Breaking Down The Lyrics of 'The Tortured Poets Department" (PART ONE) | Episode 45

[@EMGGZz]

After 5 days of nonstop TTPD in my veins OF COURSE I’ll need an almost 3 hour lyrical breakdown. I’m sweating TTPD atp.

[@maiyarae3149]

kelly is so on track with loml being about BOTH of those men, she talked in long pond studio sessions that she got so fascinated with The Nationals story telling because they would tell two stories in one song, so I think in a lot of the songs with Aaron she likes to do this.

[@maciedixon3983]

This.

[@kerrisouth]

This helps a lot - thanks!

[@if3rA]

In the Alchemy I think the comeback references are about herself coming back from depression and heartbreak (it also could be about coming back to Kansas from that old interview where she said her favorite place in the world was Kansas when she would visit Abigail at the University of Kansas). Also the line about leaving the hospital, in the epilogue she refers to MH as a manic episode and as cardiac arrest. She also says "I circle you on a map" and I relate that to the early days jokes about her putting him on the map and her saying now I circle him bc he already was in it. THe reference about school it could be about Travis getting suspended in College. Finally, the heroin/heroine line I think it refers to her being treated like a heroine by travis and him praising her constantly (I think she is playing with words and making a dig at MH). HOnestly, for me, it can't be about anyone but Travis, there are too many reference to him.

[@natalyadrake1334]

I agreed with Gia for a while (48 hours) you can really see Matty in this song too. Everyone keeps pointing to the same stuff, football references, trophy… got it got it. But things that pushed over to the Travis side are 1) it’s at the end, after Smallest Man Who Ever Lived. 2) she added to the acceptance playlist on Apple Music 3) this lightbulb moment I just had from the comment above, because I really didn’t understand the heroin with a E. I wonder if Matty use to call her his drug, or being with her was like being on a high… something like that… and now with Travis she’s the heroine!

[@Ksmb1311]

Agree, I think that maybe she was hesitant about another relationship and before that first game she wasn't 100% in, they weren't exclusive and this song is acceptance that she is all in now, so it's time to commit. That line about school could be about something stupid he said about her, used made some jokes in college or something and it could come back when someone remembers it now and she accepts it

[@caitlazers46]

@@natalyadrake1334I think the heroine line is almost a tongue in cheek kind of joke bc matty has struggled w heroin use in the past. “You needed me but you needed drugs more and I couldn’t watch it happen” from CSSM. I can see Travis just talkin shit like “im your heroin but this time with an ‘e’” and …. Then she’s like “those BLOKES warm the benches we’ve been on a winning streak”- her past few relationships have all been douchey English blokes haha

[@kerrisouth]

​@@Ksmb1311She did say they were already "a couple" by that first game. Not sure if that means exclusive.

[@kerrisouth]

​@@caitlazers46I get tripped up on heroine because Travis is severely dyslexic.

[@markbarnwell942]

I am on my fourth uninterrupted listed and I have to say its gets stronger and better with each listen. As I have said earlier this is a real adult album imo. I hope all can appreciate and enjoy, if not here is a useful anecdote. I am almost 64 and like many my age I truly found Taylor during Covid with Folklore and Evermore. My musical heroes MacCartney, Wonder, Mitchell, Sting, Carol King, Springstein etc all had albums that just didnt do it for me. It just happens. Then they follow with one that blows you away again. Support and allow them to continue to evolve grow and get fng better. Rewards always follow.

[@spiritranger9202]

Yes, I agree. This is for the adults who've lived a bit over 30s. That might be why it's getting flack 🤷‍♀️. I believe it's her best ever. Her magnum opus.

[@karaamburgey3415]

The Alchemy is on the Acceptance playlist and TS drew hearts around the handwritten lyrics for this song. It's about Travis. With Matty, it was about "heroin." With Travis, he makes her feel like a "heroine." Also, as an aside, some people think her comment in the Times article that his podcast shoutout was "metal as hell" might have been an easter egg connected to The Alchemy. It would be cruel for TS to use sports imagery in a MH song when everyone would connect it to Travis.

[@reneesmith983]

"metal as hell" would have been so early but maybe she was thinking of including him then? She also ee'd it at the beginning of her tour, in discussing the alchemy of the crowd (alternative definition but same word). I think this is one that evolved over time. I think its about her alchemy with fans / the crowd returning to tour post JA breakup the stage is where she belongs then Matty - where she aldo thought she belonged - who promised to give up heroin to make her the heroine but didn't then Travis for the last part bc with him she went from someone who did heroin to being a heroine. An article by ET from sources (read Tree) confirms its in part Travis. Also the line in So High School, "you know how to ball I know Artistotle". Aristotle is the father of Alchemy.

[@learical13]

The Alchemy seems like it's a mix of Matty, Travis, and mostly the fans/public eye. She's coming back to where she belongs and she's coming back so strong. I think it's a song about returning to get rightful spot after being locked away by the drama of her love life.

[@florencehaber9847]

The Alchemy is not about Taylor's fans. When Taylor sings she is coming back strong it is Taylor being taken to Eagles games by her father when she was young and her father was a huge Eagles fan but Taylor wasn't into going after awhile. And stopped. Now " she is coming back strong" to watch Travis in football but now she loves it. As she had said in an interview during Travis football season, she never knew football was so exciting and she so loves football, the game. The rest of the song is about Travis. The proof also is when Travis came to Paris on her last day of her concert in Paris, Taylor said to the crowd that this is her 87 show which is Travis jersey number and then went into the song The Alchemy wearing for the first time a gold top and red skirt, the Chiefs colors and gold and red lights were streaming. The fans at Paris knew exactly what was going on. The point Taylor made saying it is her 87 show while looking at Travis, singing The Alchemy looking at Travis and pointing at him and the Chiefs colors of an outfit she hadn't worn before until she sang for the first time, The Alchemy. When Travis came to Paris. So High School was done so well in that some of the dancers showed the same faces Taylor made at the football games, the Swag/Surf done at the Chiefs games, and the dances. Taylor played the songs for Travis way before the album was released. The fans in Paris were great.

