The Joker and The Queen: lyrics of new Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran song, release date and how to watch video

The new song marks the fourth collaboration between the two artists

Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran are two of the biggest names in the music industry right now, and the two aren’t strangers when it comes to working on songs together, having previously appeared together on tunes like Endgame.

A new collaboration between the two artists has just dropped, The Joker and The Queen, and its music video features an incredible throwback to their song Everything Has Changed which was released in 2012.

This is what you need to know.

What are the lyrics?

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The Joker and The Queen originally appeared on Sheeran’s 2021 album =, alongside tracks like Bad Habits and Shivers.

The new version of the song features an appearance from Taylor Swift, and also enjoys a new verse alongside Sheeran’s original lyrics.

Taylor Swift joins Ed Sheeran on stage at his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden Arena on November 1, 2013 in New York City (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)Taylor Swift joins Ed Sheeran on stage at his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden Arena on November 1, 2013 in New York City (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)
Taylor Swift joins Ed Sheeran on stage at his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden Arena on November 1, 2013 in New York City (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)

The lyrics goes as such, with the new lyrics bolded:

“How was I to know?

It’s a crazy thing

I showed you my hand

And you still let me win

And who was I to say

That this was meant to be?

The road that was broken

Brought us together

And I know you could fall for a thousand kings

And hearts that would give you a diamond ring

When I fold, you see the best in me

The joker and the queen

I’ve been played before

If you hadn’t guessed

So I kept my cards close

To my foolproof vest

But you called my bluff

And saw through all my tells

And then you went all in

And we left together

And I know that you think what makes a king

Is gold, a palace and diamond rings

When I fold, you see the best in me

The joker and the queen

And I know you could fall for a thousand kings

And hearts that would give you a diamond ring

When I folded, you saw the best in me

The joker and the queen

The joker and the queen”

The song was written by Sheeran, Swift, Fred Gibson, Johnny McDaid and Samuel Elliot Roman.

This collaboration marks the first time that Swift has been billed as a featured artist, rather than as the main artist.

How can I watch the music video?

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The music video for The Joker and The Queen dropped on YouTube on Thursday 10 February, and has already racked up over two million views.

The video itself is a sequel to a previous duet of theirs, Everything Has Changed, which was released in 2012.

In Everything Has Changed Ava Ames and Jack Lewis star as younger versions of Swift and Sheeran, meeting for the first time as youngsters and eventually becoming best friends. They sit together at lunch, take the bus home from school together and even show off some dance moves at a school dance.

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2017 (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2017 (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2017 (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

While the video for The Joker and The Queen reunites Ames and Lewis, their characters have grown up and gone their separate ways.

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After the video premiered, Sheeran tweeted: “Me and Taylor first met and wrote + recorded our first song together in 2012, ten years ago now, I’m so so honoured to have her on this song.”

He followed up with another tweet, writing: “Not only is she the best singer/songwriter in the world but she’s also a very close friend, I’m very lucky to have her in my life.

“For the music video we got the kids from our song Everything Has Changed, all grown up and off to college now!”

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