“coney island” marks Swift’s first collaboration with The National after working heavily with band member Aaron Dessner on both the writing and production of evermore and folklore.

Like much of The National’s extensive catalogue, the track is subdued and melancholic sonically. Through the use of back-and-forth conversational lyrics littered with imagery that is rich with bygone experiences, it evokes a heavy feeling of loss and nostalgia for a past relationship where effort was not equal from both sides.

The lyrics contrast with the title location itself–Coney Island–a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York that is famous as a tourist destination for its lively carnival park setting. Additionally, the community district is Brooklyn 13, a number that is particularly special to Swift.