Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, features a collection of tracks that appear to detail her past relationships, particularly focusing on her experiences with exes Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy. The first track, “Fortnight,” suggests references to both of these relationships, with hints at the end of her romance with Joe and a short-lived fling with Matty. The titular track showcases a shimmering melody and references her mental health, with lyrics hinting at her struggles. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” adds a forceful electronic hum to the album, potentially alluding to heartbreak after splitting from Joe or ending things with Matty.
“Down Bad” sees Taylor referencing mental health again as she describes the fallout from an old relationship, expressing her feelings of infatuation and being ‘down’ without an ex. “So Long, London” appears to be about her British ex Joe and follows up on the hit “London Boy” from her previous album. The track delves into their different approaches to the end of their romance. “But Daddy I Love Him” shows wry humor as Taylor admits to falling for bad boys, laughing off the warnings from critics. “Fresh Out The Slammer” hints at rushing into a new relationship, possibly referencing her renewed connection with Matty.
“Florida!!!” featuring Florence + The Machine is an uplifting song of escape from a small-town life and bad romance. “Guilty As Sin?” is a slice of 1980s-style soft rock, focusing on unrequited love and emotional affairs. In “Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?” Taylor adopts a villain arc, reminiscent of her hit single “Look What You Made Me Do.” “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” delves into her tumultuous relationship with The 1975 rocker Matty, while “loml” explores themes of intense love and loss.
“I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” showcases more 1980s influences with Taylor vowing to remain strong despite romantic strife. “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” is a disdainful ballad that hints at past relationships. Tracks like “The Alchemy” and “Clara Bow” also feature sporting metaphors and draw inspiration from Hollywood figures respectively. Bonus tracks like “The Black Dog” and “Imgonnagetyouback” seem to add layers of depth to Taylor’s storytelling, with references to past relationships and betrayals.
“The Albatross” puns on both a London pub and an omen of doom in folklore, while tracks like “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” delve into rocky relationships and drug use. Taylor seems to reference her ongoing feud with Kim Kardashian in “thanK you aIMee,” while tracks like “I Look in People’s Windows” and “The Prophecy” touch on themes of loneliness, fame, and love. “Cassandra” and “Peter” continue the narrative of relationships gone wrong, with nods to Greek mythology and past loves. “Robin” and “The Manuscript” provide reflective conclusions to the album, sharing themes of innocence lost and past romances.
Overall, Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, serves as a personal exploration of the ups and downs of relationships, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Through a mix of haunting melodies, upbeat tracks, and introspective lyrics, Taylor crafts a musical journey that resonates with fans and allows her to tell her story in a unique and captivating way. With bonus tracks adding even more depth and nuance to the album, Taylor’s latest release is a powerful testament to her growth as an artist and her ability to connect with listeners on a deeply emotional level.
