Writer reacts to Taylor Swift lyrics | The Tortured Poets Department

I'm so glad to be back with you! I wanted to look at four songs from Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department. This album, at first, didn't really strike me as being as strong as some of her others, but as I've listened to the songs in more depth, they've got Taylor Swift's classic writing style threaded throughout them.
Let me know which songs are in your top 5!
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writer reacts to Taylor Swift lyrics | Taylor Swift lyrics analysis | learning from lyrics

[@OnWriting.]

I've missed you!! What are your top 5 from TTPD?

[@dongminrodriguez]

Most of my favorites are from The Anthology, it's "Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus" followed by "Peter" then " loml" then "I Hate it Here" and lastly "How Did It End?"

[@dongminrodriguez]

WE MISSED YOU TOO AHHHH

[@AquamarineWays]

I missed you too! Great vid, loved it. My favourites are: loml, Cassandra, How did it end?, Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus and I hate it here

[@jountainfoanette6717]

My top 5 constantly change. The TTPD original was a grower for me but now I love the whole dang thing! A few that I like but don't listen to often..can't choose top songs.

[@jountainfoanette6717]

The Albatross and The Bolter are also literary references.

[@valentinapena1051]

I don’t know how LOML doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves!

[@OnWriting.]

Psh, it obvi deserves its own video.... ;)

[@ReadWithJose]

That’s my fav from the album… so sad and beautiful ❤️‍🩹

[@markuslagerqvist5130]

Agree it's grown to be my top song, love the writing in it so much - looking forward to a reaction to it! Would also love to se reactions to The Albatross, The Bolter & How Dit It End!

[@samratacharjee6238]

My MOST FAVORITE from the album

[@b.amelia1348]

Favorite one since day one and still remains!

[@michaelcastorino5184]

I think you would like The Manuscript and The Prophecy. Also review the summation poem she wrote for this album, it helps give the album context.

[@user-ez9zr3cv3f]

Many lines in So Long London are influenced by You’re Losing Me. Her face was gray, now it is getting color. Her heart won’t start anymore, she is giving up CPR. Also, in the song Glitch she mentions fastening herself to him “with a stitch” now the stitches undone.

[@OnWriting.]

Just read the lyrics to YLM. Whyyy T.T

[@akashvalsan6609]

Glitch is about Matty Healy. 😅

[@mackenzie1845]

@@akashvalsan6609Um, no. Im getting so tired of people rewriting history to make every song about that guy 🙃

[@primaveradel78]

​@@mackenzie1845 Now Taylor wants us to know the real story, not all that PR and lies she told us before

[@MSerrada1]

​@@akashvalsan6609Difficult to be sure, but if Guilty As Sin is about Matty, he & Taylor never got physical...which she certainly did in Glitch. The reference in both Glitch & So Long London to stitch also ties the song to Joe.

[@bulletproofclifford]

"Old habits die screaming" "Even if I die screaming" she is implying that she felt like an old habit to him, at least that's how i understand it the first time I heard the song

[@jennifermccarthy5201]

I’m not pro football man or anti football man. I am pro- a happy Taylor. What ever brings her joy and fulfillment is what I wish for her. She has saved my life more times than I would like to admit and for that I will always wish her happiness

[@Pt-11]

Peter! I felt like a movie was playing the entire time I listened to it. 10/10.

[@OnWriting.]

Tbh, I still kinda love it :') I really like the sound and story-like quality of it

[@eliasfrancis9782]

I really need you to react to "how did it end" like the words used there are heavy and i need to fully fathom them😂

[@elodiecourtequisse7231]

Yup I need your help on that one too 😅

[@OnWriting.]

Oh goodness, okay!!

[@jimmylu1352]

The way she switched up the lyrics "cause tail between your legs you're leaving" in the black DOG shifted my brain chemistry, it's literally genius. I'd love to see you react to loml and more songs from the anthology, The Albatross, The Manuscript, The Prophecy are some of her best writing!

[@OnWriting.]

Didn't even catch that connection - thanks for adding this!! Love it

[@mm_A]

@@OnWriting. I would also love a reaction to the Albatross, especially since you’re one of the few who would get the double meaning of good and bad from mythology rather than just the current “albatross around the neck” that we’re most familiar with!!

[@uta24]

The album is a grower for sure. Right away I liked the anthology better than the first half, but the whole thing is getting better and better every time I listen to it. Black Dog was one of my immediate favorites, lyrics wise, along with Chloe or Sam or Sofia or Marcus. It's devastatingly sad.

[@OnWriting.]

I liked the Anthology more too!

