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Taylor Swift Adds Country Flair to Toy Story 5 with Original Song I Knew It, I Knew You
Taylor Swift’s latest single, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” has landed in the long‑running Pixar franchise’s newest entry, Toy Story 5, marking the first time a contemporary pop artist has written an original track for the series.
The song, released in June with the film’s full soundtrack, centers on Jessie, the cowgirl ragdoll voiced by Joan Cusack, and her first owner, Emily. In a September 5 interview on iHeartCountry House Party, Swift unpacked the lyric “the daze of the blades of grass in summer,” explaining, “The word daze is spelled ‘d‑a‑z‑e’ in the lyrics, but you could also, if you wanted to think of it as days ‘d‑a‑y‑s’ you could perceive it as that. But, I thought of it, like, a childhood daze you look back and you see this sort of blurry, beautiful memory that’s kind of blurry at the edges and blades of the grass in summer that harkens back to childhood and playing and using your imagination.” The line “Parachutes / For the free fall of being younger / I memorized the sound of your bare footsteps” further ties the song to the theme of growing up.
Swift composed the track after viewing an early cut of the film. She described the experience as emotionally moving, noting that the line “I watched you drive around the bend for what I thought would be the last time I saw my friend” resonated with her. “That movie just broke my heart,” she said during a 20/20 special in June. The song signals a return to Swift’s country‑music roots, a style she has explored in recent releases.
Randy Newman, who has composed the music for every previous Toy Story film, lends continuity to the score. In the interview, Swift said she felt “wonderful knowing that I had Randy’s blessing to write for this film, given that I’m the first songwriter to get to partake in the Toy Story world outside of Randy.” Newman’s return to Toy Story 5 marks his tenth collaboration with Pixar and his music remains a defining element of the franchise.
Toy Story 5 premiered in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026, and opened in the United States on June 19. The film was produced on a $250 million budget and has grossed $1.137 billion worldwide, making it Pixar’s highest‑grossing film to date and the third‑highest‑grossing film of 2026. The soundtrack, released in June, features the original songs of Randy Newman as well as Swift’s new track.
The song’s focus on Jessie highlights the film’s narrative emphasis on the toys’ relationships with their human owners. Jessie’s story of abandonment and rediscovery is mirrored in the lyric “they can only see up to the height of blades of grass,” which Swift explained refers to the limited perspective of a toy and the symbolic idea of a parachute helping a child land softly.
Swift’s contribution also marks the first time a contemporary pop star has written an original song for the franchise. While the film’s score remains rooted in Newman’s Americana style, the inclusion of a country‑influenced pop song broadens the soundtrack’s appeal to a wider audience.
The release of “I Knew It, I Knew You” adds a fresh musical dimension to a beloved series that has already earned critical acclaim and commercial success. As the film continues to perform at the box office and the soundtrack streams on major platforms, Swift’s track is poised to become a memorable part of the Toy Story legacy.
The next chapter for the franchise will likely involve the film’s continued presence in theaters and on streaming services, as well as potential future projects that may build on the musical collaborations established in Toy Story 5.
The song, released in June with the film’s full soundtrack, centers on Jessie, the cowgirl ragdoll voiced by Joan Cusack, and her first owner, Emily. In a September 5 interview on iHeartCountry House Party, Swift unpacked the lyric “the daze of the blades of grass in summer,” explaining, “The word daze is spelled ‘d‑a‑z‑e’ in the lyrics, but you could also, if you wanted to think of it as days ‘d‑a‑y‑s’ you could perceive it as that. But, I thought of it, like, a childhood daze you look back and you see this sort of blurry, beautiful memory that’s kind of blurry at the edges and blades of the grass in summer that harkens back to childhood and playing and using your imagination.” The line “Parachutes / For the free fall of being younger / I memorized the sound of your bare footsteps” further ties the song to the theme of growing up.
Swift composed the track after viewing an early cut of the film. She described the experience as emotionally moving, noting that the line “I watched you drive around the bend for what I thought would be the last time I saw my friend” resonated with her. “That movie just broke my heart,” she said during a 20/20 special in June. The song signals a return to Swift’s country‑music roots, a style she has explored in recent releases.
Randy Newman, who has composed the music for every previous Toy Story film, lends continuity to the score. In the interview, Swift said she felt “wonderful knowing that I had Randy’s blessing to write for this film, given that I’m the first songwriter to get to partake in the Toy Story world outside of Randy.” Newman’s return to Toy Story 5 marks his tenth collaboration with Pixar and his music remains a defining element of the franchise.
Toy Story 5 premiered in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026, and opened in the United States on June 19. The film was produced on a $250 million budget and has grossed $1.137 billion worldwide, making it Pixar’s highest‑grossing film to date and the third‑highest‑grossing film of 2026. The soundtrack, released in June, features the original songs of Randy Newman as well as Swift’s new track.
The song’s focus on Jessie highlights the film’s narrative emphasis on the toys’ relationships with their human owners. Jessie’s story of abandonment and rediscovery is mirrored in the lyric “they can only see up to the height of blades of grass,” which Swift explained refers to the limited perspective of a toy and the symbolic idea of a parachute helping a child land softly.
Swift’s contribution also marks the first time a contemporary pop star has written an original song for the franchise. While the film’s score remains rooted in Newman’s Americana style, the inclusion of a country‑influenced pop song broadens the soundtrack’s appeal to a wider audience.
The release of “I Knew It, I Knew You” adds a fresh musical dimension to a beloved series that has already earned critical acclaim and commercial success. As the film continues to perform at the box office and the soundtrack streams on major platforms, Swift’s track is poised to become a memorable part of the Toy Story legacy.
The next chapter for the franchise will likely involve the film’s continued presence in theaters and on streaming services, as well as potential future projects that may build on the musical collaborations established in Toy Story 5.
