Innocent (Taylor Swift song)

Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the song was written in response to Kanye West's interruption of her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, feeling the need to sympathize with him after the public outrage he received.

A gentle pop and alternative country ballad with tender vocals, its lyrics are about a protagonist's encouragement of someone who has committed wrongdoings, claiming them to hold innocence and believing that they could redeem themself.

Swift performed the song live at the following year's MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, a month prior to the release of Speak Now, as a means of putting the controversy behind her and West.

[3] In press interviews leading up to the release of Speak Now, Swift said that the album track "Innocent" was dedicated to rapper Kanye West.

Swift recalled that the incident made her stay silent for a while because it was "a huge, intense thing in my life that resonated for a long time".

[5] As she had to take time to process the emotions ensued from the incident, "Innocent", which took her six months to write, took longer for her to finish than other tracks, which she said usually took "about 30 minutes".

[12][13] Musicologist James E. Perone remarked that it stands out from other pop ballads because of Swift's use of "a high degree of rhythmic syncopation in her delivery".

Johnston remarked that for those who are unaware of the celebrity surrounding Swift–West, the track can be interpreted as "a simple lament of a lost love, or a former friend being forgiven".

[20] Addressing the West controversy at the past year's MTV Video Music Awards, the performance started with background clips showing the incident.

"[4] Johnston said that it "wasn't the most gracious act of forgiveness in history" and took issue with the lyrics detailing "a 20-year-old telling a 32-year-old that he's still growing up", which she deemed a sign of Swift feeling "a sense of satisfaction at being 'the better person'".

[30] Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Chrissie Dickinson heralded the track as Swift's "greatest maturation as an artist" among the songs previewed prior to the album's release, finding it deeply sympathetic.

Club, Steven Hyden, while acknowledging the lyrical content as "a poison dart [dipped] in sugar" aimed at West, considered "Innocent" one of Speak Now's highlights: "Swift's niftiest trick is being at her most likeable when she's indulging in such overt nastiness.

"[20] Arts professor Jeff Rabhan agreed; he lauded Swift for delivering her thoughts in a "positive and professional" manner, and highlighting her artistic ability.