[@jessicam3707]

So, The Alchemy is a sequel to Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince, where she left the U.S. to be with the London guy. The Alchemy is her returning to the U.S. and being with the football player. It’s both about the relationship AND her relationship with the U.S. and fame. She kind of retreated from the extreme fame she had before, after some drama happened, and now she’s returning to the full limelight. So “that child’s play back in school” may refer to some thing Travis did but it more refers to what she talked about in MA&THP, which made a high school metaphor of both the 2016 election and the drama that happened between Taylor and Kanye West.

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

3:03 I can’t believe this didn’t occur to me before now, but she also references pushing a boulder up the hill in the song. “thanK you aIMee”. You should definitely check that one out as well.

[@sitonyourface956]

the lyrics in this song pair VERY well with "You're Losing Me" In that song she talks about the relationship being sick and being gray in the face. It's great to listen to the two songs back to back.

[@mirandabyrne6882]

Yes! Finally someone points this out

[@VictoriaRayburn]

The more I listen to these 31 songs the more I love them. I get more and more each time I go back to it. How Did it End Peter Prophecy Black Dog I Can Fix Him but lets be honest, I adore them all...

[@Anthology_of_Holly]

This album was a real grower for me, even as an OG Swiftie. It’s a lot to take in at once and it has so many different sounds and vibes. There are so many songs that would be amazing for literary analysis! Hope some of them grow on you

[@OnWriting.]

They definitely have been!!

[@cheysi_desu]

You're one of the few people from KZbin that I trust with your interpretations.

[@OnWriting.]

Oh wow, well thank you! I'm glad :')

[@erinkeister1423]

“Stitches undone” in So Long London makes me think of the thread in Invisible String.

[@zebratroopfan6695]

This album reminds me of Tusk by Fleetwood Mac. Once everyone realized the band was not going to do Rumors again the album started to come alive. I see the same with this album. Not only did everyone have a sound in mind but many believed they knew the subject matter beforehand. Combine that with length people were overwhelmed. This album has layer upon layer. The more you listen the deeper the hole. They have a superficial layer but go much deeper with more listening and a little digging. I found myself reading Greek mythology for the first time in years just to get a deeper understanding of Cassandra. Same with Peter. I never connected Peter Pan because I’ve never been a big fan but my wife immediately heard the references. She knows nothing about her past relationships. This is her best album. It will grow over time in my opinion

[@dongminrodriguez]

I'VE BEEN WAITING I'M SO EXCITED

[@OnWriting.]

You’re so sweet! 🥺

[@larissabarbosa6020]

12:08 at this point no the most clever is the two concepts of altar: the marriage one, that she expected, turning into the sacrifice altar, where he uses her as a sacrifice, deceiving her with what she wanted the most

[@alwayscandace]

I think the ‘how much sad…’ part in So Long London is interesting in context, too. At the beginning of the relationship was when she kind of vanished for a couple years between 1989 and Reputation, when Kanye and Kim did their whole phone call edited tape and everyone had villainized her. She WAS in a super sad, depressed, terrible place. Her whole life/career had blown up in her face. It seems like maybe their energy kind of matched at that point and as she healed, and ran out of ‘sad’ he just couldn’t deal.

[@gaylenwoof]

I'm curious to know which songs you think are skippable. I had a similar reaction on my first listen but now I like all 31 songs (I'm addicted to the album - haven't been able to listen to much of anything else since it came out.) Anyway, I'm interested in the concept of "growers" so, if you happen to notice some that grow on you (or ones that don't grow), I 'd love to hear which ones do/don't grow for you. People have dumped on this album claiming "bad lyrics" in certain places, so I'd love to get your perspective on those, as well as some at the other extreme - songs that swifties are generally going nuts over. In light of all that (& some that are simply my faves) here is my reaction wish list: I Hate It Here Who's Afraid of Little Old Me How Did It End? The Bolter Cassandra Down Bad The Manuscript Guilty as Sin?

[@GrapefruitPizza]

Just boosting this so maybe she'll see your comment lol

[@OnWriting.]

On my first listen, I made a list of the songs I liked and, when I went back to look at it, there were like 20 songs on there XD. So I think I skipped a lot of them, though, because the melodies are repetitive. Only a few REALLY stood out (like Peter, which, I also learned is in my favorite time signature :P so that makes sense...) Buuuut yes! Lots have grown on me. I've been listening mostly to: the Albatross, ICDIWABH, Who's Afraid of Little Old Me, while Peter and SSL remain in my top 5. I have so many to revisit, though! Thanks for leaving your wish list :')

[@alexinhozinho]

something that ive noticed and breaks me everytime: "I am someone who, until recent events You shared your secrets with And your location You forgot to turn it off" it = his location "And so I watch as you walk Into some bar called The Black Dog And pierce new holes in my heart You forgot to turn it off" it = her heart. he forgot to turn her heart off not only his location.

