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If you know two songs from Taylor Swift's surprise-released albums Folklore and Evermore, odds are they're probably "Cardigan" and "Willow." Both songs are by far the most streamed on either album and undeniably beloved by fans (even if we thought we were about to get another surprise album announcement every time she posted about another "Willow" remix coming out).
Well, what if I told you those songs allllllmost weren't Taylor Swift songs at all? In a recent interview with the Telegraph, the lead singer of the National, Matt Berninger, revealed that both songs were originally meant for the National. In case you're nor familiar, the National is made up of Matt, Aaron Dessner — Taylor's Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights (3 a.m. Edition) collaborator — and his twin Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf.
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Matt himself was working on lyrics for "Cardigan" and "Willow," but it just wasn't quite clicking. As it turns out, Taylor had reached out to Aaron during the early days of the pandemic to collaborate, asking for song ideas. And so, Aaron sent what they had for her to write lyrics to.
Aaron elaborated, saying, "She made me so much better than I could have ever imagined on my own. It felt like a lightning bolt hit the house. Because I just do what I do. And then she would be like, ‘Here's this elaborately written narrative to your sad piano that you played on "Cardigan."'”
Back in 2020, Aaron actually shared a screenshot of a text conversation between him and Taylor, in which she was incredibly excited after hearing the music and sent over her ideas for the lyrics.
The band also revealed that the reverse has happened too, and some songs initially intended for Taylor ended up being the National songs. Matt said, "I always have a lot of music to work on, and I am looking for something to connect emotionally. The reverse has happened too, where Aaron wrote something for Taylor, and I dove right in. It works both ways."
Matt also hinted that there were "a couple other" unnamed songs that almost weren't Taylor Swift songs, and I already have my clown hat on trying to deduce which ones those could be. Like, I'm genuinely curious which ones y'all think they are. Personally, I have my money on "Cowboy Like Me" (which, admittedly, is my favorite Evermore song), but I cannnnotttt decide which Folklore songs I think they could be!
Well, here's to existing in a world where we get to grace our ears with "Cardigan" and "Willow" (Taylor's Version).
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