[@christinehallstone309]

What a beautiful haunting real album. Taylor took us all on her journey of heartbreak and healing through these songs. I can see why she said she had to make it. I think she was stuck in her relationship with Joe and had a fantasy she created of who she wanted Matty to be. The reality was far from the fantasy. That's why she says some wounds were self-inflicted. It sounds like he played into it to a point, but in the end, he never grew up and wasn't ready for Taylor the woman. It's harsh to say, but he did do her a favor in the sense that he gave her the courage to pull the trigger and move on from Joe. He also probably did her the biggest favor by walking away. Drug addicts are difficult to change or deal with. On some level he knew. The hurt really comes from the way he did it in such a cowardly way. She also lost a friend, confident, and collaborator it seems. So, a personal loss on many levels. I never realized they were that close before, but it seems they were. I hope she can close this chapter and move forward in happiness. She sure left it all out there. I'm so proud of her. What courage to open up your wounds for everyone to pick through, hoping we can learn and grow through her pain and see ourselves in her journey. This is what critics will never understand about her connection to her fans. Amazing! She never disappoints. Great break downs from everyone. I appreciate all the hard work.

[@elizabethc185]

Robin is a sweet lullaby to Aaron Dessner’s son. Can't wait to see what she creates for her own child someday.

[@mallorymyers7525]

Same ❤ Once she's happily settled there won't be a shortage of art from her, it will just branch out into other subjects and I'm excited to see it.

[@BrennaMorse-nx4nk]

In Loml, I think the loss is not one particular person, rather it’s abstract. The loss of her life is her childlike idealism of what she believed love is. It isn’t the love story she believed in (and sang about) as a child. Leads us to The Manuscript where she accepts that she’s finally ready to leave the lost boys and the fairytales behind.

[@chloeoshea1111]

Not me getting to the end of this and realising it looks like Kelly is wearing a tiny cowboy hat the entire video 😂

[@kinzaqureshi8911]

Now i cant unsee it

Your into had me in tears …… thank you for defending taylor the way you do ….. This really feels like a safe space Love you guys

[@davidhampson1958]

Watched your reaction video ( loved it ) I did notice some waning towards the end...But that was the same with any of the reactions that stayed up...I say kudos to you all for doing it for us who don't have that talent....Anyone who loves Taylor...I love....I'm a 75 yo granddad...who started listening Taylor in 1999....best thing I ever did...Since listening I have smiled a lot I have cried a lot..I have been happy a lot...I live alone so Taylor is my company ( alas even after 4+ years I cannot remember any song all the way through...losing to many brain cells...It sucks because I'm going to see Taylor in the UK in June ( first time ever :) ) and I would love to have been able to sing along..I'll do what I can :) Thank you for being true Taylor fans and chatting with us fans...There is nothing better than someone who smiles when talking about Taylor like you's two's do...Looking forward to this breakdown..as I am clueless about who or what the songs are about...I know I loved them ALL....Take care and stay safe...and thanks again 💖💖

[@karrahmoore1088]

I clicked so fast I’ve been desperately waiting for this

[@TheJumbrand]

Lol! Me too! Yayyyy!

[@lindseycampbell8081]

heroin with an "e" - a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. That is something Travis would say.

[@teamkerbrat]

Didn’t know he had that level of wordplay in him and I’m so proud of Travvy

[@cryst3l]

I think this would be someone who has done heroin with out the e … obviously

[@sharonrodriguez3547]

I don’t think it’s travis, considering the word play and drug reference…

[@alwaysreading]

Here's my theory: Travis said you're my heroine, but Tay thought he said heroine. then trav said, no like a female hero. =))

[@cinnamontoastbread]

She filled the song to the brim with football references and you still didn't get it?

[@michellehowington369]

In my opinion, the alchemy has got to be about Travis. I just refuse to believe that Taylor Swift would write a love song about Matty with 1 million football references, break up with him, and then keep this as a love song on the album to Matty when of course Travis is a professional football player. That would be too cruel to Travis, right?! Coming after the TSMWEL in the track list points to Travis. The title could be a reference to when Taylor said “metal is hell” in the time person of the year article. In the pictures of the lyrics she has hearts around the word chorus. Saying that she just got out of the hospital because She referred to her relationship with Matty as temporary insanity and healing from that. I’ll admit I’m curious when she wrote it. Was she just manifesting a Super Bowl win? It’s possible!

[@aimeemarie5462]

I dont think he ACTUALLY said "Youre a heroin but this time with an e" to her. I thought it meant that he called her a Heroine, his Superwoman etc etc and SHE thought "Wow, finally im a heroine and its not heroin the drug". If that makes sense. And regarding what travis said... someone joked he was using performance enhancing drugs bc of how well he did in a few of those early games she was at and he said that she was his good luck charm.

[@mallorymyers7525]

The song says you several times, then says "he" says you're a heroin but with an e. So the person saying that (he) might not be the subject (you). I.e. maybe Jack or someone said this guy is into heroine vs the other guy who was into heroin.

[@robertsanssouci2093]

The heroin with an E line is absolutely something Travis would say in real life. It’s been a reference in hip hop since the early 90s

[@mallorymyers7525]

@@robertsanssouci2093 You're the educator we need. Thank you.

