Willow

## Music Video

**willow** is the first track and the lead single of Taylor's ninth album evermore. It was released on December 11, 2020, along with the music video and album.

## Meaning and Background

Willow is about intrigue, desire and the complexity that goes into wanting someone.

## Music Video

The music video was released on December 11, 2020. It's directed by Taylor Swift herself. The video is a continuation of the cardigan music video. It stars Taeok Lee, one of Taylor's backup dancers during the Red Tour.

**Storyline**

The music video picks up where the cardigan music video left off; Taylor is soaking wet, wearing a cardigan and sitting in front of a piano. She finds a golden thread and follows it into the piano. She ends up in a beautiful forest, all by herself. As she looks into the water, she sees a reflection of her and a man. However, when she looks besides her, he isn’t there and now her own reflection has disappeared. She dives into the water, following the golden thread. She ends up in a tent along with the man as children. They play with the golden thread, but al of sudden the man vanishes. Taylor leaves the tent, ends up in a glass box and performs for a crowd. The man appears, but Taylor can’t be with him because she’s still inside the box. She finds a way out through the floor, following the golden thread again. Taylor ends up walking through the woods with a group of people wearing capes and masks. They gather in a circle and play with the golden energy, doing a witchy ceremony. Taylor notices the golden thread, and follows it. Meanwhile, one of the people wearing masks, takes it off and is revealed to be the man. Taylor arrives at the same place she started, but wears a different outfit. At the end of the golden thread, she sees the man again. They are finally together and walk off into the sunny woods.

**Trivia**

* In a YouTube Q&A, Taylor said that the music video represents the songs seven, exile, mirrorball, invisible string and mad woman.
	+ The fire scene represents mad woman.
	+ One of the scenes shows Taylor and her lover as kids, referring to the song seven.
	+ Taylor being locked up in a box, performing at an abandoned circus, refers to mirrorball and possibly exile.
	+ At the end of the video, Taylor finds a golden string and sees her lover. This is a reference to the line *One single thread of gold tied me to you* from invisible string.
	+ Taylor and her lover walking into daylight at the end of the video, may be a reference to Daylight.
* Taylor mentioned that one of the scenes (presumably the one where Taylor is locked up in a glass box) represents how she feels about fame. There’s also a scene that represents each season throughout the journey of the video.
* During the glass box scene, a poster of a woman with a snake can be seen in the background, referring to either the Reputation era or people calling her a snake.
* The music video has parallels with the ...Ready For It? music video: Taylor is also wearing a cape, they both refer to witch craft and there's a scene where Taylor is locked up in a box.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**
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

**[Chorus]**
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

**[Verse 2]**
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

**[Chorus]**
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

**[Bridge]**
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

**[Verse 3]**
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

**[Chorus]**
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

**[Outro]**
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

## Videos

Taylor Swift - willow (Official Music Video)Taylor Swift - willow (Official Lyric Video)Taylor Swift - willow (dancing witch version) - storyboards from the willow music videoWillowTaylor Swift - cardigan - august - willow (Live From The 63rd GRAMMYs ® - 2021)Taylor Swift - willow - dancing witch version (Elvira remix)Willow (dancing witch version (Elvira Remix))Taylor Swift - willow (lonely witch version) - music video behind the scenesWillow (lonely witch Version)Taylor Swift - willow (moonlit witch version)Willow (moonlit witch Version)Taylor Swift - willow - -yule log-Taylor Swift - willow (dancing witch version) - -yule log-Taylor Swift - willow (lonely witch version) - -yule log-Taylor Swift - willow (moonlit witch version) - -yule log-
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 - Willow YouTube premiere - Taylor Swift Q&A