Paris
Bonus Track | Midnights (3am Edition) [2022]
Table of Contents
Background and Release
«I think of Midnights as a complete concept album, with those 13 songs forming a full picture of the intensities of that mystifying, mad hour. However! There were other songs we wrote on our journey to find that magic 13. I’m calling them 3am tracks. Lately I’ve been loving the feeling of sharing more of our creative process with you, like we do with 'From The Vault' tracks. So it’s 3am and I’m giving them to you now.»
Taylor Swift
Lyrical Theme
In the final chorus, the narrative reaches its resolution as their dream finally becomes a reality. The alleyways are not pretend anymore and the champagne they are drinking is real. The fantasy eventually becomes a permanent fixture of escapism “in [her] mind” because, to Taylor, being in love is like being Paris. At its core, “Paris” is a song about Taylor escaping the vapidity and ever-present glare of celebrity culture while keeping what is closest to her – her relationship – private. In that sense, “Paris” is a thematic companion to “Lavender Haze.”
The writing style of the lyrics seem to reflect this contrast: While the verses are deliberately conversational, the chorus’ and bridge are very romantic. This mirrors the themes of “Paris.” The verses seem to describe what Taylor wants to escape, whereas the choruses and bridge are what she and her partner are escaping to – Paris. Here, she wants “confess [her] truth in swooping, sloping cursive letters” (a reference to the Lover album cover?) while the lights of the Eiffel tower glisten in the background at midnight.
Live Performance
Commercial Performance
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
“Your ex friend’s sister met someone at a club and he kissed her
Turns out it was that guy you hooked up with ages ago, some wannabe Z-lister
And all the outfits were terrible
2003, unbearable
Did you see the photos?”
No, I didn’t but thanks though
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I’m so in love that I might stop breathing
Drew a map on your bedroom ceiling
No, I didn’t see the news
‘Cause we were somewhere else
Stumbled down pretend alleyways
Cheap wine, make believe it’s champagne
I was taken by the view
[Chorus]
Like we were in Paris
Like we were somewhere else
Like we were in Paris, oh
We were somewhere else
[Verse 2]
Privacy sign on the door
And on my page and on the whole world
Romance is not dead
If you keep it just yours
Levitate above all the messes made
Sit quiet by my side in the shade
And not the kind that’s thrown
I mean the kind under where a tree has grown
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I’m so in love that I might stop breathing
Drew a map on your bedroom ceiling
No, I didn’t see the news
‘Cause we were somewhere else
Stumbled down pretend alleyways
Cheap wine, make believe it’s champagne
I was taken by the view
[Chorus]
Like we were in Paris, oh
Like we were somewhere else
Like we were in Paris, oh
We were somewhere else
[Bridge]
I want to brainwash you into loving me forever
I want to transport you to somewhere the culture’s clever
Confess my truth in swooping, sloping, cursive letters
Let the only flashing lights
Be the tower at midnight
In my mind
[Pre-Chorus 2]
We drew a map on your bedroom ceiling
No, I didn’t see the news
‘Cause we were somewhere else
In an alleyway
Drinking champagne
[Chorus 2]
‘Cause we were in Paris
Yes, we were somewhere else
My love, we were in Paris
Yes, we were somewhere else
Artist | Taylor Swift | |||
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Album | Midnights | |||
Released | October 21, 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2021-2022 | |||
Studios | Rough Customer (Brooklyn) Electric Lady (New York) | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:16 | |||
Label | Republic Records | |||
Songwriters | Taylor Swift Jack Antonoff | |||
Producers | Jack Antonoff Taylor Swift | |||
MIDNIGHTS CHRONOLOGY | ||||
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