willow
Lead Single | evermore (2020)
Table of Contents
Background
Lyrical Theme
«I liked opening the album with ['willow'] because I loved the feeling that I got, immediately upon hearing the instrumental that Aaron created for it. It felt strangely witchy, like somebody making a love potion, dreaming up the person that they want and desire, and trying to figure out how to get that person in their life. And all the misdirection, and bait and switch, and complexity that goes into seeing someone, feeling a connection, wanting them, and trying to make them a part of your life. It’s tactical at times, it’s confusing at times, it’s up to fate, it’s magical. It felt a bit magical and mysterious, which is what I want people to feel going into an album that was a collection of these stories that were going to take them in all kinds of directions. I just wanted to start them off with a setting of the vibe.»
Taylor Swift
Music Video
Live Performances
Critical Reception
Commercial Performance
Remixes
The “dancing witch version” was followed by an acoustic “lonely witch” version on December 14, and a synth-driven “moonlit witch” version on December 15, both produced by Aaron Dessner. A video for the “lonely witch” version featuring behind-the-scenes pictures from the “willow” music video, and a video for the “dancing witch” version featuring the storyboards from the “willow” music video, were uploaded on Taylor’s YouTube account December 15, 2020.
When evermore broke the record for biggest vinyl sales in a week in US history, Taylor released the “willow (90’s trend remix)” along with digitally autographed copies of the album for less than 24 hours. Taylor wrote: “You guys went and did the nicest thing this week and broke the record for biggest vinyl sales week.. like ever? NOW WE DAHNCE. The ‘willow (90’s trend remix)’ is a thank you from me, available today only on my site. Put her on repeat for a good time but if you don’t want to have a good time there’s always ‘champagne problems’ & every other song on evermore so you can get deep in your deepest feelings.”
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night
Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife
And if it was an open/shut case
I never would’ve known from that look on your face
Lost in your current like a priceless wine
[Chorus 1]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Verse 2]
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in
As if you were a mythical thing
Like you were a trophy or a champion ring
But there was one prize I’d cheat to win
[Chorus 2]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Bridge]
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
They count me out time and time again
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
But I come back stronger than a 90’s trend
[Verse 3]
Wait for the signal and I’ll meet you after dark
Show me the places where the others gave you scars
Now this is an open/shut case
I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face
Every bait and switch was a work of art
[Chorus 2]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Final Chorus]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Outro]
Hey, that’s my man
That’s my man
Yeah, that’s my man
Every bait and switch was a work of art
That’s my man
Hey, that’s my man
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Spoken]
“Okay, here’s the ‘Westerly’ one, written in Westerly.”
[Verse 1]
I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night
Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife
And if it was an open/shut case
I never would’ve known from the look on your face
Drown in your current like a priceless wine
[Chorus 1]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Verse 2]
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
Hеad on the pillow I could feel you sneaking in
As if you werе a mythical thing
Like you were a trophy or a champion ring
And it was only one game I’d die to win
[Chorus 2]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
Begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Instrumental Break]
“And then I was thinking like a choral section like…”
[Bridge]
Wait for the signal and I’ll meet you after dark
Show me the places where the others gave you scars
Now this is an open/shut case
I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face
Every bait and switch was a work of art
[Chorus 2]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
Begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Final Chorus]
The more that you say
The less I know
Wherever you stray
I follow
Begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
Begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
[Outro]
Hey, that’s my man
Yeah, that’s my man
Yeah, that’s my man
Every bait and switch was a work of art
That’s my man
Hey, that’s my man
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
Artist | Taylor Swift | ||
---|---|---|---|
Album | evermore | ||
Released | December 11, 2020 | ||
Recorded | 2020 | ||
Studio | Long Pond (Hudson Valley, NY) | ||
Genre | Indie Folk Chamber Folk | ||
Length | 3:34 | ||
Label | Republic Records | ||
Songwriters | Taylor Swift Aaron Dessner | ||
Producer | Aaron Dessner | ||
EVERMORE CHRONOLOGY | |||
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