Why Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song is bringing parents to tears
The countdown is on to the Australian release of Toy Story 5 but as well as popcorn and Choc Tops, you might want to pack some tissues for your teary mum and dad. Why are grown ups crying?
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Toy Story fans have been left a bit weepy after Taylor Swift’s single for the fifth instalment of the Disney-Pixar classic was released last week.
Social media has been flooded with videos of Toy Story fans and Swifties crying their hearts out while listening to the Shake It Off songbird’s latest song – and it’s all because of the storyline* behind the singer’s moving lyrics.
I Knew It, I Knew You, the track by Swift, has been described as a POV* moment of Toy Story character Jessie as she remembers her original owner, Emily.
In Toy Story 5, Jessie draws on her heartbreaking past with Emily to help Bonnie, who starts to drift away from her toys in favour of screens. The song captures the moment of their reunion, with lyrics reflecting Jessie recognising her former owner many years later.
Parents and kids who grew up watching the Toy Story movies will remember Jessie sharing her tragic tale of Emily’s abandonment in Toy Story 2.
Emily outgrew Jessie and left the cowgirl on the side of the road in a donations box, a memory Jessie recalled to Woody in the second film. The song that played in the background (Randy Newman’s sad tune When She Loved Me) truly pulled on the heartstrings back in 1999 and fans can probably expect a similar treatment for their reunion in 2026.
Online commentators have already advised moviegoers to pack tissues, judging by the new backing track’s lyrics.
When KIIS FM radio host Smallzy shared a clip of him sobbing to the song on Instagram, he received plenty of sympathetic comments. Even Swift herself chimed in with a “like”.
New clips of teary fans have been added each day on social media following the release of the song.
Swift confirmed her soundtrack song on Instagram, with a personal note about why the collaboration* felt so special to her.
“Writing this song felt like a musical departure* and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once.
“And being a @toystory kid from the age of 5 til now … is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond,” she captioned a clip of her dressed up as a little cowgirl.
Swift’s post continued: “Thank you to the brilliant Andrew Stanton for imagining me for this, all those years ago when you wrote this newest film. Thank you to the incomparable* @randynewmanofficial for the gorgeous sonic tapestry* of songs and scores you’ve meticulously* woven over the years. You created the Toy Story musical world, and we are lucky to get to live in it.
“By we, I mean myself and my pal @jackantonoff. We wrote this with so much adoration* for these characters that made us laugh and helped us learn lessons and think outside the backyard all throughout our childhoods.”
Toy Story 4 hit theatres in 2019, seemingly giving Woody a heartfelt farewell, however in true Pixar fashion, the story wasn’t over just yet.
In Toy Story 5, the beloved toys face off against their biggest threat yet – modern technology. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the gang find their standing as Bonnie’s favourite toys challenged when they are introduced to an electronic device named Lilypad.
Jessie, in particular, refuses to let modern technology rip away her young owner’s creative innocence.
Toy Story 5 hits Australian cinemas on June 18.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- storyline: the story behind the song
- POV: Point of View, a song written as though the character Jessie was telling her story
- collaboration: a project created in partnership with more than one person or company
- departure: moving away from her usual style
- incomparable: so extraordinary or unique that no one else compares to them
- sonic tapestry: an artistic mixture of sounds that is pleasing to the ear
- meticulously: with extreme care and attention to detail
- adoration: looking up to someone, loving them and adoring them
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QUICK QUIZ
1. Why are so many adults crying over Taylor Swift’s new song?
2. In which Toy Story do we find out about Jessie being separated from her first owner Emily?
3. How many Toy Story movies have now been made?
4. What is the plot of the latest Toy Story?
5. When does the latest Toy Story come out in Australian cinemas?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Toy Story 6?
Imagine that you have been asked to come up with story ideas for Toy Story 6. Brainstorm as many ideas as you can think of. Choose the one you think is the best and write a treatment.
A treatment is a detailed outline of the story from beginning to end, written before the script is started. Treatments are used to give the screenwriters and the director the clearest possible information about what the movie should be. They can also be used to help convince producers or film companies to help make the film!
Time: Spend at least 45 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English
2. Extension
Do you think that the videos are genuine, or a clever idea to promote Toy Story 5? Write a very convincing paragraph that gives your opinion on this question.
Time: Spend at least 20 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
Imagine the full story turns out to be in three parts and this article is only Part One. Think about what the rest of the story could be and write the next two parts that tell the rest of this story.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking