“peace” is a calm tune describing Swift’s maturation and changing view of romance. Like August, 2019’s “The Archer,” Swift explains her shortcomings in a relationship and hopes that her partner will stay with her in spite of them. However, unlike her own personal flaws explored in “The Archer,” this song focuses on Swift’s fame — she worries that their lack of privacy could drive her partner away.
Swift spoke about the song in a November 2020 piece for Rolling Stone:
""peace" is actually more rooted in my personal life. [It comes after] carving out a human life within a public life, and how scary that can be when you do fall in love and you meet someone, especially if you’ve met someone who has a very grounded, normal way of living. I, oftentimes, in my anxieties, can control how I am as a person and how normal I act and rationalize things, but I cannot control if there are 20 photographers outside in the bushes and what they do and if they follow our car and if they interrupt our lives. I can’t control if there’s going to be a fake weird headline about us in the news tomorrow. […] I think that in knowing him and being in the relationship I am in now, I have definitely made decisions that have made my life feel more like a real life and less like just a storyline to be commented on in tabloids. Whether that’s deciding where to live, who to hang out with, when to not take a picture — the idea of privacy feels so strange to try to explain, but it’s really just trying to find bits of normalcy. That’s what that song “peace” is talking about. Like, would it be enough if I could never fully achieve the normalcy that we both crave?"
Dessner told Rolling Stone that it uses similar sonic elements to Swift’s December 2020 song “marjorie”:
"[‘marjorie’ is] a track that actually existed for a while, and you can hear elements of it behind the song ‘peace.’ This weird drone that you hear on "peace", if you pay attention to the bridge of ‘marjorie,’ you’ll hear a little bit of that in the distance."
“peace” debuted at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of August 8, 2020.
Peace
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suddenly this summer it's clear
I never had the courage in my convictions
As long as danger is near
And it's just around the corner, darlin'
'Cause it lives in me
No, I could never give you peace
If your cascade ocean wave blues come
All these people think love's for show
But I would die for you in secret
The devil's in the details
But you got a friend in me
Would it be enough
If I could never give you peace?
Your integrity makes me seem small
You paint dreamscapes on the wall
I talk shit with my friends
It's like I'm wastin' your honor
And you know that I'd
Swing with you for the fences
Sit with you in the trenches
Give you my wild, give you a child
Give you the silence that only comes
When two people understand each other
Family that I chose now that I see your brother as my brother
Is it enough?
But there's robbers to the east
Clowns to the West
I'd give you my sunshine
Give you my best
But the rain is always gonna come
If you're standing with me
But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm
If your cascade ocean wave blues come
All these people think love's for show
But I would die for you in secret
The devil's in the details
But you got a friend in me
Would it be enough
If I could never give you peace?
Would it be enough
If I could never give you peace?
Would it be enough
If I could never give you peace?
In the opening lines of Taylor Swift's song "Peace," she acknowledges that her youth has ended and she has grown up. Suddenly, it's clear to her that she has never been confident in her beliefs and convictions when danger lurks around the corners. The central premise of the song revolves around Taylor's belief that she can never give her partner "peace." Taylor associates danger with herself, so giving peace to her partner is impossible since she's always one foot ahead of the next uncertain situation. Taylor Swift's metaphorical reference to herself as a "fire" explains how she assures her partner's heart's warmth but never peace.
The singer loves the person so much that she would "die for you in secret," a statement that speaks to her intense love and devotion to her lover. However, the devil is in the details because Taylor believes this love comes at a price. She talks about her partner's integrity that makes her seem insignificant, which is troubling for Taylor. The singer lives life somewhat recklessly, gossiping with her friends and wasting the honor bestowed upon her. And this worrisome behavior prompts her to question whether her devotion to her partner would be enough, knowing that danger always seems to find her.
Despite the doubt, Taylor is ready to stand by her lover's side even with robbers to the east and clowns to the west, a reference to the challenges they might face. She promises to give her partner her best, but deep down, Taylor Swift acknowledges that "The rain is always gonna come." This line suggests that Taylor could never truly give her partner peace, even if she gave her all. The song ends with the same question Taylor began with: "Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?"
Line by Line Meaning
Our coming of age has come and gone
We have grown up and become adults
Suddenly this summer it's clear
I have just realized something important this summer
I never had the courage in my convictions
I lacked the bravery to firmly believe in myself
As long as danger is near
If there is any risk involved
And it's just around the corner, darlin'
It's always just about to happen
'Cause it lives in me
I am always worried and anxious about it
No, I could never give you peace
I know I cannot give you a calm and safe life
But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm
Even if you have a fragile heart, I will keep you warm and safe
If your cascade ocean wave blues come
If you ever feel lost or overwhelmed
All these people think love's for show
Some people believe love is only for display
But I would die for you in secret
I love you so much that I would sacrifice myself for you
The devil's in the details
The small and subtle things can be a problem
But you got a friend in me
I will always be your friend, no matter what
Would it be enough
Is what I offer sufficient?
If I could never give you peace?
Even if I cannot provide you with a peaceful life?
Your integrity makes me seem small
You are so honest and true that I feel insignificant compared to you
You paint dreamscapes on the wall
You create beautiful and imaginative things
I talk shit with my friends
I gossip and say mean things about people with my friends
It's like I'm wastin' your honor
I feel like I'm not worthy to be around you because I'm not a good person
And you know that I'd
You are aware that I would
Swing with you for the fences
I would take a big risk with you
Sit with you in the trenches
I would be with you during the difficult times
Give you my wild, give you a child
I would give you all of me and have children with you
Give you the silence that only comes
I would be with you and feel comfortable without needing to say anything
When two people understand each other
When we both know each other so well that it feels like we can communicate without speaking
Family that I chose now that I see your brother as my brother
I see your family as my own family now, especially your brother
Is it enough?
Do I offer enough for you?
But there's robbers to the east
There are threats and dangers that come from the east
Clowns to the West
There are also silly and absurd things happening in the west
I'd give you my sunshine
I would give you the best of me
Give you my best
I would always give you my utmost effort
But the rain is always gonna come
There will always be hardships and difficulties in life that we need to face together
If you're standing with me
As long as you are by my side
Would it be enough
Is what I offer sufficient?
If I could never give you peace?
Even if I cannot provide you with a peaceful life?
Would it be enough
Is what I offer sufficient?
If I could never give you peace?
Even if I cannot provide you with a peaceful life?
Would it be enough
Is what I offer sufficient?
If I could never give you peace?
Even if I cannot provide you with a peaceful life?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor A. Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Estefany Gutiérrez
She's basically telling her lover that she will give him anything but peace because she knows how hard and messy her life can be, I can't I'm sobbing
Ma. Althea Exito
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Kaycee Lozada
:(
Zak Kennedy
But the rain is always gonna come if youre standing with me
Teacher Shine
✔️
Amira Gheita
Everyone is constantly on Taylor’s back about how she writes so pettily about her exes, but nobody really appreciates how beautifully she writes about people she loves
twistytrombone
I've seen this comment like 100 times today💀
Mukesh Yadav
Brief pycotic disorder,schizoprenia
soraya
@twistytrombone she didnt lie tho
Goodness Graycious
*loved