[@dfogarty1897]

Clearly heroinE

[@robertsanssouci2093]

@@mallorymyers7525 ❤️❤️❤️

[@sommerthomas7084]

I likes your guys’ reaction a lot but after watching a lot of different reaction videos, I think they go over a lot more when the “reactors” are reading the lyrics as they listen 🥰 Much love to you guys!

[@melisabuckley2873]

This album is for the OG true Swifties because we truly love ❤️ and feel for her pain everyone else can go somewhere because they won't get it and thats fine because they are missing out.

[@tjc4085]

True swifties get her. Her lyrics aren’t accessible to anyone it appears. You need to know her and love her to get it.

[@lexis4490]

Not even a true Swifty and still love it. Musicians are not getting this personal and raw nowadays. The closest we have is Kendrick Lamar.

[@florencehaber9847]

Not so that OG Swifties get and love TTPD. Many Swifties did not and then they said it took them many times of listening to the albums but they don't like all the songs. I loved the TTPD right away. All of it. It is more of a grown up Taylor and the lyrics are outstanding. I was thrilled she inserted songs of TTPD in her Paris concert. With her new outfits and choreography it was special. And her fans in the audience knew the words. Some Swifties were so upset Taylor removed some of her past songs for TTPD and said it was unforgivable by Taylor. What??? They can listen to those songs anytime. Taylor was over those songs. She did great incorporating TTPD in her new concerts. The songs she took out like I said Taylor was over it for her concerts that I appreciate. Taylor said she needed to write TTPD more than any other album she has written. So it has so much more meaning for her. Which is a good thing. Also in her prologue she writes that she has packed up the songs in a box, put away for good as she has healed and doesn't ever intend to revisit that chapter again. The two songs about Travis is her new chapter. So Taylor put away Alwyn, Matty, her other exes, even Kim for good and her new chapter, Travis is the start of a relationship she never experienced before.

[@alyssalee6455]

You were so close on that lyric in But Daddy I Love Him.. “Soon enough the elders had convened down at the city hall Say Away from her”

[@krissypopp9257]

I was getting nervous that we wouldn't have a show, I totally get it! I want you to know that I can die happy now!! We are so lucky to live in the Taylor Era!!❤❤😊

[@BrennaMorse-nx4nk]

The Alchemy: Taylor often writes verses within one song. Verse one is for the fans and the music industry, saying she’s back. She’s coming for her crown with the Eras tour. Verse 2 is Matty. Last verse is Travis.

[@claur9526]

You overlooked the change in the last part of the song But Daddy I love Him… first part is about a past relationship or MH but the last part changes to how happy she is now

[@dreamchaser7603]

Yes!! I thought I was the only one to notice. She also was calling out the creeps who think they can control her personal life. She was like: I didn’t give a F**k then and I don’t give a F**k now what you think!! You didn’t show empathy and respect then, don’t pretend to care now!!

[@florencehaber9847]

​@dreamchaser7603 she said it to the Swifties who called Matty a racist, rat, nazi and she never thought he was a racist etc. He hurt her but the Swifties did not let up when they learned she was dating him. They kept telling Taylor who they want for her and who they don't. They pretended she doesn't drink or curse or was telling her not to drink. And she is a grown woman. She was right. Swifties get her songs after she drops her albums but are not entitled to her personal love life. Swifties would not leave Matty alone when they were dating. He had no peace. And Swifties still think they should know better what is for Taylor and Taylor even wrote it is not out of empath.

[@lisagirouard5833]

I totally noticed this. The last verse switches to present time. One of my favorite songs!

[@TheCraazyLove]

@GhostOfEvermorethat doesn’t mean he approved anything, it’s her daughter at the end of the day, have you seen how he is with her new parter? Haha he raided the Chiefs store to support him, that is approval

[@TheCraazyLove]

@GhostOfEvermore hahahahaha what are you even talking about? I don’t think you are interested that much, did you read her album summary for this because it explains the whole thing

[@caseesmartin1685]

Regarding the Taylor "craze" - please tell me what other artist shares their most vulnerable thoughts, relationships & experiences so intimately with their fans? Taylor used to engage with her fans regularly on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc & she created an unprecedented closeness & intimacy with her fans. This is why they (we) are so defensive about her, because you're not just saying something offensive about my favorite artist, but also my favorite person & someone I genuinely love. I don't think there are many artists who are able to truly reach their fan base like she always has & continues to do. This is why Swifties are so sensitive to criticism about her, not to mention the woman is a literal national treasure as a human AND she's incredibly talented, objectively! PERIODT!!

[@lexis4490]

Other artist talk about generic things, or it's very ego driven. Taylor makes you either feel like you are talking to your friend or creates a song for your life.

[@tjc4085]

it’s not just social media. It’s her songs. She is brilliant and putting to words what so many experience so you just feel like she’s been a part of your life, healing you, helping you, soothing you. Teaching you. She’s like this mother, big sister and so on

[@escalarc]

Tbh, I don't think Taylor was the only one that got hurt. Matty was visibly heartbroken on tour after the breakup.

[@JenniferDomitrovits-xu9df]

With Alchemy, I’m wondering if a Matty song had been written and then Taylor changed the chorus to fit Travis. That would help explain reconcile some of the verses with the chorus. Although, that said, I really think that some of these songs are composite sketches of a period of time rather than being neatly about one particular person (as you guys mentioned). That’s something Taylor has been doing more of since Folk/Evermore.

