One thing I really love about Peter by Taylor Swift is the fact that the Piano tune already conveys a message even before the lyrics set in. The somber tune tells us of a person singing from a reflective perspective. As though, they are looking back at a playback of events and they have a lot to say about it.

This song drew the attention of a lot of people because it’s possible reference to Peter Pan. Let’s delve into the lyrics of Peter by Taylor Swift.

Reflection on Childhood and Plea for Forgiveness

“Forgive me, Peter

My lost fearless leader

In closets like cedar

Preserved from when we were just kids”

The song starts by asking for forgiveness from a character named Peter, who the writer still admires and holds in high esteem. The use of the word cedar in the third line is a symbolism of greatness and incorruptibility.

This builds on the fourth line indicating that they built a lot of memories in their childhood and those memories have been kept in closets (hearts), and they remain fresh, incorruptible, untouched by time (like cedar).

“Is it something I did?

The goddess of timing

Once found us beguiling

She said she was trying

Peter, was she lying?

My ribs get the feeling she did”

The writer went on to consider the reasons why it didn’t work out. She wondered if Peter didn’t come back because of something she did. Or was it simply a situation of a great relationship at the wrong time? She believed “the goddess of timing” was going to make of work for them as promised but she has started to think that it was all lies.

Pre-chorus (Hope and reluctance)

“And I didn’t wanna come down

I thought it was just goodbye for now”

The pre-chorus highlights the writer’s initial hope in the relationship. She had hoped it was a temporal goodbye and that they would get back together.

Admiration and Lingering Feelings

“Are you still a mind reader?

A natural scene-stealer?

I’ve heard great things, Peter”

The writer seems to be going back and forth with her sentiments about Peter. She seems to have given up hope about them but then, she cannot seem to give up her admiration for him. The second verse starts with her asking if he is still as perceptive as he used to be. She also asked if he is able to draw attention to himself as he used to? She admits to hearing about how successful he is now. Which suggests that, she still pays attention to news about him.

“And sometimes it gets me

When crossing your jet stream

We both did the best we could do

Underneath the same moon

In different galaxies”

She admits to getting affected by the possibility of meeting him when she finds herself in a place he might be – his jet stream. But the writer also explained how the possibility of meeting each other was quite remote because they were in “different galaxies”.

The Blame game

“You said you were gonna grow up

Then you were gonna come find me

Said you were gonna grow up

Then you were gonna come find me

Said you were gonna grow up

Then you were gonna come find me

Words from the mouths of babes

Promises oceans-deep

But never to keep

Never to keep”

The chorus is a part that instantly draws you in and if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, you will think it is a happy song. In the chorus, the writer shifts the blame from herself to Peter. Here she talks about his promises, and how they remain unfulfilled.

This time, she makes no excuses for him, and at the end of the chorus, she reveals that she no longer expects Peter to keep his promises. She has accepted that he does not intend to keep his promises. This she emphasizes by repeating the phrase “never to keep” two times.

Diminishing Hope, Healing, and Acceptance (A summary of Taylor Swift’s song Peter)

“And I won’t confess that I waited, but I let the lamp burn

As the men masqueraded, I hoped you’d return

With your feet on the ground, tell me all that you’d learned”

The entire bridge is the summary of the song. The writer seems to hate to admit that she waited for Peter but she kept the love and hope alive. She met other men she thought would be like Peter – disguise as what she wanted (masqueraded) but she soon realized that she really wished Peter would return.

“’Cause love’s never lost when perspective is earned

And you said you’d come and get me, but you were twenty-five

And the shelf life of those fantasies has expired

Lost to the “Lost Boys” chapter of your life”

She went on to say that, although a lot of time had passed, his return will still be worth it especially since he would be older and would have more perspective about their love (wiser).

But she quickly pulled herself back to reality by admitting that they may not feel that young love again since it has been so long. The writer mentioning “Lost Boys” directly makes references to the popular Peter Pan story.

“Forgive me, Peter, please know that I tried

To hold on (Hold on) to the days (To the days)

When you were mine

But the woman who sits by the window

Has turned out the light”

The final part of the bridge focuses on how the writer tried so hard to preserve their memories but the spark eventually died down.

How Does Taylor Swift’s Peter connect to the Peter Pan Story?

Interestingly, the entire song can be described as a realistic version of the Peter Pan story. It tells the story in a more relatable way, a situation that many people have experienced.

In all the versions of Peter Pan, Peter was a character who never grew up. He spends his life in an adventurous world with mythical creatures but once in a while, he escapes to the real world and always leaves an impact. He finds love but as soon as he gets back into the adventurous world (Neverland), he forgets his commitments and goes back to his child-like and careless self.

Peter and Wendy – Any Relation to Taylor Swift’s Song Cardigan?

Wendy is a significant character in the Peter Pan version of Peter and Wendy. In this version, Peter’s promises remained unfulfilled to Wendy and that was how Peter eventually lost Wendy. If you have ever listened to Cardigan, this will ring a bell. I am talking about the line “Peter losing Wendy”.

Although Taylor Swift mentioned that Folklore is purely fictional, could Peter from Cardigan be the same Peter described in the song Peter?

Lyrical References to Other Taylor Swift Songs

The phrase “A natural scene-stealer?” reminds us of the word “cinephile” used in the song loml. In case you haven’t looked this up yet, cinephile means someone who is passionate about cinemas.

This may not be a lyrical reference but Taylor loosely plays with the word Waltz in loml and Peter turns out to be a WALTZ. The only waltz on the entire TTPD album. Her first line in loml is “who’s gonna stop us from waltzing back into rekindled flames?…”  This is oddly specific unless these two songs are about the same person.

Final Sentiments of Taylor Swift’s Song Peter

This song Peter by Taylor Swift is about letting go of a young love. One that gave you hope and comfort for a long time. A love you felt you had even when you didn’t have it at that time. You thought it would come back to you when the time was right.

Now, you are older and looking back at that nostalgic love. Now, you are certain you will never have it but the good news is you are healed and are in the place of acceptance.