"Out of the Woods" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). For the song, Swift was inspired by a romantic relationship of hers that ended sooner than she expected due to the constant anxiety it evoked. Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it is a synth-pop and indietronica song featuring heavy synthesizers, looping drums and layered background vocals. The song was initially released as a promotional single for the album on October 14, 2014, through Big Machine Records.
The song served as 1989's sixth single on January 19, 2016, when Republic Records in partnership with Big Machine released it to US radio stations. Prior to this release, Swift premiered its music video during ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, 2015. The video depicts Swift struggling to escape from a magical forest while battling against nature.
"Out of the Woods" received acclaim from contemporary critics, who lauded its production and Swift's songwriting; Pitchfork ranked it among the best songs of 2014. In the U.S., the song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It reached the top 20 of charts in Australia, Canada, Israel, and New Zealand, and received certifications in the first two mentioned countries and Norway. Swift performed the song on television shows such as Good Morning America, and included it to the set list of the 1989 World Tour (2015).
Last Updated: October 18, 2021