[@mayareads708]

The Alchemy : to me since she said she was in the hospital that = Travis. Prison time was Joe, then mental hospital was Matty (pretty much the whole album and she clames temporal insanity). So her saying she is getting out of the hospital, breathing, heatlhy. travis ahaha. And I think I havnt been around in so long could just be about dating a guy from the usa. About the Heroin line. I also think it works more for travis. She was dating Matty who is an heroin addict and THIS TIME (meaning travis) it's heroinE.

[@Ayla_Perry]

I just love Travis and Taylor together. It gives me David Beckham and Victoria in the 90s/2000s. It’s just so great to watch and it does feel so high school

[@servicedogkyzanna1761]

I think the Fortnight video is a conglomeration of things- it is a lot about Clara Bow, as well as other things. Taylor had said it points to every corner of this album.

[@erinb4596]

Yes, there is a black dog in the lab scene. I saw someone say that Post represented a few different people- Matty and them writing to each other and at the end of the video when post and Taylor reach for each other is a reference to Travis calling her out when he tried to give her the friendship bracelet she is wearing a bracelet in that shot from the video. But this could be a total coincidence

[@servicedogkyzanna1761]

@@erinb4596 Also- it's a doberman, which are in Blank Space.

[@laurenlittle1981]

2:18:43 I think this part of the song kills me too with the Olivia Rodrigo connections that were being made and with Sabrina too. I feel like this is her saying “i see you and you get to have your spotlight too and i HOPE that one day you get to see this level of fame that I have now”. like her ushering in these new artists and saying “we’re not competing. i’m here for you. and you’re doing great”

[@dreamchaser7603]

I couldn’t wait for your reactions!! It was a mind blowing weekend 🤯😵😬

[@Trish-tb2qy]

The Texas references are driving me crazy so...a quick search...In 2014, Taylor Swift attended several 1975 concerts. At 2 shows in Texas, Matty Healy dedicated the song Robbers to Taylor....In 2014!!

[@diskhmergrl]

I think the Texas references are not to be taken literal. It is in line with the western/country vibes. Areas of the US that are known to be very religious. She has made religion part of her theme in the album and relating them to Matty. Think of it as a dig/jab at him since he’s atheist.

[@dunkingpawn3215]

Album is super high-calibre, amazing songwriting…from the deepest part of Taylor’s heart. She is a very talented all round and needs to be celebrated. Those who don’t are short on ability to comprehend songs or are just biased haters.

[@dolcefarnientes]

i think as far as we know, her and matty reconnected during the making of midnights, when jack was also working with the 1975 for their album. i think there was suppose to be a 1975 collab for midnights but was scrapped. regarding the alchemy: "im coming back so strong" she's finally out of the past 2 heartbreaks; she's finally back to her old self "circled you on a map" all the tiktoks about taylor putting him on the map & here, she's saying he was already on the map & that she just circled him on the map (her putting him in a bigger spotlight with her fame/association). "the child's play back in school" maybe referring to whatever past 'transgressions' he may have had cause obviously when they launched, everyone was trying to dig up whatever dirt they could find on him. somehow i'm thinking about that ex from his dating show that came out & gave an interview saying he was a cheater. "heroin with an e" the last guy she dated used heroin, but THIS time, she's the heroine for him (maybe like a good luck charm as people were saying how he played better with her at the games; or that she's his drug).

[@karaamburgey3415]

Other songs that deserve a second look are Question and The 1 (including the implications of her switching out Invisible String with The 1).

[@BlondeFairy]

Thought on So Long London convo - her and Joe were stagnant Reminds me of Taylor @ Grammys FastCar. We make decision leave tonight or live & die this way.

[@nicolepresta2336]

Great Video ❤️ Heroin with an 'e' is saying this time no drugs are involved that Matty needed to feel these feelings for Taylor. Heroine with a 'e' are natural chemical feelings with Travis. Also the tiny cowboy 🤠 hat on Kelly's head in the video is too cute and funny 🤣 cant wait for part ✌🏼 . Thank you 😊

[@Aric1983]

If fans haven’t read the In Summation Poem Taylor included with the physical album they need to, it really helps set the tone for the album as a whole and the fortnight mv. I think people are focusing so much on the gossip and who each song is about that they are missing that the main muse for the album is TS emotions. She went from a fizzling out long term relationship and jumped straight into the fire with mh. But at their core both relationships are very similar. She rushed into ja, was loved bombed with lots of promises and then waited far too long. She did the same with mh, the difference is it only took a quick run to end up with the same result. In the rushing she never fully processed the end of ja, then she does that through the end of mh. The emotions of the 2 relationships (and in some songs 3 with tk being thrown in on occasion) are interwoven like a braid within songs throughout the album. She is an unreliable narrator and she intentionally created a labyrinth within the songs using redhearing characters to convey her confused emotions about the last 2 years. What better way to leave people guessing and not give them the dirty gossip they want. I won’t give examples because I don’t want to feed into the further dissection, but I think the most obvious one is that Post plays multiple characters in the music video - changing scenes, wardrobes, and tattoos - and she talks to the in the iHeartRadio summary of this song. I think as people sit with these songs more they’ll start to realize just how many songs weave in between all of it. She calls out this gossipy hungry behavior in How did it End? People pose as empaths but really they are just after the gossip, and she’s over it.

[@trish8713]

Healy and Taylor wrote songs together for Midnights but not used (locked in a vault) Jack also produced 1975 album with Healy at the same time. Falling back into a hedge maze “labyrinth”

[@taracrothers8495]

About us all thinking this album would be about the breakup with Joe, I have to say, even though the breakup between Joe and Taylor was announced in April last year, I suspect they were broken up way before that. I also suspect that Taylor may have been with Matty Healy longer than it seemed. Remember she sang Anti-hero at the 1975 concert early last year. I wouldn't be surprised if she was with Matty then.