[@OnWriting.]

T.T T.T T.T merrrhhh

[@Foolish_huan]

Girl just do every song. This was brilliant ❤

[@OnWriting.]

Thank youuu and haha for real though...

[@lygourd]

It's interesting you connect "So Long, London" with "The Black Dog" because I think the consensus is that they're about 2 different relationships. Also, I agree with some other commenters that it'd be nice to see you break down "The Prophecy" and "Cassandra" (more Greek mythology references!). I'd add "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys" to the list too. There are just so many layers to her lyrics!

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

Disagree. The Black Dog bar has confirmed that Joe was a regular.

[@carolinamansur113]

I don't think it is a consensus... Everybody I see talking about The Black Dog says it's (mainly, at least) about Joe.

[@mallorymyers7525]

The smoke line points to Matty.

[@OnWriting.]

Ohhh, interesting! It was this section that drew a straight line from Black Dog to SSL for me: And remember How my rain-soaked body was shaking [wet through my clothes, weary bones caught the chill] Do you hate me? Was it hazing? For a cruel fraternity I pledged [I didn't opt in to be your odd man out] Plus, being an old habit - I mean maybe that's because she was sort of connected to MH during her relationship with JA, but I feel like the stagnancy of the latter seems more like an old habit. But idk!! Haha I try to just look at the writing and not worry too much about getting the exact backstory right, but it is interesting that so much of this album was NOT about JA...

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

9:10 See, I interpreted this a little differently. I think she’s saying *HE* killed them both with one gun… that gun being his depression, his lack of commitment, his leading her on, etc. As she says in High Infidelity, “there’s many different ways that you can kill the one you love, the slowest way is never loving them enough”… 💔

[@OnWriting.]

I was wondering about this too! I think you could read it both ways, tbh but yes! Definitely can see it as HE did it, too. Thanks for adding this!

[@laurabolanos9712]

So Long London is my favorite because of the incredible metaphor and visual story telling… like you taught us “show me don’t tell me”. Also… it took me a minute & multiple listens, but on a drive it hit me and omg it made me love the song even more! I think that the verse of “just how long did you think I’d go ‘fore I self implode ‘fore I had to go be free?” is the continuation from going down with the ship. Humans can’t go to the bottom of the ocean because of the pressure, we don’t explode down there - we implode. So she’s visually describing going down with the ship, being dragged down with the weight, the pressure, the slow death, and finally she had to let go, be free, breathe again, and get the color back in her face… …from drowning in the relationship 😭💔

[@OnWriting.]

I've been thinking about this every time I listen to SSL since you said this!! I thought that was a super cool interpretation - thanks for adding it ^.^

[@jessicafrancisco07]

I find it interesting that the line "I died on the altar waiting for the proof" is followed by "You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days". You'll think that the altar was referring to a wedding altar, but you also have sacrifices done in an altar. I love your reaction and analysis, Megan. I want to know what you think of loml and How Did it End? Also, I'm living for the typewriter aesthetic in the background.😂

[@OnWriting.]

OMG YES. "Died on the altar/sacrificed us" that's a great observation - thank you for adding it!! And adding those to the list ^.^ I should've broken out my black typewriter for this...next time! :P

[@jessicafrancisco07]

@@OnWriting. Yay! Looking forward to it. ❤️❤️

[@wpmcdonald]

I love channel. I’m 65 yo. returning to writing stories for my large family. My daughter introduced me to Taylor Swift back when she was in high school. She is remarkable. Keep up the great work.

[@OnWriting.]

Aw, welcome! Glad you're here ^.^

[@AquamarineWays]

IMMEDIATE LIKE! I was waiting for your reaction, considering the lyrics on this album. I love the explanations you give, it always brings new meaning to the lyrics for me. I’m a lyrics girlie all the way! Please react to ‘How did it end?’, ‘I hate it here’ & ‘Cassandra’. I think they are beautifully written and ‘Cassandra’ has some of my favourite lyrics ever. Great video, can’t wait for the next one! ❤️

[@OnWriting.]

Aw you're so sweet! Thank you! Lyrics are LIFE. And How Did it End? is one so many are suggesting - gonna have to move that up the list!

