𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴

𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 (𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕)

"coney island" marks Swift's first collaboration with The National after working heavily with band member Aaron Dessner on both the writing and production of evermore and folklore.

Like much of The National's extensive catalogue, the track is subdued and melancholic sonically. Through the use of back-and-forth conversational lyrics littered with imagery that is rich with bygone experiences, it evokes a heavy feeling of loss and nostalgia for a past relationship where effort was not equal from both sides.

The lyrics contrast with the title location itself — Coney Island — a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York that is famous as a tourist desk for its lively carnival park setting. Additionally, the community district is Brooklyn 13, a number that is particularly special to Swift.

Lyrics-

[Taylor Swift]
Break my soul in two looking for you
But you're right here
If I can't relate to you anymore
Then who am I related to?
And if this is the long haul
How'd we get here so soon?
Did I close my fist around something delicate?
Did I shatter you?

And I'm sitting on a bench in Coney Island
Wondering where did my baby go?
The fast times, the bright lights, the merry go
Sorry for not making you my centerfold

Over and over
Lost again with no surprises
Disappointments, close your eyes
And it gets colder and colder
When the sun goes down

[Matt Berninger with Taylor Swift]
The question pounds in my head
What's a lifetime of achievement
If I pushed you to the end?
But you were too polite to leave me
And do you miss the rogue
Who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?
Will you forgive my soul
When you're too wise to trust me and too old to care?

[Taylor Swift with Matt Berninger]
'Cause we were like the mall before the internet
It was the one place to be
The mischief, the gift-wrapped suburban dreams
Sorry for not winning you an arcade ring

[Taylor Swift & Matt Berninger]
Over and over
Lost again with no surprises
Disappointments, close your eyes
And it gets colder and colder
When the sun goes down

[Taylor Swift, Matt Berninger, both]
Were you waiting at our old spot
In the tree line
By the gold clock
Did I leave you hanging every single day?
Were you standing in the hallway
With a big cake, happy birthday
Did I paint your bluest skies the darkest gray?
A universe away
And when I got into the accident
The sign that flashed before me was your face
But when I walked up to the podium, I think that I forgot to say your name

[Taylor Swift & Matt Berninger]
I'm on a bench in Coney Island
Wondering where did my baby go?
The fast times, the bright lights, the merry go
Sorry for not making you my centerfold

Over and over
Lost again with no surprises
Disappointments, close your eyes
And it gets colder and colder
When the sun goes down

When the sun goes down
The sight that flashed before me was your face
When the sun goes down
But I think that I forgot to say your name
Over and over
Sorry for not making you my, making you my
Making you my centerfold