"The Prophecy" is the twenty-sixth track from The Anthology edition of American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, released on April 19, 2024 through Republic Records.
Background[]
"The Prophecy" is a track exclusive to the Anthology edition of The Tortured Poets Department. Along with the other Anthology edition tracks, the song was surprise-released at 2:00 AM EST on April 19.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Hand on the throttle
Thought I caught lightning in a bottle
Oh, but it's gone again
And it was written
I got cursed like Eve got bitten
Oh, was it punishment
Pad around when I get home
I guess a lesser woman would’ve lost hope
A greater woman wouldn't beg
But I looked to the sky and said
[Chorus]
Please
I've been on my knees
Change the prophecy
Don't want money
Just someone who wants my company
Let it once be me
Who do I have to speak to
About if they can redo the prophecy?
[Verse 2]
Cards on thе table
Mine play out like fools in a fablе
Oh, it was sinking in (Sinking in, oh)
Slow is the quicksand
Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand
Oh, still I dream of him
[Chorus]
Please
I've been on my knees
Change the prophecy
Don’t want money
Just someone who wants my company
Let it once be me
Who do I have to speak to
About if they can redo the prophecy?
[Bridge]
And I sound like an infant
Feeling like the very last drops of an ink pen
A greater woman stays cool
But I howl like a wolf at the moon
And I look unstable
Gathered with a coven ’round a sorceress’ table
A greater woman has faith
But even statues crumble if they’re made to wait
I’m so afraid I sealed my fate
No sign of soulmates
I’m just a paperweight, in shades of greige
Spending my last coin so someone will tell me it’ll be okay
[Break]
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
[Chorus]
Please
I've been on my knees
Change the prophecy
Don’t want money
Just someone who wants my company
Let it once be me
Who do I have to speak to
About if they can redo the prophecy?
[Post-Chorus]
Who do I have to speak to
To change the prophecy?
[Outro]
Hand on the throttle
Thought I caught lightning in a bottle
Oh, but it’s gone again
Pad around when I get home
I guess a lesser woman would’ve lost hope
A greater woman wouldn’t beg
But I looked to the sky and said (Please)
Audio[]
Live performances[]
"The Prophecy" was performed twice as a surprise song on The Eras Tour: on June 2, 2024 in Lyon, France mashed-up with "long story short", and on November 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana, mashed-up with "This Love".
| THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Fortnight" • "The Tortured Poets Department" • "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys" • "Down Bad" • "So Long, London" • "But Daddy I Love Him" • "Fresh Out The Slammer" • "Florida!!!" • "Guilty as Sin?" • "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" • "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" • "loml" • "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" • "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" • "The Alchemy" • "Clara Bow" | ||
|