z1mM
  43. [43]
    Taylor Swift Playing a Dead Body on CSI Sums Up Her Entire Brand
    Nov 18, 2022 · Although her guest spot did have a promotional tie-in (her Fearless song “You're Not Sorry” plays in a moody remix when Haley looks dejectedly ...<|separator|>
  44. [44]
    You're Not Sorry - Piano Karaoke Instrumental Cover with Lyrics
    Oct 9, 2023 · You're Not Sorry - Taylor Swift - Piano Karaoke Instrumental Cover ... Piano by Ngoc Doan You can use my videos for your covers ...