Willow By Taylor Swift

Song Details

• Song Name: willow
• Album: Evermore (Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album).
• 1st Genre: Chamber folk.
• 2nd Genre: Indie folk (with Americana, tropical house, and hip-hop rhythmic influences).
• Beats per Minute (BPM): Approx. 84 BPM (others list ~81 BPM)
• Sur Scale (Musical Key): G major (some notations indicate E minor, but primary data supports G major)

Release & Production

• Release Date: December 11, 2020 (digital download & streaming).
• Estimated Budget: Not publicly disclosed. No reliable sources report production budget for this song or music video.
• Songwriters: Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner.
• Producer: Aaron Dessner.

Chart Performance & Reach

• Billboard Hot 100: Debuted at #1 — Swift’s seventh No. 1 and second of 2020; simultaneously, the album Evermore also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 .
• Also topped several other Billboard charts: Hot Alternative Songs, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Digital Song Sales, Adult Pop Songs.
• International highlights:
  • #1 in Australia, Canada, and Singapore
  • Top 10 in UK, New Zealand, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, and Malaysia.
• Weekly decline on Hot 100: Dropped from #1 to #38 in its second week — historically steepest drop at that time.

Streaming Metrics

• Spotify: Over 1.018 billion streams (as of September 6, 2025), ranking among her top streamed tracks.
• YouTube (Official Music Video): Approximately 157 million views with a daily average of ~92,000 views.
• YouTube Launch Week: Garnered around 30.8 million views in its first week; peaked at #4 on Global YouTube Music Videos chart

Music Video Cast

• Directed by: Taylor Swift
• Starring:
  • Taylor Swift
  • Taeok Lee (backup dancer)
  • Indiana Cheairs
  • Samuel Silver

Lyrics & Translation

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’ve known from that 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 (oh)
Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in
As if you were a mythical thing
Like you were a trophy or a champion ring
And 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 (oh)
They count me out time and time again
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind (oh)
But I come back stronger than a 90’s 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
Guess I should’ve 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
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
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
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

Review & Reception

“Willow” by Taylor Swift is a mesmerizing opener to Evermore, blending chamber-folk and indie-folk influences into a spellbinding, intimate soundscape. Driven by delicate acoustic guitar plucking and soft, entrancing vocals, the track feels both mystical and grounded, weaving a tale of love that’s magnetic, inevitable, and a little bit otherworldly.

Critics praised its dreamlike quality, with some calling it a lyrical standout and others admiring its graceful simplicity, noting that under different production it could easily transform into a pop anthem. Its music video, directed by Swift herself, deepens the enchantment with symbolic imagery of fate and destiny, enhancing the song’s theme of being irresistibly drawn to someone. Both as a standalone single and as the gateway into Evermore, “Willow” succeeds in capturing vulnerability and strength, romance and mystery, all in one hauntingly beautiful package. Keep Reading HitzWow to learn all about the emerging hits.