Taylor Swift's 'Willow' Lyrics Decoded & Fan Theories From Joe Alwyn To 'Folklore' references

11 December 2020, 10:16 | Updated: 11 December 2020, 11:11

We've decoded Taylor Swift's 'Willow' lyrics as fans speculate the song is about her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, so let's take a look into the opening track from her second surprise album of 2020, 'Evermore'.

Taylor Swift officially has us all shook releasing her second surprise album of 2020 just six months apart from 'Folklore' and already dropped a music video for its opening track, 'Willow'.

Taylor Swift's Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Is 'William Bowery': Will He Be Credited On 'Evermore' After 'Folklore' Debut?

Taylor Swift - willow

The 31-year-old has said many of the tracks across both records are fictional and some aren't and we're pretty sure Tay is singing about her boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn in this number, what with the repetition of 'that's my man.'

The opening track from 'Folklore' is 'the 1' where Taylor sings about looking back to lost love that got away, but the same can't be said for 'Willow'.

Let's let Taylor explain the meaning here, she's said of the track: "Willow is about intrigue, desire and the complexity that goes into wanting someone."

"I think it sounds like casting a spell to make someone fall in love with you."

She has already confirmed 'Evermore' is a more upbeat 'sister' album to 'Folklore', so perhaps all the not-so-happy tracks are being paralleled with more optimistic ones this time?

Just a thought!

So, let's take a look at some of the hidden references and meanings in the 'Willow' lyrics.

'Invisible Strings' reference

Dropping a video for the song, Taylor, the Easter Egg queen, couldn't help but throw in some 'Folklore' references, holding a golden thread in her hands, which is a reference to 'Invisible Strings.'

The line in the song says "one single thread of gold tied me to you" and is very much a love song about fate tying two people together.

Fictional storylines

Taylor introduced us to a whole new world and its characters in 'Folklore' and she has no sign of stopping in 'Evermore'.

Fans are still trying to join up the storylines from the previous record and find the 'threads' between the two record, which, in true Taylor style, we're sure exist.

A fan wrote: "“Had to cheat to win but” in willow - did James end up with august because it says “they caught me out time and time again” & then “my train can take you home” both references to cardigan but it’d make the mv strange."

'Willow' lyrics

I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night
Rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife
And if it was an open-shut case
I never would have known from the look on your face
Lost in your current like a priceless wine

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
Head on the pillow, I can feel you sneakin' in
'Cause if you are a mythical thing
Like you were a trophy or a champion ring
But there was one prize I'd cheat to win

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind
They count me out time and time again
Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind
But I come back stronger than a '90s trend

Wait for the signal, and I'll meet you after dark
Show me the places where the others gave you scars
Now this is an open-shut case
I guess I should'a known from the look on your face
Every bait-and-switch was a work of art

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Hey, that's my man
That's my man
Yeah, that's my man
Baby, every bait-and-switch was a work of art
That's my man
Hey, that's my man
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

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