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"Ronan" is a song by American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift, released on September 8, 2012, through Big Machine Records. It is also the twenty-first track from Swift's second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.

Background[]

Swift wrote "Ronan" after reading Maya Thompson's blog. Maya is the mother of a four year old boy named Ronan, who passed away from neuroblastoma on May 9, 2011. Following the Stand Up to Cancer event in 2012, the song was released on the iTunes Store. All proceeds made from the song were given to cancer charities.

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
I remember your bare feet, down the hallway
I remember your little laugh
Race cars on the kitchen floor, plastic dinosaurs
I love you to the moon and back
I remember your blue eyes looking into mine
Like we had our own secret club
I remember you dancing before bed time
Then jumping on me, waking me up
I can still feel you hold my hand, little man
And even the moment I knew
You fought it hard, like an army guy
Remember, I leaned in and whispered to you

[Chorus]
"Come on, baby, with me
We're going to fly away from here
You were my best four years"

[Verse 2]
I remember the drive home
When the blind hope turned to crying and screaming "Why?"
Flowers pile up in the worst way, no one knows what to say
About a beautiful boy who died
And it's about to be Halloween
You could be anything you wanted, if you were still here
I remember the last day, when I kissed your face
And whispered in your ear

[Chorus]
"Come on, baby, with me
We're going to fly away from here
Out of this curtained room and this hospital grey
We'll just disappear
Come on, baby, with me
We're going to fly away from here
You were my best four years

[Bridge]
What if I'm standing in your closet trying to talk to you?
And what if I kept the hand-me-downs you won't grow into?
And what if I really thought some miracle would see us through?
What if the miracle was even getting one moment with you?

[Chorus]
Come on, baby, with me
We're going to fly away from here
Come on, baby, with me
We're going to fly away from here
You were my best four years

[Outro]
I remember your bare feet, down the hallway
I love you to the moon and back

Critical reception[]

"Ronan" received acclaim from critics. Rolling Stone called the song "Heartbreaking". Bill Dukes of Taste of Country stated "It was clear [Swift] was just the voice for Maya Thompson..." [1]Ed Masley of The Republic said that, "'Ronan' may very well be [Swift's] finest hour as an artist."

Chart performance[]

"Ronan" received 220,000 downloads in its first week, debuting at #2 on the Hot Digital Songs chart and #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart (2012) Peak

position

US Billboard Hot 100 16

Live performances[]

Swift performed "Ronan" for the first known time on September 7, 2012, on a Stand Up to Cancer telethon. On The 1989 World Tour, Taylor performed this song when Maya Thompson was in the audience, on the first night performing in Glendale.

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • Rónán is an Irish male name meaning "little seal" (Rón meaning "seal", and -án being a diminutive suffix).
RED
"State of Grace" • "Red" • "Treacherous" • "I Knew You Were Trouble" • "All Too Well" • "22" • "I Almost Do" • "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" • "Stay Stay Stay" • "The Last Time" • "Holy Ground" • "Sad Beautiful Tragic" • "The Lucky One" • "Everything Has Changed" • "Starlight" • "Begin Again"
Deluxe Edition
"The Moment I Knew" • "Come Back...Be Here" • "Girl at Home" • "Treacherous" (demo) • "Red" (demo)
"State of Grace" (acoustic)
Taylor's Version
"Ronan" • "Better Man" • "Nothing New" • "Babe" • "Message In A Bottle" • "I Bet You Think About Me" • "Forever Winter" • "Run" • "The Very First Night" • "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"
The More Red (Taylor's Version) Chapter
"Safe & Sound" • "Eyes Open"
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