Are Taylor Swift’s ‘Query…?’ Lyrics About Harry Kinds?

Though a few of Taylor Swift’s Midnights songs’ topics are simply identifiable (it helps that Swift actually mentioned, for instance, that “Lavender Haze” is about her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn), Swift’s “Query…?” posed extra of a thriller—till Swifties studied the tune sonically. Some identified on Twitter that Swift makes use of the road “I keep in mind” within the first verse, and musically the tune appears a throwback to “Out of the Woods,” a 1989 monitor about her romance with ex-boyfriend Harry Kinds, who she dated from late 2012 to early 2013.

Some identified that Swift and Kinds shared a New Year’s Eve kiss throughout Dick Clark’s Rocking Eve in 2013 (“Did you ever have somebody kiss you in a crowded room? / And each single one in every of your pals was making enjoyable of you (You) / However fifteen seconds latеr they have been clapping, too?”) and that the 2 have been filmed talking at the 2021 Grammy awards, a chance that would have impressed Swift to think about these questions she cites within the tune. Kinds had just started dating Olivia Wilde then (“Does it really feel like every thing’s identical to second-best after that meteor strike? / And what’s that, that I heard, that you just’re nonetheless together with her? / That’s good, I’m positive that’s what’s appropriate / And proper, however tonight.”)

Kinds, for what it’s price, spoke in March 2020 about being flattered by Swift writing songs about him. “I take into consideration what it means to me to jot down a tune about any person else and for any person else to try this, it’s like flattering, even when the tune isn’t that flattering, you continue to frolicked on it and finally, utilizing Taylor for instance, she’s an awesome songwriter. So no less than they’re good songs,” he mentioned.

Taylor Swift and Harry Kinds in 2012

Learn the complete “Query…?” lyrics beneath, with some contextual annotations. You’ll be able to hearken to the tune, too.

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(I keep in mind)

Good woman, unhappy boy, large metropolis, unsuitable selections
We had one factor occurring
I swear that it was one thing ’trigger I don’t keep in mind who I used to be
Earlier than you painted all my nights a colour I’ve looked for since

Right here, Swift seems to nod to 1989’s Harry Kinds-inspired monitor “Model” together with her “good woman” line (“You bought that lengthy hair, slicked again, white T-shirt / And I obtained that good woman religion and a decent little skirt”). “Earlier than you painted all my nights a colour I’ve looked for since” could possibly be a reference to the “Out of the Woods” lyrics, “The remainder of the world was black and white / However we have been in screaming colour.”

However one factor after one other fucking scenario
Circumstances, miscommunications
And I’ve to say, by the way in which
I simply made, like, some explanations

In an interview in 2015, Swift addressed the turbulence of her relationship with Kinds when discussing the inspiration of “Out of the Woods.”

“The primary feeling I felt in the entire relationship was nervousness,” she mentioned. “As a result of it felt very fragile, it felt very tentative. And it all the time felt like, ‘Okay, what’s the subsequent street block? What’s the subsequent factor that’s gonna deter this? How lengthy do we’ve earlier than this turns into simply an terrible mess and we break up? Is it a month? Is it three days?’ And so, you realize, I feel loads of relationships could be very strong and that’s type of what you hope for, for it to be strong and wholesome however that’s not all the time what you get. And it doesn’t imply that it’s not particular and extraordinary simply to have a relationship that’s fragile and someway significant in that fragility.”

Can I ask you a query?
Did you ever have somebody kiss you in a crowded room?
And each single one in every of your pals was making enjoyable of you (You)
However fifteen seconds latеr they have been clapping, too?
Thеn, what did you do?

This could possibly be a reference to Swift and Kinds’ 2013 public New 12 months’s Eve kiss in New York Metropolis, as followers identified on Twitter.

Did you permit her home in the course of the evening? (Oh)
Did you would like you set up extra of a combat? (Oh)
When she mentioned it was an excessive amount of, do you would like you could possibly nonetheless contact her?
It is only a query

Half-moon eyes, unhealthy shock, did you notice?
Out of time, she was in your thoughts
With some dickhead man that you just noticed that evening
However you have been on one thing

It was one drink after one other, fucking politics and gender-roles
And also you’re undecided and I don’t know
Bought swept away within the grey I simply made
Wish to have a dialog

The “gender roles” line could possibly be a reference to Kinds’ personal exploration of gender. The British singer has been fairly open about exploring gender, speaking to L’Officiel about how gender norms are eroding for good purpose. ““Many borders are falling—in trend, but additionally in music, movies, and artwork,” Kinds mentioned. “I don’t suppose individuals are nonetheless in search of this gender differentiation. Even when the masculine and female exist, their limits are the topic of a sport. We not must be this or that. I feel now, individuals are simply making an attempt to be good. In trend and different fields, these parameters are not as strict as earlier than, and it provides rise to nice freedom. It’s stimulating.”

Can I ask you a query?
Did you ever have somebody kiss you in a crowded room?
And each single one in every of your pals was making enjoyable of you (You)
However fifteen seconds later they have been clapping, too?
Then, what did you do?

Did you permit her home in the course of the evening? (Oh)
Did you would like you set up extra of a combat? (Oh)
When she mentioned it was an excessive amount of, do you would like you could possibly nonetheless contact her?
It is only a query

Does it really feel like every thing’s identical to second-best after that meteor strike?
And what’s that, that I heard, that you just’re nonetheless together with her?
That’s good, I’m positive that’s what’s appropriate
And proper, however tonight

Swift could possibly be referencing Kinds’ present romance with Olivia Wilde. Swift and Kinds have been filmed talking at the Grammys in March 2021, simply two months after his romance with Wilde went public. Swift had been dating Joe Alwyn for years at that time.

Can I ask you a query? (Can I ask you a query?)
Did you ever have somebody kiss you in a crowded room? (In a crowded room)
And each single one in every of your pals was making enjoyable of you (You, making enjoyable of you)
However fifteen seconds later they have been clapping, too?
Then what did you do? (Do)

Did you permit her home in the course of the evening? (Oh)
Did you would like you set up extra of a combat? (Oh, extra of a combat)
When she mentioned it was an excessive amount of, do you would like you could possibly nonetheless contact her?
It’s only a query