Gasoline
by Haim (featuring Taylor Swift)

Album: Women in Music Pt. III (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Songwriters use the word "gasoline" to describe girls who want to party and live life to the full. Often it is used in a sexual context, and here the Haim sisters want the gas to rev their engines and make them go faster.

    You say you wanna go slower but I wanna go faster
    Faster and faster


    Alana Haim recalled to Apple Music: "I think there were parts of that song where we were feeling sexy. I remember I had gone to go get food, and when I came back Danielle had written the bridge. She was like, 'Look what I wrote!' And I was like, 'Oh! Okay!'"
  • The Haim sisters wrote the song with their regular collaborator Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend. She recalled: "The song was a lot slower originally, and then we put that breakbeat-y drumbeat on it and all of a sudden it turned into a funky sort of thing, and it really brought the song to life."
  • Rostam also played the synthesizer, mellotron and acoustic guitar.
  • Danielle Haim recalled her drum work on the song: "I was like literally in a cave of blankets, a fort we created with a really old Camco drum set from the '70s, to make sure we got that dry, tight drum sound."
  • Alana Haim, Danielle Haim, Rostam and the track's co-producer, Ariel Rechtshaid, all play the electric guitar on the track. Danielle recalled: "That slowed-down ending is due to Ariel. He had this crazy EDM filter he stuck on the guitar, and I was like, 'Yes, that's f---ing perfect."
  • The Haim sisters and Taylor Swift are longtime friends, and in 2020 they teamed up for the first time on wax for Swift's Evermore track "No Body, No Crime."

    In February 2021, Haim posted a black-and-white photo showing the three sisters standing in a gas station wearing matching wigs. Eagle-eyed Swifties noticed a petrol pump number 13 in the background and linked it with the pop superstar's favorite number.

    The band teased fans a potential collaboration with Swift again on February 17, 2021 when they posted a Tik Tok with a snippet of "Gasoline." Listeners noticed there were some additional harmonies added in the chorus that sounded like the "Cardigan" hitmaker.

    The following day Haim released the extended edition of Women in Music Pt. III, which included a remix of "Gasoline" featuring additional vocals by Swift. Taylor tweeted, "Cancel the DNA test I'm the 4th Haim sister and this song is the only proof I need."

Comments: 1

  • Cliff from Bradford, EnglandI think the Haim sisters are quite brilliant. One of my favourite videos is Haim at Glastonbury 2014 singing " Honey and I " I was also intrigued with the Haim sisters' collaboration and involvement with Taylor Swift. They all seem to love her equally. Also I like the Haim version of Peter Greene's brilliant song "Oh well" and wonder if they knew anything about the Jewish lad from London's East End who was a blues guitar genius and a brilliant song writer who became famous as a member of the original incarnation of Fleetwood Mac in the 60s. Cheers Cliff
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.