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Robin

Bonus Track | THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY (2024)

“Robin” is track thirty on THE ANTHOLOGY, the double album edition of Taylor’s eleventh studio album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (2024). Co-written by Taylor and Aaron Dessner, the song is likely a heartfelt gift to Dessner’s son, Robin. The lyrics reflect on the fleeting nature of youth and the instinct to preserve its purity before it is tainted by life’s complexities.

Background and Release

Taylor started working on THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT immediately after she submitted her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022) for release and continued working on it in secrecy throughout the first US leg of “The Eras Tour” in 2023. Taylor reflected on the creation of the record as a “lifeline” for her, as it took place amidst countless media reports on her personal life and her relationships with Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy, and Travis Kelce:

«This album, this new one, TORTURED POETS, is an album that I think, more than any of my albums that I’ve ever made, I needed to make it. It was really a lifeline for me, just the things I was going through, and the things I was writing about. It kind of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through my life. And I’ve never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I’d needed it on TORTURED POETS.»

Taylor Swift

“Robin” is part of the double-album edition of the record, THE ANTHOLOGY, which was released digitally on April 19, shortly after the standard edition.

Lyrical Theme

In “Robin,” Taylor paints a vivid portrait of a child’s world, filled with imagination, wonder, and innocence. She marvels at the carefree spirit of youth, capturing the untamed energy and boundless curiosity of childhood. Through imagery of simple pleasures, like playing on swing sets and chasing dragonflies, she reflects on the purity of these moments. At its heart, the song expresses the deep desire to protect this sweetness, shielding the child from the world’s complexities and disappointments for as long as possible.

While Taylor has not confirmed the identity of “Robin,” it is likely that the song is dedicated to Aaron Dessner’s son, Robin Lo Brooking.

Live Performance

“Robin” received its first live performance acoustically on piano in Zurich on July 10, 2024, during one of Taylor’s shows on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024). She played it as part of a mashup with “Never Grow Up” (2010), which is another song about the innocence of childhood. Introducing “Robin”, she teased:

«I’ve never performed this next song ever live before, ever.»

Taylor Swift

Critical Reception

“Robin” garnered mixed reactions upon release. Some expressed deep appreciation for the song’s tender portrayal of childhood innocence and the instinctual desire to protect it, writing it is “a very comfortable and sentimental song to listen to.” Conversely, others have found the song less engaging, with some considering it “the most boring Taylor song I have ever heard.” While it may not resonate equally with all listeners, it has sparked meaningful discussions and analyses among fans.

Commercial Performance

Upon the album’s release, “Robin” debuted and peaked at No. 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, during the chart week ending on May 4, 2024.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Long may you reign
You’re an animal
You are bloodthirsty
Out window panes talking utter nonsense
You have no idea

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Strings tied to levers,
Slowed down clocks tethered,
All this showmanship
To keep it, for you,
In sweetness

[Chorus]
Way to go, Tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you

[Verse 2]
Long may you roar
At your dinosaurs
You’re a just ruler
Covered in mud, you look ridiculous
And you have no idea

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Buried down deep and out of your reach
The secret we all vowed to keep it, from you,
In sweetness

[Chorus]
Way to go, Tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you

[Bridge]
You got the dragonflies above your bed
You have a favorite spot on the swing set
You have no room in your dreams for regrets
You have no idea
The time will arrive for the cruel and the mean
You’ll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline
But now we’ll curtail your curiosity
In sweetness

[Chorus]
Way to go, Tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you