State Of Grace
Written By Taylor Swift
Produced By Taylor Swift & Christopher Rowe
About
From Genius, the ultimate source of music knowledge
Track 1 on "Red".
"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".
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.
Lyrics
[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 (I 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) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
Saw you comin' (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
And I'll never (Never) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
Be the same (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
[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
[Chorus]
And I never (Never) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
Saw you comin' (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
And I'll never (Never) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(So you were never a saint and I loved in shades of wrong)
(We learn to live with the pain)
Be the same (Mosaic broken hearts) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
(But this love is brave and wild) (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
[Outro]
This is a state of grace
This is the worthwhile fight
Love is a ruthless game
Unless you play it good and right