I Don't Wanna Live Forever
Lead Single | Fifty Shades Darker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016)
Background and Lyrical Theme
«We were kind of in separate places when I mentioned the idea to her. I spoke to her on the phone and she heard the song because Jack [Antonoff] had played it to her. So she really liked it and she went in the studio the next day.»
Music Video
Critical Reception
Commercial Performance
Upon release, the song was only available on iTunes and Tidal. It was serviced to Spotify two weeks later. In the United States, “I Don’t Wanan Live Forever” sold 188,000 copies in its first week, in addition to a 25 million radio audience and 3 million streams. It debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Taylor’s 20th top 10, making her the 16th artist and sixth woman to do so. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart, as Taylor’s 11th song to top the chart, tying her with Katy Perry for the second-most in the chart’s history, behind Rihanna.
The song later reached a new peak of No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” with 109 million radio audience and 25.7 million streams, becoming Taylor’s 11th top 5 single, and the highest-charting “Fifty Shades” single.
Across European charts, the song debuted at No. 1 in Spain and Sweden, becoming Taylor’s first number-one single in both countries. It reached the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” has over 1 billion streams on Spotify.
Award Recognition
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Zayn]
Been sitting eyes wide open behind these four walls, hoping you’d call
It’s just a cruel existence like there’s no point hoping at all
[Pre-chorus 1: Zayn]
Baby, baby, I feel crazy, up all night, all night and every day
Give me something, oh, but you say nothing
What is happening to me?
[Chorus: Zayn]
I don’t wanna live forever, ’cause I know I’ll be living in vain
And I don’t wanna fit wherever
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
[Verse 2: Taylor]
I’m sitting eyes wide open and I got one thing stuck in my mind
Wondering if I dodged a bullet or just lost the love of my life, oh
[Pre-chorus 2: Taylor]
Baby, baby, I feel crazy
Up all night, all night and every day
I gave you something, but you gave me nothing
What is happening to me?
[Chorus: Taylor & Zayn]
I don’t wanna live forever, ’cause I know I’ll be living in vain
And I don’t wanna fit (fit, babe) wherever (wherever)
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
[Bridge: Taylor]
I’ve been looking sad in all the nicest places
Baby, baby, I feel crazy
I see you around in all these empty faces
Up all night, all night and every day
I’ve been looking sad in all the nicest places
Give me something, oh, but you say nothing
Now I’m in a cab, I tell ’em where your place is
What is happening to me?
[Chorus: Taylor & Zayn]
I don’t wanna live forever, ’cause I know I’ll be living in vain
And I don’t wanna fit wherever
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home
Until you come back home
Released | December 9, 2016 |
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Recorded | 2016 |
Studio | Rough Customer (Brooklyn) Record Plant (Los Angeles) |
Genre | Electro R&B |
Length | 4:05 |
Label | Republic Records |
Songwriters | Taylor Swift Sam Dew Jack Antonoff |
Producer | Jack Antonoff |