Report: 8-Year-Old Shocked to Learn Local Dad Knows the Song “Love Story” by Taylor Swift

Orlando, FL — The sky was slate gray and there was a slight chill in the air on the Thursday afternoon when a young girl’s world was turned upside down.

Harper, 8 years old, was playing in a friend’s backyard after school, attempting to perfect her back handspring on the trampoline when she heard the unmistakable sound of “Love Story” by Taylor Swift emanating from a beaten and battered iPhone a short distance away.

“I’m a huge Swiftie, so I know ‘Love Story’ even though it’s not a song many people know,” Harper said while standing on her hands on the trampoline, legs resting against the safety netting.

The obscure song was being played by two much older girls, fourth graders Isabella and Violet, who were sitting together on a tree swing contemplating life and love. Violet had just that morning confided in her best friend that she liked one of the boys who lived at the house where the neighborhood had gathered to play that day after school.

The secret remained a secret for approximately three minutes.

When the song reached its emotional apex and the girls belted out Romeo’s proposal to Juliet, the dad of the house who was sitting on the back porch taking in the scene that seemed quite ominous in light of the news of Violet’s burgeoning crush, called out, “Hey, that’s ‘Love Story!’”

Violet and Isabella both pumped their fists in the air and shouted “Yeah!” in response. Harper, however, was so shocked she completely botched the landing of her backflip. After brushing the leaves out of her hair, she scurried off the trampoline and ran over to the dad.

“How do you know ‘Love Story’?” she demanded with wide eyes. “I didn’t know you were a Swiftie!”

“Well, it’s one of her older ones,” the dad explained. “And I know more of her songs from that era… get it, era.”

Harper smiled condescendingly.

“That one came out back when I had more time to care about music, and you know, life in general before the children came along and it seemed like I ceased to exist as a separate human being and became more of a vessel that everyone pours their ideas of what I’m supposed to be into… if that makes sense?”

Unperturbed, Harper exclaimed, “So you are a Swiftie! What’s your favorite album?”

“Um, I guess whichever one ‘Love Story’ is on?”

Harper let out a small “eeek” sound and said, “Fearless! High five!” She then skipped back toward the trampoline, her brown pigtails bouncing happily on her shoulders.

The last sound the dad heard before retreating inside to shuffle papers around on the kitchen counter was Harper shouting, “You’ll never believe this… Quinn’s dad knows ‘Love Story’ AND he is a Swiftie!”

“I’m embracing it,” the dad said with acceptance in his eyes. “The next time a child asks if I’m a Swiftie, I know what to do. Baby, just say yes…”

“Get it?”