Wood (song)

Last updated

"Wood"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Life of a Showgirl
ReleasedOctober 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)
Studio
  • MXM Studios (Stockholm)
  • Shellback Studios (Stockholm)
  • IMRSV Studios (Stockholm)
  • Studio 112 (Jonstorp)
Genre
Length2:30
Label Republic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Taylor Swift
  • Max Martin
  • Shellback
Lyric video
"Wood" on YouTube

"Wood" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). A synth-pop, pop-funk, dance, and disco track, it features a guitar riff and a prominent horn arrangement. The lyrics contain sexual innuendos and references to superstition.

Contents

Background

On August 13, 2025, Swift announced The Life of a Showgirl as her twelfth studio album during an episode of the podcast New Heights , hosted by NFL player and Swift's now-fiancé Travis Kelce and his brother Jason. [1] "Wood" was revealed on the same day as the album's ninth track. [2]

Composition and lyrics

"Wood" is described as a synth-pop, [3] pop-funk, [4] dance, [5] and disco song. [6] The arrangement includes flugelhorn, cor anglais, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, cello, Clavinet, drums, electric guitar and flute. [7] Some critics compared the song's guitar riff to that of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5. [8] [9]

The song is about Kelce's penis [10] and compares it to a magic wand and a hard rock. [6] [11] The line "new heights of manhood" references Kelce's podcast, New Heights. [12] The lyrics also reference Western cultural associations of luck, including the practice of "knocking on wood", a tradition to avert misfortune, and the superstition that seeing a black cat is an omen of bad luck. [11] [13] In an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon , Swift stated that she had originally intended for the song to be a more "innocent", "throwback kind of timeless-sounding song" about superstitions, but acknowledged that the lyrics had become increasingly racier and more sexual during the songwriting process. [14]

Critical reception

The song was panned by critics, particularly for its lyrics. India Block of The London Standard felt that "Wood" could be confused for a track from "a parody album hallucinated by some porn-addled AI". [15] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian said the song's "laid-back take on disco recalls not the sweaty hedonism of the dancefloor but the late 70s moment where four-to-floor rhythms and chicken-scratch guitar temporarily invaded the oeuvres of west coast singer-songwriters". [6] In Clash , Lauren Hague opined that, while the song fit "the Showgirl aesthetic" and Swift's vocal performance was "gutsy", the lyrics "border on the cringe". [16] Mary Kate Carr of The A.V. Club said the song "feels like an attempt to imitate [Swift's] friend and collaborator Sabrina Carpenter", highlighting how it "borrows heavily from Carpenter's cheeky-sexy shtick, laden with puns and innuendo spun out of superstitions", but felt it was "far less charming and convincing than Carpenter's work". [17] Pitchfork 's Anna Gaca felt the song had the "spiritual energy of bachelorette-party penis décor". [8]

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes. [18]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Wood"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) [19] 50
Australia (ARIA) [20] 5
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100) [21] 44
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [22] 5
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [23] 29
Denmark (Tracklisten) [24] 12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [25] 38
France (SNEP) [26] 59
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [27] 6
Greece International (IFPI) [28] 9
Hong Kong ( Billboard ) [29] 24
India International (IMI) [30] 16
Italy (FIMI) [31] 75
Latvia Streaming (LaIPA) [32] 13
Lithuania (AGATA) [33] 36
Luxembourg ( Billboard ) [34] 12
Malaysia International (RIM) [35] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [36] 6
Norway (IFPI Norge) [37] 21
Philippines (IFPI) [38] 9
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100) [39] 7
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) [40] 45
Portugal (AFP) [41] 13
Singapore (RIAS) [42] 11
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [43] 41
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [44] 36
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [45] 11
United Arab Emirates (IFPI) [46] 12
UK Streaming (OCC) [47] 10
UK Video Streaming (OCC) [48] 67
US Billboard Hot 100 [49] 5

References

  1. ↑ Dailey, Hannah (August 13, 2025). "Taylor Swift reveals Life of a Showgirl release date, album cover & track list featuring Sabrina Carpenter". Billboard . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ Bonner, Mehera (August 13, 2025). "Taylor Swift Reveals Tracklist for The Life of a Showgirl". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "'Wood' is Taylor Swift's Most R-Rated Song — And It's All About Travis Kelce". Parade via Yahoo Entertainment. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hodgkinson, Will (October 3, 2025). "The story behind every song on Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl". The Times. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl is a loved-up pop victory lap". BBC News. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Petridis, Alexis (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl Review – Dull Razzle-Dazzle From a Star Who Seems Frazzled". The Guardian . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Stutsman, Samantha (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl: Listen and Read the Full Credits". People. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Gaca, Anna (October 6, 2025). "Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ Breihan, Tom (October 3, 2025). "Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift 'The Life Of A Showgirl'". Stereogum . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ Handler, Rachel (October 3, 2025). "I Didn't Need to Know All of That About Travis Kelce". Vulture. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Partridge, Ken (October 4, 2025). "Taylor Swift Makes A Bunch Of Sex Jokes On New Song "Wood"". Genius . Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ ""New Heights of Manhood": Taylor Swift References Travis Kelce & Jason Kelce's Podcast in 'Wood' Lyrics". The SportsRush. October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ Law, Angela (October 3, 2025). "I Only Have One Word For Taylor Swift After Listening To 'Wood': Nice". Elle Australia . Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ Olson, Samantha (October 7, 2025). "Taylor Swift Admits 'Wood' Wasn't Meant to Be NSFW: 'It Started Out In a Very Innocent Place'". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  15. ↑ Block, India (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl Review: Penis Metaphors and Poor Little Rich Girl Tales Start to Chafe". The London Standard . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ Hague, Lauren (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl". Clash . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  17. ↑ Carr, Mary Kate (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Takes the Bait on The Life of a Showgirl". The A.V. Club . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  18. ↑ The Life of a Showgirl (booklet). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "Taylor Swift – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Taylor Swift. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 40, 2025". Hitlisten . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Taylor-Swift: Wood" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 41/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 13th October 2025 | Week 41 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 41 (dal 03.10.2025 al 09.10.2025)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Teilore Svifta plūc mūzikas topu uzvaras laurus arī Latvijā" [Taylor Swift also tops the music charts in Latvia] (in Latvian). TV Net  [ lv ]. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  33. ↑ "2025 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  35. ↑ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 41 (03/10/2025-09/10/2025)". RIM. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025– via Facebook.
  36. ↑ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Singel 2025 uke 41". IFPI Norge . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  38. ↑ "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Philippines Chart Top 20 from 10/03/2025 to 10/09/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 14, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 41]
  39. ↑ "Billboard Philippines Hot 100 (Week of October 18, 2025)". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  40. ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 03.10.2025–09.10.2025.) (in Polish). OLiS . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Top 200 Singles Semana 41 de 2025" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 8. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  42. ↑ "The Official Singapore Charts Week 41 (3 - 9 Oct 2025)". RIAS. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  43. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  44. ↑ "100 Songs Weekly". Promusicae . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 41" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  46. ↑ "The Official MENA Chart | Weekly Chart – Week 41, 2025 – 03/10 to 09/10/2025". The Official MENA Chart (Select year 2025, week 41 and UAE chart to view peak.). Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Official Video Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
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