With lyrics inspired by a failed relationship and the ensuing anxieties that Swift experienced, "Out of the Woods" is a synth-pop song with elements of Eurodance and indietronica and features heavy synthesizers, looping drums, and layered background vocals.

The song was released to US pop and hot adult contemporary radio as the album's sixth single on January 19, 2016, by Big Machine in partnership with Republic Records.

Swift performed the song on television shows such as Good Morning America and included it in the set list of the 1989 World Tour (2015).

He used a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer to create most parts of the song, and a Minimoog Voyager for the refrain, which brought forth an "extremely modern" sound that he desired.

[24] Swift ponders over its inevitable end: "Your necklace hanging from my neck the night we couldn't quite forget / When we decided to move the furniture so we could dance / Baby, like we stood a chance.

"[25] The bridge narrates an accident that requires one of the couple to undergo a surgery: "Remember when you hit the brakes too soon / Twenty stitches in a hospital room.

[33] Swift premiered the music video for "Out of the Woods" on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, broadcast on December 31, 2015.

[34] Big Machine and Republic Records released the song to US pop and hot adult contemporary radio stations on January 19, 2016;[35][36] it was the sixth single from 1989.

[42] By May 2016, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) had certified it platinum for one million units based on digital sales and streaming.

[45] In Australia, the song peaked at number 19 on the singles chart[46] and was certified triple-platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

[50] Sam Lansky from Time,[51] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard,[52] Brian Mansfield from USA Today,[13] and Lindsay Zoladz from Vulture praised the production for showcasing Swift's expanding artistry beyond her previous country styles.

[25][54] Lipshutz remarked that although the song was a musical departure for Swift, it was a reminder of her abilities to present "striking, instantly unforgettable images".

[52] Writing for The Independent, Andy Gill argued that the intricate lyrics capturing "dramatic emotional change in a few striking lines" of "Out of the Woods" were rare for a pop song.

[21] Esther Zuckerman of Entertainment Weekly deemed the production generic, but highlighted the lyrics as a testament to Swift's ability to offer emotional engagement in her songs.

[61] Conservationists in the area claimed that the production team breached their permit and endangered a rare native bird by using up to 12 vehicles, an accusation that Swift's crew denied.

[72] Swift played a stripped-down rendition of "Out of the Woods" on piano at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on September 30, 2015; John Blistein from Rolling Stone praised this version over the synth-pop production for better conveying the emotional sentiments of the lyrics.

[75] She also included the song in the set lists of her shows at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin on October 22, 2016,[76] and DirecTV's pre-Super Bowl event Super Saturday Night in Houston on February 4, 2017.

(2023) in Buenos Aires and Paris, included "Clean" (2014) in London, "Getaway Car" (2017) in Milan, "All You Had to Do Was Stay" (2014) in Miami, and with "Us" (2024) in Toronto with American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams.

writer Oscar Gracey said that the cover "makes us want to hike through a forest, find a clearing, and mourn the relationships that didn't quite work out",[81] and The A.V.