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King of My Heart

reputation (2017)

“King of My Heart” is track ten on Taylor’s sixth studio album, reputation (2017). Co-written by Taylor, Max Martin and Shellback, the song blends dynamic tempo shifts with evocative lyrics to mirror the evolving stages of a romantic relationship. It was originally intended to be the album’s second single, but Taylor ultimately opted for “…Ready For It?” instead.

Background

Taylor released her fifth studio album, 1989, in October 2014, marking a deliberate shift from country to synth-pop. The album was both a critical and commercial success and played a key role in establishing her as a global pop artist. By 2016, however, she was facing intense public scrutiny. Amid widespread media attention and disputes with figures such as Scooter Braun, Kanye West, and Justin Bieber, a wave of backlash took hold. In response, Taylor stepped back from the public eye for nearly a year. During this time, she reduced her social media presence and avoided press engagements, reflecting on her role in the spotlight and even contemplating stepping away from music entirely. In her “Person of the Year” interview with Time in 2023, she said:

«You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar. That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before. I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls. I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.»

Taylor Swift

To begin healing, she turned to what she knew best—her songwriting. In September 2016, she returned to the studio and began channeling her pain into the early stages of what would become reputation. The record offered a pointed response to the controversies and shifting public perception, exploring themes of identity, privacy, and the complexities of fame.

“King of My Heart” was one of two songs that officially kicked off the reputation recording process, alongside “Gorgeous.” She started working on it on September 6, 2016, in her apartment on Cornelia Street in New York City, while her Tribeca residence was undergoing extensive renovations. From September 19–21, she refined the first draft in the studio with Max Martin and Shellback. Notably, it’s one of the more lighthearted tracks on reputation, written before she began exploring the darker themes of betrayal and public scrutiny that dominate much of the album.

Lyrical Theme

Lyrically, “King of My Heart” captures the giddy rush of Taylor’s brand-new romance with British actor Joe Alwyn. Written in the earliest days of their relationship, the song traces the shift from casual encounters to a deep emotional connection, celebrating the feeling of having found someone who unexpectedly surpasses all previous loves. Using playful yet vivid imagery, Taylor describes the thrill of being “ruined” for anyone else, pairing tender declarations with confident self-assurance. References to various kingdom-related themes appear throughout reputation, reinforcing the song’s royal metaphor. She told fans at a “reputation Secret Session“:

«I think it’s really interesting when people talk about their love stories. There seems to be these definitive phases, and it doesn’t matter how long that phase lasts, there seems to be a moment when you knew it transitioned into the next phase. People will be like, ‘Oh my God, we were friends for six years, and there was this moment, and we knew, and then it changed. Then there was a moment and it got deeper, and then there was a moment and we knew. Everybody has a different story with how they connect with someone else. And what I find interesting are the moments where it switches, because you always hope that that switch is going to move you forward and not backward. Because it can happen both ways. It can happen either way.»

Taylor Swift

Continuing the kingdom theme, Taylor revealed in 2019 that “King of My Heart” was partly inspired by the TV series Game of Thrones, which she began binge-watching in 2016. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she said: “At the time, I was making reputation and didn’t discuss it much in interviews, so I didn’t reveal that several songs were influenced by the show. […] ‘King of My Heart’ was inspired by Khal Drogo and Daenerys. It even features a post-chorus drum section—I wanted those drums to evoke the sound of Dothraki war drums.”

Production

“King of My Heart” was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, longtime collaborators of Taylor known for crafting some of her biggest pop hits. She initially wrote the track on electric guitar and piano, which laid the melodic and harmonic foundation. The production then developed into an atmospheric, synth-driven song layered with pulsating beats and shimmering electronic textures that build progressively throughout the track. Its dynamic structure moves between moody verses and anthemic choruses, reflecting the emotional highs and lows described in the lyrics. She explained:

«I’ve always wanted to structure a song where each individual section of the song sounded like a move forward in the relationship, but still be listenable. So, I wanted the verse to seem like its own phase of a relationship, the pre-chorus to sound like its own phase of a relationship, and the chorus to sound like its own phase of a relationship. And I wanted them to have their own identity but seem like they were getting deeper and more fast-paced as the song went on. So, finally, I was able to achieve that in a song.»

Taylor Swift

The song’s distinctive production includes a post-chorus drum section inspired by Game of Thrones’ Dothraki war drums, adding a dramatic flair that underscores the kingdom imagery.

