Home » Albums » Lover » Songs on Lover » False God

False God

Lover (2019)

”False God” is the track thirteen on Taylor’s seventh studio album, Lover (2019). It uses heavy religious imagery to compare Taylor’s relationship with her partner at the time, Joe Alwyn, to something all-powerful and greater than themselves.

Lyrical Theme

It is made abundantly clear that the “false god” Taylor is referring to in the song is the love she and her partner have for each other. She likens their commitment to their romance to that of a religious devotee to their deity. It appears the reason for such symbolism is that Taylor herself is to some extent concerned by how deeply they are in love, as in how much they revere the relationship. Another metaphor Taylor uses is likening their decision to be in a relationship, despite knowing that staying together would be a challenge, to being “led by blind faith”. One of the premises of the song is that she and her partner took a big risk by committing themselves to each other in the first place. It further appears that another reason she is now concerned is because his feelings are waning. But for the most part, considering that their love is indeed their “religion”, she seems to be confident that it will persist.

Release

“False God” was first teased on April 26, 2019. The line, “And I can’t talk to you when you’re like this” is referenced in the music video for “ME!“, when Taylor and Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco) have an argument in French. In the week leading up to the album release in August, Taylor published the first two lines of the pre-chorus in the New York Times, in an advertisement that looked like a letter written to a lover.

According to a fan who attended the “Lover Secret Sessions“, Taylor said that “False God” was her favorite song on the album, which is why she made it track thirteen. While promoting the album a few weeks later, she seemed to have changed her mind though, claiming that the title track, “Lover“, was her clear favorite. In 2023, she bestowed that title upon “Cruel Summer“, after the song was finally made a single.

Live Performances

Taylor performed “False God” live for the first time on October 5, 2019, on Saturday Night Live. She was joined by backup singers, a drummer, a keyboardist, and SNL’s own Lenny Pickett for a performance that saw her weaving and pacing through helix-filament light bulbs. According to music critics, “False God” was the smoothest saxophone sound an SNL musical guest had had in years.

“False God” was also the second surprise song on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024) in East Rutherford on May 27, 2023. Taylor performed it on piano. On July 17, 2024, she mashed it up with “‘Slut!’” (2023) in Gelsenkirchen.

Commercial Performance

Upon the release of Lover, during the week ending September 7, 2019, “False God” peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
We were crazy to think
Crazy to think that this could work
Remember how I said I’d die for you?
We were stupid to jump
In the ocean separating us
Remember how I’d fly to you?

[Pre-Chorus 1]
And I can’t talk to you when you’re like this
Staring out the window like I’m not your favorite town – I’m New York City
I still do it for you, babe
They all warned us about times like this
They say the road gets hard and you get lost when you’re led by blind faith
Blind faith

[Chorus]
But we might just get away with it
Religion’s in your lips
Even if it’s a false god
We’d still worship
We might just get away with it
The altar is my hips
Even if it’s a false god
We’d still worship this love
We’d still worship this love
We’d still worship this love

[Verse 2]
I know heaven’s a thing
I go there when you touch me
Honey, hell is when I fight with you
But we can patch it up good
Make confessions and we’re begging for forgiveness, got the wine for you

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And you can’t talk to me when I’m like this
Daring you to leave me just so I can try and scare you – you’re the West Village
You still do it for me, babe
They all warned us about times like this
They say the road gets hard and you get lost when you’re led by blind faith
Blind faith