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“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 is often depicted as an archer, who shoots arrows at people to make them fall in love. Swift later teased it more directly in the music video for “You Need To Calm Down,” when Hayley Kiyoko shot an arrow into a target with a 5 on it.
“The Archer” follows what Swift’s fans deem the “Track #5 Theory,” which surmises that some of Swift’s most vulnerable, emotional tracks are the fifth track on their respective albums.
There’s also a potential connection with the song’s title and Swift’s zodiac sign. Born on December 13, 1989, Swift is a Sagittarius; otherwise known as the archer sign.
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
