Taylor Swift - State of Grace (Taylor's Version)

“State of Grace (Taylor’s Version)” is an energetic rock anthem that portrays “the feeling of falling in love in an epic way”. Taylor likens the purity of this new love to the religious concept of a “state of grace”, a condition of being “free from mortal sin” where someone becomes “God-like, notably through mercy and love”.

Lyrically, the song serves as a warning for what love can be – both amazing and devastating. Essentially it can go both ways, depending on how we go about it. Throughout the song, we see Swift detailing the beginning of a love with all its possibilities, as well an utterly romantic sentiment and charm about the uncertainty and expectations that come along with any new beginning.

Many Taylor Swift fans assume that the song was written about Jake Gyllenhaal, Taylor’s ex-boyfriend. The pair dated for three months in late 2010, making it Taylor’s most recent public relationship when “State of Grace” was first released.

The connection is suggested through the lyrics “twin fire signs” and “four blue eyes”. Jake’s astrological sign is Sagittarius (a “fire sign”) and he has blue eyes, traits that he has in common with Taylor.

A more sensitive and subdued acoustic version of the song also appears on the album.

Written By: Taylor Swift

Produced By: Christopher Rowe & Taylor Swift

[Verse 1]

I'm walkin' fast through the traffic lights

Busy streets and busy lives

And all we know is touch and go

We are alone with our changing minds

We fall in love 'til it hurts or bleeds

Or fades in time

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you comin'

And I'll never (Never)

Be the same

[Verse 2]

You come around and the armor falls

Pierce the room like a cannonball

Now all we know is don't let go

We are alone, just you and me

Up in your room and our slates are clean

Just twin fire signs, four blue eyes

[Pre-Chorus]

So you were never a saint and I loved in shades of wrong

We learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts

But this love is brave and wild

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you comin'

And I'll never (Never)

Be the same

[Bridge]

This is a state of grace

This is the worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless game

Unless you play it good and right

These are the hands of fate

You're my Achilles heel

This is the golden age

Of something good and right and real

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you comin'

And I'll never

Be the same, oh

And I never (Never)

Saw you comin'

And I'll never (Never)

(So you were never a saint and I loved in shades of wrong)

Be the same (We learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts)

(But this love is brave and wild)

[Outro]

This is a state of grace

This is the worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless game

Unless you play it good and right

Written By: Taylor Swift

Produced By: Nathan Chapman &

Taylor Swift

[Verse 1]

I'm walking fast through the traffic lights

Busy streets and busy lives

And all we know is touch and go

We are alone with our changing minds

We fall in love 'til it hurts or bleeds

Or fades in time

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you coming

And I’ll never (Never)

Be the same

[Verse 2]

You come around and the armor falls

Pierce the room like a cannonball

Now, all we know is don’t let go

We are alone, just you and me

Up in your room and our slates are clean

Just twin fire signs, four blue eyes

[Pre-Chorus]

So you were never a saint

And I've loved in shades of wrong

We learn to live with the pain

Mosaic broken hearts

But this love is brave and wild

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you coming

And I’ll never (Never)

Be the same

[Bridge]

This is a state of grace

This is the worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless game

Unless you play it good and right

These are the hands of fate

You’re my Achilles heel

This is the golden age

Of something good and right and real

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you coming

And I’ll never

Be the same

[Chorus]

And I never (Never)

Saw you coming

And I’ll never (So you were never a saint)

(And I've loved in shades of wrong)

Be the same (We learn to live with the pain)

(Mosaic broken hearts)

(But this love is brave and wild)

[Outro]

This is a state of grace

This is the worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless game

Unless you play it good and right

In “The Stories Behind the Red Songs” Taylor said:

State of Grace is a song I wrote at the beginning process of making this album, and I think it helps to define what the rest of the record is about, just with one line. There’s a line in the song that says ‘Love is a ruthless game, nless you play it good and right’.
That’s kind of like a warning, for the rest of the record. This is what’s going to happen if you don’t play this right. This is what could happen if you do. It almost serves as the perfect kind of warning label for the rest of the record. As soon as you hear that song, there are two ways this could go, you could be good to people, or you could not play fair, and both the outcomes are reflected on the record.

And also in “Good Morning America”:

I wrote this song about when you first fall in love with someone the possibilities, kind of thinking about the different ways that it could go. It’s a really big sound. To me, this sounds like the feeling of falling in love in an epic way

During her preview of the song on ABC’s Good Morning America, Swift described the song as such:

I wrote this song about when you first fall in love with someone — the possibilities, kind of thinking about the different ways that it could go. It’s a really big sound. To me, this sounds like the feeling of falling in love in an epic way.

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