Unreleased Music Video

On August 4, 2025, in an interview with the podcast Outcast, director Joseph Kahn—known for directing several of reputation’s visuals—revealed that “King of My Heart” had been slated as the album’s second single. A music video was already in development, but the plan was abandoned when Taylor shifted her focus to “…Ready For It?”, which she believed would make for a stronger follow-up single to “Look What You Made Me Do.” He said:

«We started shooting it, this sort of very conceptual thing. We never finished it because she switched gears in the middle of it when she decided '...Ready For It?' was a better single.»

Joseph Kahn

Speaking to host and fellow music video director Arrad Rahgoshay, Joseph Kahn revealed that the “King of My Heart” video had been fully filmed but never progressed beyond production. He described the concept as “highly conceptual” and heavily reliant on visual effects. Kahn also confirmed that Taylor personally financed her music videos during the reputation era rather than her label at the time, Big Machine Records: “She wrote an unlimited check and went for it. She paid for all of that stuff, and she didn’t have any rights to it. I’m so glad that she has it all back now, because she’s the one that was writing those checks. It was her personal cash, and she made the investment on every one of those videos and was the force that made it all happen. I was the lucky guy who executed them, but she laid it all on the line.”

Live Performances

Taylor brought “King of My Heart” to life every night on her “reputation Stadium Tour” (2018), where it was elevated by a dramatic, large-scale production featuring thunderous drums. She also delivered an intimate acoustic rendition of the song at a private engagement party on February 23, 2019.

Fast forward to August 8, 2023, when Taylor surprised audiences in Los Angeles during “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024), delivering an intimate piano-backed acoustic rendition as the second surprise song of the night. She reprised the song on May 30, 2024, in Madrid, and just a few months later, on August 15, 2024, she paired “King of My Heart” with “The Alchemy” for a memorable declaration of love to Travis Kelce in London.

Critical Reception

“King of My Heart” was praised for its sleek production and emotional depth. Rolling Stone described the track as having a “smooth, sultry groove” and highlighted it as a “standout” on reputation that “captures the complexities of new love.” Billboard called the song “an infectious, modern pop anthem” with a “memorable hook” that showcases Taylor’s knack for blending heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies. The Guardian noted the song’s “darkly shimmering” production and praised its lyrical maturity, saying it “balances vulnerability with confidence in a way that feels uniquely Taylor.” While some critics felt it didn’t quite match the impact of reputation’s lead singles, many regarded “King of My Heart” as a sophisticated and polished addition to the album’s narrative.

Commercial Performance

Though not released as an official single, “King of My Heart” performed well commercially, fueled by strong streaming and digital sales. Upon the release of reputation in November 2017, the song entered multiple charts worldwide. In the United States, it peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 20 on the Billboard Pop Songs radio chart. Internationally, the track charted within the Top 40 in countries including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Taylor Swift start writing “King of My Heart”?

Taylor began writing the song early in the reputation sessions, alongside “Gorgeous,” inspired by her then-new relationship with Joe Alwyn.

Was the song influenced by anything outside of music?

Yes, the post-chorus drum pattern was inspired by the Dothraki war drums from the TV series Game of Thrones, which Taylor was binge-watching during the album’s creation.

Did “King of My Heart” have a music video?

A music video was fully filmed but never completed or released. Taylor personally financed this and other reputation videos, independently of her label.

Was “King of My Heart” released as a single?

“King of My Heart” was planned to be the second single from reputation, but Taylor decided to release “…Ready For It?” instead.

Are there any recurring themes in the song?

Yes, “King of My Heart” features kingdom-related imagery, a motif that runs throughout the reputation album.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I’m perfectly fine
I live on my own
I made up my mind
I’m better off bein alone
We met a few weeks ago
Now you try on calling me ‘baby’
Like trying on clothes

[Pre-Chorus]
Salute to me, I’m your American Queen
And you move to me like I’m a Motown beat
And we rule the kingdom inside my room
Cause all the boys and their expensive cars with
Their Range Rovers and their Jaguars
Never took me quite where you do

[Chorus]
And all at once
You are the one I have been waiting for
King of my heart, body, and soul
And all at once you’re all I want
I’ll never let you go
King of my heart, body, and soul
And all at once…
I’ve been waiting, waiting
And all at once you are the one
I’ve been waiting, waiting
Body and soul
And all at once

[Verse 2]
Late in the night
The city’s asleep
Your love is a secret
I’m hoping, dreaming, dying to keep
Change my priorities
The taste of your lips is my idea of luxury

[Bridge]
Is this the end of all the endings?
My broken bones are mending
With all these nights we’re spending
Up on the roof with a school girl crush
Drinking beer out of plastic cups
Say you fancy me, not fancy stuff
Baby all at once, this is enough.