This Is What You Came For
This Is What You Came For (Single by Calvin Harris & Rihanna) | 2016
Table of Contents
Background and Release
On 13 July 2016, TMZ reported that the track was co-written by Taylor, who used the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg because her and Calvin Harris did not want their relationship to overshadow the song. The track became a point of contention upon its release, when Harris — in response to being asked about the possibility of collaborating with then-girldfriend Taylor during an interview with Ryan Seacrest — said that he “can’t see it happening.” After the couple broke up shortly after, Harris then took to his Twitter account to confirm that Taylor indeed wrote the lyrics and contributed some vocals, while he “wrote the music, produced the song, arranged it and cut the vocals”, while also confirming her previous request for secrecy as co-songwriter. The credit has since been officially changed to “Taylor Swift” in BMI’s and ASCAP’s entry for the song. Taylor also has uncredited vocals on the song.
On March 1, 2023, Taylor’s full demo of “This Is What You Came For” leaked online.
Lyrical Theme
Critical Reception
Commercial Performance
Taylor's Live Performances
«As a songwriter, the most rewarding feeling in the world is writing something and then having a crowd sing it back to you, because they know the words. It’s the coolest thing in the world. And I’ve never played this song live before. But if you know it, maybe you could sing along and I could get to know what that feels like?»
Lyrics
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Post-Chorus]
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Verse]
We go fast with the game we play
Who knows why it’s gotta be this way
We say nothing more than we need
I say, “Your place, when we leave?”
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Post-Chorus]
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Bridge]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
Yeah
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Outro]
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Post-Chorus]
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Verse]
We go fast with the game we play
I know why it’s gotta be this way
We say nothing more than we need
I see street lights when we leave
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Post-Chorus]
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Bridge]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
Yeah
[Chorus]
Baby, this is what you came for
Lightning strikes every time she moves
And everybody’s watching her
But she’s looking at you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
[Outro]
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
You, ooh, ooh, you, ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
| Artists | Calvin Harris Rihanna |
|---|---|
| Released | April 29, 2016 |
| Recorded | 2015 |
| Genre | EDM |
| Length | 3:40 |
| Labels | Westbury Road Columbia |
| Songwriters | Taylor Swift (Nils Sjöberg) Calvin Harris |
| Producers | Calvin Harris Kuk Harrell |
