Taylor Swift’s eleventh album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was released on Friday, and fans are speculating that the album may be about her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn and rumored fling Matty Healy. However, Swift has not confirmed or denied any fan theories. Fans have been searching for clues in Swift’s lyrics and have pointed to songs like “But Daddy I Love Him” and the title track as possible references to her relationships with Healy and Alwyn.
Swift hinted on Instagram that the album is about a closed chapter in her life, leading fans to analyze her lyrics for clues. Many believe that her brief relationship with Healy inspired certain songs, such as “But Daddy I Love Him,” which addresses the public backlash they received. Additionally, the song “So Long, London” is thought to be about her breakup with Alwyn, with lyrics hinting at a fading relationship.
Some fans have linked references to marriage on the album to a theory that Alwyn did not want to get married. The song “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” includes lyrics suggesting a shattered forever, while “So Long London” mentions waiting for proof at the altar. Fans have also speculated that the song “The Alchemy” may reference Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce, including references to football and a possible Super Bowl win celebration.
In a surprise move, Swift released an additional 15 tracks, subtitled “The Anthology,” just hours after the initial album drop. The album features collaborations with Post Malone and Florence and the Machine. Spotify announced that “The Tortured Poets Department” became the most presaved album in the streaming service’s history. Swift partnered with Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and other companies to promote the album and will release a music video for her song with Post Malone, “Fortnight.”
Swift is known for embedding clues in her music and lyrics, a practice that has led fans to create wild theories about her personal life. She has often teased fans with Easter eggs in her music videos and hidden messages in her CD booklets. Swift admitted to encouraging fans to search for hints, leading to the creation of various fan theories. However, not all theories turn out to be true, such as the debunked idea that she wrote the movie “Argylle.”
The ongoing feud between Swift and Kim Kardashian has been reignited with apparent references to Kardashian in Swift’s lyrics. The conflict dates back to Kanye West interrupting Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009 and resurfaced in 2016 with West’s song “Famous.” Swift has denied giving permission for the controversial lyrics in the song and the feud between the two celebrities continues. Swift has used her music as a platform to express her experiences, relationships, and conflicts, leading to intense speculation among fans.
