The 1

The opening track on Taylor Swift's eighth studio album, Folklore, arrives with a gentle piano melody that sets a contemplative tone for the record. Released on October 9, 2020, via Republic Records, the song serves as a narrative exploration of a relationship that never fully materialized. Swift and Aaron Dessner crafted the lyrics to examine the lingering questions of an alternate timeline where things might have worked out differently.

Production duties were split between Dessner and Jack Antonoff, though Dessner handled the primary arrangement and instrumentation. The result is a stripped-back indie folk sound that marked a distinct shift from Swift's previous pop work. Critics noted how the conversational vocal delivery effectively conveyed a sense of melancholic acceptance regarding the past.

Commercially, the single debuted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, securing Swift's thirteenth top-ten hit on the chart. It earned Platinum certification from the RIAA for selling over one million units in the United States. The track also found resonance during the early pandemic months, offering listeners a nostalgic reflection that aligned with the era's mood of isolation. [edit]