Taylor Swift’s “Toy Story 5” Song Revealed

Taylor Swift’s new original song for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is now streaming, marking her latest contribution to film music and a return to her country roots. The song, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” was released on June 4 after being announced earlier in the week. Swift wrote the track with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, and the song was inspired by Jessie, the cowgirl character voiced by Joan Cusack, whose story began in Toy Story 2.

Swift said the project felt both like “a musical departure and coming home,” noting on Instagram that she has been a Toy Story fan since she was 5 years old. She also shared that writing the song for Jessie felt like a new challenge and something that came naturally at the same time. In her message, she thanked director Andrew Stanton for imagining her for the project and praised Randy Newman’s long-running contribution to the franchise’s music.

Stanton said Swift’s connection to Jessie was immediate and that she understood the character’s emotional journey right away. He described the song as so closely tied to Toy Story that it felt like it had always belonged in the series. The collaboration adds another major film song to Swift’s catalog, which already includes “Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing, “Crazier” and “You Can Always Find Your Way Back Home” from Hannah Montana: The Movie, “Today Was a Fairytale” from Valentine’s Day, and songs for The Hunger Games films such as “Safe and Sound” and “Eyes Open.”

Speculation about the collaboration began in late April, when fans noticed cloud-themed billboards and clues on Swift’s website. The announcement was later confirmed with a countdown and a new post from Swift. The song’s release arrives during a relatively quiet stretch for new music from the artist, following the release of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, last October. It also comes about a year after Swift regained control of her master recordings.

Toy Story 5 continues the franchise with a Toys vs. Tech storyline. The film introduces a new tablet character, Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, who becomes a distraction in Bonnie’s life. The voice cast also includes Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, Shelby Rabara, Scarlett Spears, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Matty Matheson. Krys Marshall has also joined as an adult character, while several legacy roles have been recast.

Andrew Stanton directs the film, which is scheduled to open in theaters on June 19.