[@katielafave4543]

see i always think about that 1975 concert, but then Joe was at Taylor's grammy afterparty

[@Whee1ndmud]

@@katielafave4543 they could have broken up and come back together tbh

[@lisagirouard5833]

I have always wondered that too and people talk about the Grammy party but did we ever see a picture of Joe there? The media was saying so but I don’t remember ever seeing a picture of him? Maybe I am wrong.

[@katielafave4543]

@@lisagirouard5833 yes there was a picture of Joe and Jack

[@diskhmergrl]

I agree. I can’t wait to watch videos going back to folklore, evermore and midnights. I need to see the Matty connections to her older songs

[@amandacullinane3208]

The reference to child’s play back in school is to when Travis got in trouble in college and got cut from the team I think tbh

[@juliaullrich2630]

Hot take on the "child's play back in school": Travis' interview where he engaged in that child's play "marry, kiss, or kill" 8 years ago and he picked Katy Perry instead of her to marry, so I think she's saying it's forgiven under her rule. As for the heroine joke, I think he joked that she's his heroine and SHE was relieved that this time it's with an 'e', so that's her adding to his joke. I mean, I know it's not very strong, and I thought MH too, but I can see how Travis also makes sense as a muse here.

[@joyb6141]

when you talked about the piano in the background of loml, it's been driving me nuts trying to figure out what it sounds like from a prior album. i think it sounds very very similar to the very last few notes in champagne problems--like it could almost lead into loml. thinking maybe there's more matty in prior albums than anyone thought...... looking with different eyes at lavender haze, cardigan, champagne problems, midnight rain (references peering through windows--similar to i look in people's windows), the great war, glitch talks about a stitch, about something being counterfeit, supposed to be just friends, etc. definitely think loml is about matty but regardless of if it's him or joe or mix of both, agree that one is definitely going to be played when it's just me because it pretty much makes me sob. so beautifully written and everything in it is great--the background instruments, the melody, the lyrics, the feeling. definitely in my top 5. love your vids!

[@magil127]

This might be her best poetry yet.

[@meganfeverston4586]

Taylor Nation posted the football emoji during The Alchemy in their live listen of TTPD on StationHead last week! I think they were making sure we’re all clear on who that one is about 🤭

[@elizapiotter1396]

The Alchemy and So High are OBVIOUSLY about Travis. Taylor was NOT-SO-SUBTLE about who The Alchemy and So High School are about. The Alchemy vinyls have hearts by the chorus which means Taylor really said,"You guys are NOT taking my man's song and giving it to that rat."

[@sarabeth6897]

1:19:00 the concept of the relief of “I did my time” at the end of a relationship where you know you didn’t bail early, you stuck it out and gave it the space and time to get fixed is 👩‍🍳💋 you can feel the I did what I was supposed to, there’s nothing being held over my head anymore feels. Like she’s reassuring herself and giving herself permission to move on and to close the door on that. 1:24:56 - it’s giving Dear Reader “burn all the files, desert all your past lives” (and the scene in the fortnight video where the papers are being burned) which then circles us back to The Bolter “all her f-ing lives flash before her eyes” and the idea that leaving feels like breathing/freedom 2:14:44 I can definitely see Travis making that joke at Matty’s expense kinda tongue-in-cheek about yeah, this works because of you (the heroine) and also cause there’s no heroin involved

[@itzelimg]

for the alchemy lyric, “We've been on a winning streak. He jokes that it's heroin, but this time with an "E"”. I believe she’s referring to when people and sports news casters were comparing how he played better when she was in attendance than not. So she’s basically jokingly saying in that line, The winning streak isn’t because of any drugs or something else but because of her. For that part “The hospital was a drag Worst sleep that I ever had”, I saw people comparing her time with joe as the hospital then her time with matty as the sleep.

[@dreamchaser7603]

It makes senses! In Fortnite white room represents hospital ( she’s in a wedding dress handcuffed), then she breaks free into a black room with letters and typewriter, everything is meta ( represents a dream)

[@indierock79]

Re The Alchemy: The hospital was a drag, worst sleep I ever had is referencing the mv where she was sleeping in a bed and then was in a hospital which those two are JA and MH. She making a comeback meaning she is moving on. The child's play can refer to the trouble TK got in to in college getting suspended. The sign on your heart is still reserved for me can mean he has always had a crush on her. Plus today April 25 TN pretty much confirmed it with the football emoji and the Spotify canvas shows the very last scene in the mv that zooms in on the bracelet on her arm that looks like the one he has been wearing lately and to rep the friendship bracelet and her sitting on the phone in the rain he comes out more or leas reaches out. I've also seen some words on the street that someone who knows TK asked if there are songs about him and he said at least two songs were about him.

[@Susiehighschool]

For anyone wanting more context, y2kKelsie has made an ongoing TikTok playlist that busted my brain wide open with understanding how deep this all went bc knew so little about the Matty Healy of it all. 1975 & T swift are her decade long faves & I found her info most accurate & in depth ❤ Edit: I wrote this just starting this video so if my brilliant girls cover all of this in the same detail, I just wanted to make it known that it’s no shade bc I’ve been following these girlies for getting close to a year now ❤

[@katherineyakowenko3644]

Love you ladies!! Love to hear your perspective on the new album. Would love to hear you breakdown of the video !!

[@juliaullrich2630]

Love your reactions to listening to TTDP when it first came out and love even more your analysis and comments on each song. Do you think there's any connection between her using the word "grinning" in "grinning like I'm winning" and "he looks up grinning like a devil" that she knows everyone will scream as first bridge at the Eras Tour? Just something that came to my mind when I first heard it.

