Taylor Swift gave her fans an early Christmas present when she announced her surprise Evermore album a day before its release on December 11, 2020. The singer dubbed Evermore a "sister record" to its predecessor, Folklore, which she dropped less than five months previously. Swift recorded both records with Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff and Justin Vernon; they feature more bare-bones arrangements than her previous material with third person fictional narratives rather than personal confessions. This airy love song is Evermore's lead single.

Here, Swift sings of her dedication to her romantic interest. Wherever you stray, I follow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans, that's my man The song is one of the more personal ones on Evermore. While many are imaginary tales, here it is likely Swift is singing of her relationship with her actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn.

Willow trees have long thin branches that flutter in the wind and appear on the surface that they might blow over. However, they have large, tough roots that spread wide underground and keep the tree firm. Here Swift uses the tree as a metaphor for her life before and after she met Joe Alwyn. Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind They count me out time and time again Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind But I come back stronger than a '90s trend In the summer of 2016 Taylor Swift felt her life was out of control in the face of public feuds with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian over the rapper's "Famous" lyrics, and Calvin Harris following the end of their romance. This tumultuous time coincided with her meeting Joe Alwyn. Their relationship was a life raft for the singer and gave her the strong roots she needed during the public disputes.