Diane Warren on Taylor Swift Releasing 'Say Don't Go': 'Thanks for Taking Me Along for the Ride' (Exclusive)

The songwriter opened up to PEOPLE about Swift's decision to include the previously unreleased song on '1989 (Taylor's Version)'

Diane Warren was "really surprised" to see Taylor Swift bring back their decade-old song, "Say Don't Go," for 1989 (Taylor's Version) — and she's buzzing about it.

On Thursday, the songwriter, 67, revealed to PEOPLE what it was like to see the song find a new life. She also shared her reaction to the music superstar's decision to send her flowers in October, following the release of her fourth re-recorded album.

"I was surprised that that became a news story. I mean, what? That was really nice of her. But that shows, she's smart, she's smarter than everybody. That was really beautiful," Warren tells PEOPLE at the 2023 Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles.

"Look, it was great that the song came out and everybody loves that song, everybody. It's like her fan's favorite song," Warren continues. "And the fact that she used it now when she's bigger than anybody on the planet, it's like, thanks for taking me along for the ride, Taylor. It's awesome."

Related: Taylor Swift Sends Diane Warren Flowers After Finally Releasing 'Say Don't Go' — the 'Dream' Song They Co-Wrote

As for writing the song with the pop star, Warren — who has previously penned hits, such as Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" — called the overall experience "interesting."

"Just the way we wrote together was very interesting. I loved the song at the time and then I was kind of surprised that she didn't use it," she says of Swift, 33. "And then really surprised in a way better way when I found [out] she was."

Warren previously opened up about the process of collaborating on the Swiftie favorite, telling Rolling Stone that the pair sat down in 2013 to write the ballad "from scratch."

The songwriter also remembered that Swift was "very particular about how she said certain things" in the recording process, and that she was "deeply aware of how her fans want to hear something."

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Related: Taylor Swift Says Re-Recording 'Bad Blood' Remix with Kendrick Lamar Felt 'Surreal and Bewildering'

The final song was eventually released as part of the 1989 rerecording, and was co-produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff. It was featured as one of five "From the Vault" tracks that appeared on the album.

"Everything has its time, you know? It took a while to see the light of day, but I’m glad it finally did," Warren told the publication. "It was worth the wait."

As for the white flowers that Swift sent her co-writer's way, Warren shared a photo of the sweet gift to X (formerly known as Twitter) in October.

She wrote in the caption: "If U want to know why she is the biggest artist on the planet, this kind of kind and classy gesture is one more reason why."

The image also featured a note that Swift wrote to Warren, reading, “Diane, It was a dream come true to write with you. I hope you love ‘Say Don't Go’ as much as I do!! Sending the biggest hug to you! Love, Taylor.”

Most recently the 14-time Oscar nominee made a cameo in the Eva Longoria-directed music video (that dropped Friday) for Becky G's "The Fire Inside," a track Warren wrote that's featured in Flamin' Hot.

“I’ve known Diane for years, long before I ever got the job to direct Flamin’ Hot, and she’s always been adamant that she would write a song for my movie,” said Longoria in a release. “She is a genius, and I was so lucky to receive such a kind offer. When I made the film, she was one of the first people to see it, and instantly had a vision for the perfect song to compliment Richard’s story. To have a Chicana like Becky G help bring it to life and for me to join them on set for this video has been a dream come true.”

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