[@Naniigans]

The Alchemy..Track 15. 8+7=🤔& Taylor adding to the 'I Can Do It With A Broken Heart' Apple playlist I think says a lot too. *V1:* _"Once every few lifetimes; Hit like white wine"_ - NEW love dovey drunk in love feels. _"what if I told you I'm back"_ - Talking to us(fans) like she's been down & lowkey for years, Now shes back strong. Near weekly public outings(Eras, FB games, Dinners, etc.) _"hospital was a drag"_ - "I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary" - Fortnight; MH to ease the pain of JA break. Turns out it was snake oil with even worse side effects. _"worst sleep that I ever had"_ - "You didn't measure up In any measurе of a man" - TSMWEL; JKJK (Maybe?) _"Circle you on map"_ - remember the "Taylor put Trav on the map" days early on haha. Or maybe circling where games are while on tour? _"around so long; coming back so strong"_ - talking to us again I think, like shes back fully healthy mentally emotionally etc. *Chorus:* (sorta speaks for its self to me haha) _"Touch down: Back in America"_ - So Long, London, in more ways than 2. & generic football _"Amateurs cut: ditch clowns get crown"_ - Maybe that Pia manager clown emoji thing yall said haha. Or cut the clowns responsible for the previous 14 tracks. Plus the Ways Trav talks abt her is like placing a crown on her head. _"Sign on heart reserved for me"_ - Still wanting to meet her after the concert no meeting; FS bracelet is the sign? Or the multiple interviews of Trav mentioning Taylor that date back to like 2015. _"Who are we to fight"_ - Felt the connection early on, I mean remember Argentina N2 haha. A slight nod to the invisible steel cable ppl have found between them maybe? *V2:* _"Cool, School forgiven under my rule"_ - Tbh, Gia has a better argument than I can make for Trav as of now. lol. Maybe some inside joke? That school-girl-like love feeling kelly said. Or maybe it was a song revised to fit Travis afterwards.🤷‍♂ _"Comeback where I belong"_ - Again I think meaning back in America on the scene being the pop queen she is. (Fun hindsight parrell - SB afterparty, Trav singing YBWM) *C2:* _"blokes warm the benches; winning streak"_ - MH/JA/the others(possibly hehe) are out of game, warming the bench, While Trav & Taylor relationship just getting better & better like a winning streak. _"Jokes Heroin but with an E"_ - Trav, or even like Jack A. joking that Taylor doesn't have to deal with Heroin(MH) anymore but can still feel that love drug feeling from seeing her as his heroinE. Maybe referencing that "Taylor is his 'performance-enhancing drug'" post-game interview, reach haha. _"sign on heart/Alchemy"_ - See above. *Bridge:* literally just a perfect happy ending for a football love story, but also crazy hindsight parallels with the SB & also _"Shirts off"_ - Jason in buffalo _"No chance being greatest in the league"_ - Sports media for basically the whole season about the Chiefs. _"Trophy? He comes running over to me"_ - TAYLOR IS THE TROPHY(seeing ppl miss that), HE'S RUNNNING TO HER! Instead of say.. walking with his head down.. *all for fun & personal interpretation of course* If you made it this far. Thanks for taking this ride lol. Trav brought me into this swiftie world in turn making me find this podcast & I'm stoked to be here now! Had to throw my 2 cents on this song for Big Yeti. Sorta like Kelly said, doesn't make sense put this obviously lovey song after, "I'll never forgive TSMWEL". That seemingly being the last board nailed up to close that "era" of her life. Tremendous Breakdown Ladies!! Agree that, other than a few, most of the songs interweave things from both situations into them purposely. This isn't for us to break down WHO the songs are about or break down anything else in her life for that matter(BDILH). Seems It was a soul cleansing of sorts she said she *needed* to write. Stories & feelings she's moving on from putting behind her & passing onto us while saying "burn after reading" They're no use to her anymore.

[@bonniemae1397]

Wasn’t she with Matty in the Texas shows and I’ve seen florida is a metaphor for matty

[@valamewa]

I think “one gun, two graves” is a metaphor for How when you end one relationship, two people die.

[@gordonwerner]

My favorite TTPD song is still the one currently playing - and I love that

[@Brianda6793]

“And the old widow goes to the grave everyday, but I don’t, I just seat here and wait, grieving for the living” 😮 gasped when I related that to “still alive, killing time at the cemetery”

[@Shannlee75]

Loved the reaction video, love Swiftie Dave and you guys are amazing ❤

[@hwmusiclover]

In the 1975 song Chocolate, the lyric goes “my car smells like chocolate” chocolate is a code for weed in that song

[@jennaburke18]

SLAYYYYY Taylor Watch ❤️💕

[@Balancehealthyfitness]

The lyrics are in the middle of the song that you were looking for: Growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up at all He was chaos, he was revelry Bedroom eyes like a remedy Soon enough the elders had convened Down at the city hall "Stay away from her" The saboteurs protested too much Lord knows the words

[@Sea.rose41]

Y’all are the best Taylor pod ❤

[@JesseMadrigal-q4z]

No it is there. Soon enough the elders had convened Down at the city hall "Stay away from her" The saboteurs protested too much Lord knows the words we never heard

[@iibooxp]

Hahaha I was like yelling at my tv “no no no it’s there!!”

[@frans-jozefhendrickx2267]

Nice work, thank you. Just a research subject for "How did it end", the beginning reminds me of "This Womans Work" by Kate Bush. She is another genius songwriter that entered the industry at 15 in the late 1970s. Look at Kate's reaction to the intense fame she suffered, imagine waiting nearly 2 decades for the next album!

