"The 1" (stylized as "the 1") is the first track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album, folklore, released on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records. The song became the second promotional single from the album in Germany on October 9, 2020.
Background[]
Swift confirmed the existence of the song through social media on July 23, 2020.
In Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, Swift said of the song: "I think it has a double meaning. Opening the album with those words, it applies to the situation that the song is written about, where you’re updating a former lover on what your life is like now and trying to be positive about it. But it was also where I am creatively, where it’s, like, “I’m just saying yes, I’m just putting an album out in the worst time you could put one out, I’m just making stuff with someone who I always wanted to make stuff with as long as I’ve been a fan of The National, I’m just gonna say yes to stuff, and it worked out."
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I'm doing good, I'm on some new shit
Been saying "Yes" instead of "No"
I thought I saw you at the bus stop, I didn't though
I hit the ground running each night
I hit the Sunday matinée
You know the greatest films of all time were never made
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I guess you never know, never know
And if you wanted me, you really should've showed
And if you never bleed, you're never gonna grow
And it's alright now
[Chorus]
But we were something, don't you think so?
Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool
And if my wishes came true
It would've been you
In my defense, I have none
For never leaving well enough alone
But it would've been fun
If you would've been the one (Ooh)
[Verse 2]
I had this dream you're doing cool shit
Having adventures on your own
You meet some woman on the internet and take her home
We never painted by the numbers, baby
But we were making it count
You know the greatest loves of all time are over now
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I guess you never know, never know
And it's another day waking up alone
[Chorus]
But we were something, don't you think so?
Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool
And if my wishes came true
It would've been you
In my defense, I have none
For never leaving well enough alone
But it would've been fun
If you would've been the one
[Bridge]
I, I, I persist and resist the temptation to ask you
If one thing had been different
Would everything be different today?
[Chorus]
We were something, don't you think so?
Rosé flowing with your chosen family
And it would've been sweet
If it could've been me
In my defense, I have none
For digging up the grave another time
But it would've been fun
If you would've been the one (Ooh)
Live performances[]
Between March 31, 2023 and March 9, 2024, Swift performed "the 1" as the first song in the folklore section of The Eras Tour, having replaced "invisible string", which was originally performed at the start of the tour. "invisible string" was performed once more on May 5, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, in honor of the bench dedicated to her in Nashville that is referenced in the song. "the 1" was removed from the setlist starting on May 9, 2024. A mashup of "the 1" and "Wonderland" was performed as an Eras Tour surprise song on July 13, 2024, in Milan, Italy.
| folklore | ||
|---|---|---|
| "the 1" • "cardigan" • "the last great american dynasty" • "exile" • "my tears ricochet" • "mirrorball" • "seven" • "august" • "this is me trying" • "illicit affairs" • "invisible string" • "mad woman" • "epiphany" • "betty" • "peace" • "hoax" | ||
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