Songfacts®:

• This is the oldest song on Speak Now - Taylor first performed the song live back in 2008. The chorus remains the same since its original outing, but some of the verses have been changed.
  
  During an online chat with Ustream, Taylor explained why she included the song on Speak Now: "I played that song at one or two shows, and you guys really jumped on it and made it something I had to put on the album, because you guys really showed interest in it."
• Taylor sings in this song of an attraction to a guy who is "a bad idea." She explained the lyrics on her website: "'Sparks Fly' is about falling for someone who you maybe shouldn't fall for, but you can't stop yourself because there's such a connection and chemistry. This is a song I wrote a few years ago and I have been working on it ever since. It's been awesome to see it change over the years. The fans have heard it before in concert, but there have been some really cool changes that I am very proud of."
• So who is the guy that Taylor is so attracted to? One much-supported theory is that the song is about a celebrity crush for Jake Owen, whom the singer opened up for in Portland when she was just 16. Interestingly, the phrase "PORTLAND OREGON" is spelled out in code on Speak Now's liner notes for this tune.
• As part of her project to re-record her old albums, Taylor Swift released Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023. It includes re-recorded versions of all 16 songs from the deluxe edition of Speak Now, including "Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)." Chatter surrounding this track resurfaced with the release of the record.
  
  Jake Owen isn't bothered about the rumors that he's the subject of the song. "It's a great song and the speculation has always been funny to me," he told People following the release of "Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)." "I'm sure Taylor probably laughs at it all too, but I'm happy to even have my name in the discussion around it."
  
  The country star added that he has known Swift since she was 16 and he has always been a fan of her work. "She's an amazing girl and an amazing artist," Owen said. "It's been incredible to see how she's grown as a musician and what a global phenomenon she's become."