"The Joker and the Queen" is a song by Ed Sheeran, released as the sixth track off of his 2022 studio album, = (Equals). A remix of the song featuring Taylor Swift was released as a single on February 11, 2022, which was accompanied by a music video.
Background[]
Prior to the song's release as a single, Sheeran said in an interview that he would be releasing a remix of "The Joker and the Queen" with an American singer. At the BRIT Awards on February 8, 2022, Sheeran announced that the remix of the song featuring Taylor Swift would be coming out that Friday, February 11.
Music video[]
This music video is a sequel to the music video for Swift's 2012 song "Everything Has Changed", which features Sheeran. The two actors who played the main characters in "Everything Has Changed" both star as the same characters in this film, showing a continuation of their story.
An Easter egg hidden in the music video is the text conversation between the two main characters. This conversation fits very closely to one between Taylor and Ed that Taylor had posted on Instagram years ago.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: Ed Sheeran]
How was I to know? It's a crazy thing
I showed you my hand and you still let me win
And who was I to say that this was meant to be?
The road that was broken brought us together
[Chorus: Ed Sheeran]
And I know you could fall for a thousand kings
And hearts that would give you a diamond ring
When I fold, you see the best in me
The joker and the queen
[Verse 2: Taylor Swift with Ed Sheeran]
I've been played before, if you hadn't guessed
So I kept my cards close to my foolproof vest
But you called my bluff (But you called my bluff)
And saw through all my tells (And saw through all my tells)
And then you went all-in
And we left together
[Chorus: Taylor Swift with Ed Sheeran]
And I know you think that what makes a king
Is gold, a palace and diamond rings
When I fold, you see the best in mŠµ
The joker and the queen
[Instrumental break]
[Chorus: Ed Sheeran with Taylor Swift]
And I know you could fall for a thousand kings
And hŠµarts that would give you a diamond ring
When I folded, you saw the best in me
The joker and the queen
The joker and the queen