[@KellyCupit]

FOTS, I also though that the porch light part could be about TK, he actually owns a house and she has learned her lesson and isn’t gonna lose him? Kind of similar to how she pivots in BDILH where she says “Now I'm dancing in my dress in the sun andEven my daddy just loves him”. Just a thought.

[@jonbarta673]

I love how Kelly looks like she's wearing the cowboy hat in the frame above her. Love you guys! 😊

[@PamCaldwell-mv7rf]

71 year old here- she’s a gift.

[@RCM76-f6z]

I am 72yrs old and I’m loving Taylor more and more. Her poetry is amazing. She’s such a talented writer. My friend’s 18yrold daughter kind of got me listening to her and I have definitely been enjoying it all. Jealousy is a really scary thing and there is a lot directed at her. But, she’s so talented that it won’t really matter when the NYT is being so misogynistic along with other male dominated media! Her song “The Man” says it all! Love the new album and love her with Travis! 💚💚💚

[@Trish-tb2qy]

Hi, I'm 49 and I became a fan when I heard Midnights. Before then, I liked a couple songs, but did not listen to entire albums or follow her personal life other than I was shocked when Kanye made a fool of himself at her expense back in 2009. I have now listened to everything and really enjoy about 40% of her music. I'm not much for the sad songs. So many of her songs that I love, I love them so much because the song reminds of a person or time or feeling I had in my own life. She is an incredible story-teller. I love how you see it - the male dominated media and jealousy...it's so spot on. Men are jealous of this woman. What a world we live in.

[@kristenumansky8855]

I don’t think fresh out the slammer feels manic. I can do it with a broken heart is the manic song. And it captures it perfectly 👌

[@xJentaa]

My apparantly non-supported theory (because i have not heard it anywhere) is that Fortnight is about a relationship losing its spark. "Turned into good neighbours" - living in each other vicinity, but there is no passion anymore. Just smalltalk about the weather. "Your wife waters flowers - I want to kill her" in this perspective is talking about herself - how boring she thinks she has gotten and she wishes she could kill this version of herself. The fortnight then talks about the time they did connect, where they did touch each other. I MEAN this is how I first interpreted it, and this is also my favourite way of looking at it. Makes it so interesting.

[@joelleialacci9949]

Wait yes and the music video completely supports it. I think it’s a representation of the cycles of a relationship that’s run its course. And when her and post Malone r in the “tortured poets departments” it represents the mundane relationship that loses its spark. And then they have these brief periods where they are in denial, touching referred to as the “fortnight” Also in the video post Malone doesn’t have tattoos when they are showing affection and happy and the backdrop is the shadow she has in the Style music video, and Style is of course on her denial playlist!! This interpretation makes the most sense to me and no one is talking about it

[@florencehaber9847]

If the relationship is not important, why does she want to kill his wife when she sees her watering the flowers outside?

[@xJentaa]

@@florencehaber9847 If you read my entire comment, you'll see I explain this!

[@lexis4490]

My favorite thing I love/ hate on social media is let's take 5 words from a song and make fun of them or make it a controversy. Easy block if you are going to be dumb.

[@lisagirouard5833]

I feel like she has me in a trance.😂 LOL

[@JuliaStein-v7y]

The lyrics you were looking for Kelly Soon enough, the elders had convened Down at the city hall [Pre-Chorus] "Stay away from her" The saboteurs protested too much Lord knows the words we never heard Just screeching tires and true love

[@spiritranger9202]

I think black dog is actually about Matty, not Joe because the lyrics make more sense for him. I want to point out around 2:02 of Black dog, she talks about how you don't miss me in the shower and "remember how my rain-soaked body was shaking." Matty was at her epic eras tour concert in NASHVILLE where she performed in the rain. So this is after that concert and being in the rain and intimate together 😮.

[@lmkk9118]

Yes, it is about Matty. And the bar is in Cork, Ireland, not England as the Black Dog Pub is trying to capitalize on. Matty performed at the Black Dog bar on June 13th and she recorded the song on June 23 so she wrote the song and recorded it within 10 days of the event. For those that think the song lined up with Joe didn't listen carefully to the lyrics because there was nothing Joe coded in it!

[@nicoleburns3915]

My top favs as a new-ish Gen X Taylor Fan: • Fortnight • TTPD • So Long London • But Daddy I Love Him • Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? • I Can Fix Him • I Can Do it With A Broken Heart • The Smallest Man Who • Ever Lived • The Alchemy • The Black Dog • The Albatross

[@chemistryflavored]

I’ve been playing these two albums nonstop. At this point her music is stronger than the narcotic rumor, I’m pretty sure they are hardwired into my body at this point.

[@MrMunchyMonkey]

I. LOVE. YALL. And this podcast. 😍😍😍😍🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@marinascott-mw9ut]

Is it very possible that a 3rd album will drop like the Beatles did in their Anthology. The typewriter in TTPD had NO and 3 in LA.

[@BriannaFox]

When I think of the Heroin(e) line I think it means He (Travis) jokes it's heroin but this time with an E because with Matty it was heroin

[@anagaby7695]

The Texas reference is her switching for the first time invisible string to the 1 and I think the weekend after she went to Florida and came back to Houston Texas!

