"Paper Rings" is the eighth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, Lover, released on August 23, 2019, through Republic Records.
Background[]
During the Lover Secret Sessions, Swift explained the meaning behind the song: "The whole song is just basically reminiscing on fun memories. And then in the chorus, it talks about how […], your whole life you talk with your friends about how, like, ‘Oh my God. Do you wanna get married? What do you want your ring to look like? What kind of ring do you want?’ I don’t know, I just feel like if you really love someone, love someone, you’d be like, ‘I don’t care.’ And so, it talks about that concept as the hook."[1]
Spotify storyline[]
Swift discussed several topics within the storyline that accompanied this song on Spotify.
| “ | I wrote "Paper Rings" with this idea of throwback sounds. / We didn't want to use any sounds that were very modern on this song. / The song talks about true love and if you really find true love, you probably don't really care what the symbolism of that love is. / Material things wouldn't matter to you anymore if you found someone that you just wanted to live your life with. | ” |
—Taylor's Spotify story, each slide separated by a slash | ||
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
The moon is high
Like your friends were the night that we first met
Went home and tried to stalk you on the internet
Now I've read all of the books beside your bed
The wine is cold
Like the shoulder that I gave you in the street
Cat and mouse for a month or two or three
Now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe
[Pre-Chorus]
(Ayy)
Kiss me once, 'cause you know I had a long night (Oh)
Kiss me twice, 'cause it's gonna be alright (Uh)
Three times, 'cause I waited my whole life (1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4)
[Chorus]
I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want and
I hate accidents, except when we went from friends to this
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want
In paper rings in picture frames in dirty dreams
Oh, you're the one I want
[Verse 2]
In the winter, in the icy outdoor pool
When you jumped in first, I went in, too
I'm with you even if it makes me blue
Which takes me back
To the color that we painted your brother's wall
Honey, without all the exes, fights, and flaws
We wouldn't be standing here so tall, so
[Pre-Chorus]
(Ayy)
Kiss you once, 'cause I know you had a long night (Oh)
Kiss you twice, 'cause it's gonna be alright (Uh)
Three times, 'cause you waited your whole life (1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4)
Ah
[Chorus]
I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want, and
I hate accidents, except when we went from friends to this
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want
In paper rings in picture frames in dirty dreams
Oh, you're the one I want
[Bridge]
I want to drive away with you
I want your complications, too
I want your dreary Mondays
Wrap your arms around me, baby boy
I want to drive away with you
I want your complications, too
I want your dreary Mondays
Wrap your arms around me, baby boy
Uh-huh
[Chorus]
I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Uh-huh, that's right
You're the one I want
I hate accidents, except when we went from friends to this
Ah-ah, darling, you're the one I want
I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want and
I hate accidents, except when we went from friends to this
Uh-huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want
In paper rings in picture frames in all my dreams
You're the one I want
In paper rings in picture frames in all my dreams
Oh, you're the one I want
[Outro]
You're the one I want, one I want
You're the one I want, one I want
Live performances[]
"Paper Rings" was performed as a surprise song on the Eras Tour on June 23, 2023, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
References[]
| Lover | ||
|---|---|---|
| "I Forgot That You Existed" • "Cruel Summer" • "Lover" • "The Man" • "The Archer" • "I Think He Knows" • "Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince" • "Paper Rings" • "Cornelia Street" • "Death By A Thousand Cuts" • "London Boy" • "Soon You'll Get Better" • "False God" • "You Need to Calm Down" • "Afterglow" • "ME!" • "It's Nice to Have A Friend" • "Daylight" | ||
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