The Story of Us (song)

"The Story of Us"
Single by Taylor Swift
from the album Speak Now
Released	April 19, 2011 (2011-04-19)
Genre	Pop-punk dance-pop new wave power pop
Length	4:27
Label	Big Machine
Songwriter(s)	Taylor Swift
Producer(s)	Taylor Swift Nathan Chapman
Taylor Swift singles chronology
"Mean" (2011) "The Story of Us" (2011) "Sparks Fly" (2011)
Music video
"The Story of Us" on YouTube

"The Story of Us" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). It was sent to US pop radio on April 19, 2011, as the fourth single from the album. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the track combines pop-punk, dance-pop, new wave, and power pop, with a production consisting of fast-paced drums and dynamic electric guitars. For the lyrics, which are about the awkwardness between two parted lovers, Swift was inspired by her encounter with an ex-boyfriend at an awards show.

In contemporary reviews, music critics praised the uptempo production, but a few commented that it is indiscernible from other radio-friendly pop songs. The single peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 70 on the Canadian Hot 100. It also reached the top 30 on Billboard's airplay charts including Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Top 40. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for surpassing one million digital units.

Noble Jones directed the song's music video, which was filmed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and premiered on May 24, 2011. In the video, Swift and her ex-boyfriend, both college students, try to avoid each other when they are in the same library together. Swift performed the track on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and included it in the setlist of the Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012). A re-recorded version, titled "The Story of Us (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of Swift's third re-recorded album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023.