[@imscanon]

I have a different take on Clara Bow. I think it's Taylor keeping her power by recreating herself into the next version of herself. She looks like Taylor Swift, but she's different now, better, edgier, etc. She's saying SHE is the next HER so no newbie necessary because she's not going to 'expire' or become obsolete or less relevant because she can just remake herself, as she's done before, to stay relevant and interesting so that no one needs to replace her. Think about it. The whole album was her diary and essentially burning it up and moving on into a new place, a new era. She let it all out so she could let it go and be in the next era and Clara Bow being the last song signifies that she's done that now, that's all past now, and the new Taylor is emerging now. She had her ingenue era, her I deserve to be here era, her rebellious fighting back era, her in love era, her reflective era, and now she's ready to bust out in an IDGAF era doing whatever she wants for HER moreso than US. She reinvents herself so no one will replace her or tire of her. She's a mastermind...remember?

[@stephanieshroyer4157]

I’ve also thought that Clara Bow was also just about herself and finding herself again. And how she was told she looks like other people and then now she’s finally found herself again she’s kind of saying she looks like herself again but she’s tougher and has more edge because she’s been thru it but she’s there again. She’s herself again.

[@lucyk7800]

I really hope yall see this, but I think if anything Taylor is James. She thought about matty (Betty, name similarity, anyone?) all summer (the time she was with Joe). But I also contradict myself because she also says “you crashed my party” which could be a Betty reference

[@lucyk7800]

I also am so with Gia about Alchemy, I think she retconned to make it about Travis

[@deborahhenderson3151]

You need to go back to Evermore to Ivy . That’s a Matty Healy song for sure.

[@marlenadiego]

how does it feel to have my dream job of talking about Taylor swift?

[@chels1993]

alchemy is totally Travis- there are too many football references and I don’t think Taylor would write them in there if she meant to connect them to someone else. When I think of who’s afraid of little old me I think of the industry as a whole. When she makes the circus comment I think of other stars and artists like Amanda bynes, Aaron Carter, Lyndsey Lohan, etc. who started out and were raised in the industry and now or have been train wrecks. Taking out her teeth to me means like contracts, ndas, PR, not being able to express herself the way she feels like she needs to.

[@lmkk9118]

I think The Alchemy was written for Matty, but she ended up ditching the concept of him and changing some of the lyrics to make it fit for Travis. The "child's play" part is forgiving Travis for his old tweets when he was young that everyone was giving him a hard time over

[@crystalberry1234]

Maybe Travis can share this awesome ride with Taylor and make her dreams come true......he's learning guitar 😂 hey who knows...lol

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

I posted a comment elsewhere boting that the 31 tracks were 13 backwards. It got 13 likes and a comment saying someone liked it but was not going to be #14😁

[@MarieWinter-zj3cw]

I think The Alchemy is about her relationship with the fans. She’s coming back so strong, circling dates on the map of her performances, “I’m the one to beat. “. Just a thought…..

[@Rachel-Sparks]

Alchemy is about Travis. ‘Hospital was a drag’, Joe was like jail/slammer and Matty was the hospital. She’s done with the hospital aka Matty and moves onto Travis. She also sings it after TSMWEL, so she can’t go backwards to Matty.

[@angelachristian87]

I personally feel like the alchemy versus are also saying like she’s coming back in the public eye. She’s been gone for too long. And it’s more of that aspect than a relationship. And she then says it’s due to him him being Travis why I’m coming back into the public eye, etc.

[@pamelagoodman7559]

Taylor and Matty both said in interviews that they were just supportive friends since 2014. Matty said it in a podcast interview too

[@TheSunsetPearl]

I have heard theories that all the references to Texas and Florida come from where TS was when all the shit went down. If I remember correctly, she broke up with either Joe or Matt in the middle of playing multiple shows in Arlington, Texas. The next stop on the tour was somewhere in Florida. I’ve even seen some people pin down the exact day, based on changes she made to her set list for each show. Also, on Alchemy, the line “There was no chance trying to be the greatest in the league” could be a reference to the fact that the Chiefs were very much not expected to win the Super Bowl throughout most of the regular season, and I believe were underdogs in terms of the betting odds for all their playoff games. Also also, if you want a good female scream, look up the band Halestorm.

[@TaylorOwen]

Thank you, Amiee is the new Bye Felicia.

[@escalarc]

BTW guys you should check out reputation too, not only folklore and evermore. But everything after reputation it included

[@escalarc]

@Daisy-le9tr huh? What does it have to do with my comment? They were saying they needed to go back and check some albums again I was just suggesting to add reputation there too XD chill

[@hacheck6]

Okay, hear me out. You guys got me thinking about all the Florida and Texas references. She had shows in Florida after she announced the end with JoeA, so it was when she was "free" and was escaping all the drama with him and just celebrating. And the shit storm in Texas is that Matty was going to meet her there due to her tour dates and none of her people wanted her with him? It would also explain the 6 lane Texas highway in "I can fix him..." reference cuz he was there and they were finally together in Texas!? It also might explain the reference in Fortnight that in Florida you can do what you want "freedom" but it won't matter "start up" till she meets Matty and he touches her?!?

[@yorkshiregirl992]

Check out Ivy and The One - they feel so different now!

[@RoseEis10]

If she wrote all of those songs like from past albums about Matty while in a relationship with Joe.... man....tough on Joe. Maybe she told him they were about a past relationship? Maybe they were written while on a break? Like ... Joe's redemption a bit with all this

[@mill15150]

Florida to me has a deeper meaning. Your home is a town that you're a guest in (London with joe) she goes to Florida (new person) in a time share, which is something not long term to escape. Florida is one hell of a drug can I use you up....is the new person taking her mind off her pain. A vacation to a place where you can do some questionable things and not be "yourself"

[@lindaamodeo3061]

Oh man you two got it.

[@belmoon8711]

I really enjoyed your reaction 🫶

[@David_Lee]

2:20:49 The Alchemy