The Archer

Taylor Swift * Track #5 On Lover

Download "The Archer"

Album Lover

ALBUM

Taylor Swift

2019

The Archer by Taylor Swift

Release Date

Tue Jul 23 2019

Performed by

Taylor Swift

Produced by

Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift

Writed by

Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift

About

“The Archer” is a mid-tempo track about Swift’s insecurities in a relationship. It’s the third song released from 2019’s Lover, preceded by “ME!” and “You Need To Calm Down.”

Swift first teased “The Archer” in the music video for “ME!,” which features a scene with a band of Cupid-esque angels—Cupid...

The Archer Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Combat, I'm ready for combat
I say I don't want that, but what if I do?
'Cause cruelty wins in the movies
I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

[Pre-Chorus]
Easy they come, easy they go
I jump from the train, I ride off alone
I never grew up, it's getting so old
Help me hold on to you

[Chorus]
I've been the archer, I've been the prey
Who could ever leave me, darling
But who could stay?

[Verse 2]
Dark side, I search for your dark side
But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?
And I cut off my nose just to spite my face
Then I hate my reflection for years and years

[Pre-Chorus]
I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost
The room is on fire, invisible smoke
And all of my heroes die all alone
Help me hold on to you

[Chorus]
I've been the archer, I've been the prey
Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling
But who could stay?
(I see right through me, I see right through me)

[Bridge]
'Cause they see right through me
They see right through me
They see right through
Can you see right through me?
They see right through
They see right through me
I see right through me
I see right through me

[Pre-Chorus]
All the king's horses, all the king's men
Couldn't put me together again
'Cause all of my enemies started out friends
Help me hold on to you

[Chorus]
I've been the archer, I've been the prey
Who could ever leave me, darling
But who could stay?
(I see right through me, I see right through me)
Who could stay?
Who could stay?
Who could stay?
You could stay
You could stay

[Outro]
Combat, I'm ready for combat

The Archer Q&A

Who wrote The Archer's ?

The Archer was written by Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift.

Who produced The Archer's ?

The Archer was produced by Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift.

When did Taylor Swift release The Archer?

Taylor Swift released The Archer on Tue Jul 23 2019.

How did fans find out about the title?

Despite Swift hosting a livestream on July 23rd, 2019, fans found the title hours earlier through an iTunes “leak,” as well as the duration of the song.

What have the artists said about the song?

In her livestream announcing the song, Taylor acknowledged her tradition of placing the most “honest, emotional, vulnerable, and personal” songs as track five on her albums, which “has definitely happened in the case of this album, ‘Lover’.” She said that the song was not an official single but rath...

What has Taylor said about working with co-writer and producer Jack Antonoff?

During her livestream announcing the song, Taylor discussed working with frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff on the song;

“He is phenomenal, we’ve worked together for a while and I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done on this album.”

How did this song perform on the Billboard charts?

A few days after its release, “The Archer” debuted at #69 on the Hot 100 during the week ending August 3, 2019. The song marks Swift’s 80th entry on the chart.

What has Taylor said the song is about?

Taylor introduced her acoustic performance of this song on BBC Radio 1 with an in-depth analysis of its message and meaning.

This song is about how, maybe in our lives if we’ve been let down, or things haven’t turned out the way that we wanted to in relationships… how often times we can kind of hav...