[@evelynalvarez8077]

hi!!! just wanted to say that i'm currently studying english and i love Taylor, so it's very interesting watching your videos.. i get to understand more about her lyrics from a native english person and at the same time i learn a lot of new vocabulary :) hope to see more of your analysis!!

[@OnWriting.]

Aw, love this! Thanks for telling me ^.^ Glad you're here, and I'm glad they're helpful!!

[@juliabreda9450]

In “So long, London” I also think the lyric “I founded the club she’s heard great things about” is kind of a reference to him being put as this hot Hollywood guy since they started dating (because most of us didn’t even know him before that). But I’m always reflecting if that’s what she meant of if it was something more of like the “reformed” him for the better during the relationship

[@OnWriting.]

Ohhh interesting! Yeah I'm chewing on that line as well

[@MeredithHagan]

The Alchemy: “I circled you on a map” is also a really clever reference to the meeting via a celeb dating app. Also “these blokes warmed the benches” is a great way of referring to all her British exes who proved to not be “winners.”

[@Laura-gw5of]

‘How Did It End?’ is a masterpiece lyrically. Please do a video for this one!

[@hiversoul6726]

I’VE BEEN WAITING!!!! ❤ missed your videos so much!! leaving my top 5 ☺️ 1. loml 2. peter 3. i hate it here 4. the prophecy 5. how did it end? pretty sure you’re gonna love all of them!!!!

[@char4980]

please more!!!!! all TTPD tracks deserve a reaction 🥹💕

[@elodiecourtequisse7231]

The smallest man who ever lived is the bomb! And the live version with the marching drums like it s a battle 💔💔💔

[@MikkiHjalmquist]

I think this was written before the super bowl but after they won, T came running to her!

[@Corrah]

I also like that she uses the word "blokes" in "The Alchemy" in reference to two previous flames who happened to be from a place where people use that word... Very interesting indeed~ 🤔🤭 Great analysis!

[@Corrah]

OH! ALSO! "But Daddy I Love Him" is a MUST. The metaphors she uses about the public prying into her personal life and trying to speak on her relationships... it needs the Megan deep-dive!

[@OnWriting.]

I was wondering about that - I didn't realize BOTH her previous flames were English. That makes it make more sense ^.^

[@OnWriting.]

Adding to the list!

[@juliabreda9450]

You reeeeally should listen to “how did it end” ❤

[@gaceofspades]

I really did not see Peter coming. My top 5 (6?) is Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus, I look in peoples Windows, The Prophecy, Guilty as Sin and How did it End?/The Albatross

[@OnWriting.]

Heehee still have a soft spot for Peter!

[@gaceofspades]

@OnWriting. I personally didn't like ot at first, like at all. Mostly cause I don't find Peter pan to be a romantic thing or anything cause in my mind those are just kids and I don't like that thought. HOWEVER, the more I listened, the more I went "you know, it's got a little something" haha.

[@diegocrescente8785]

Interesting why choosing “Alchemy” instead of “Chemistry”, since the main goal of alchemists back in those years was trying to turn everything into gold, which I think could be related to: “Who are we to fight the alchemy?” Like, who are we to stop this thing between us turn into something gold, something “trophy”, “first prize”, etc (my humble opinion)

[@clarrencejakepalermo946]

I’ve missed this girl😊😊

[@OnWriting.]

I've missed youuuu!

[@ghostwritersrus3225]

Yes!!! So excited for this!! 🥰

[@DAngel12086]

I’ve been waiting for this 😊

[@zumo12476]

I liked the album from first listen but it’s definitely one that it takes multiple listens to really appreciate.

[@OnWriting.]

Totally agree!

[@JB-mm4jp]

Guilty as sin is wonderful and she admits to emotional cheating. BTW. "As the men masqueraded", is this a reference to Penelope and Odysseus? Penelope waited more than 10 years at home having to feed the suitors who tried to convince her Odysseus was dead and they would take over his kingdom by marrying her. She fended them off saying she would make her choice once her tapestry was finished but she unwove her work every night to avoid having to accept her fate thereby remaining loyal to someone who would return 10 years later. TS has often used the image of a tapestry. Cassandra was taken by Agmanenon as war booty. The track Cassandra is just before Peter. Also in reference to cedar closets, cedar oil is used to protect clothing from moths that would otherwise destroy them and she uses the word "preserved" - something she wanted to keep.

[@msldela]

Just a quick note from a Canadian living in London - ‘fairy lights’ are what Brits call lights on a string (eg Christmas tree lights, but often the kind you might have up all through the year, around windows or in the garden).

[@OnWriting.]

Yess! We call them that in the US too, I just got caught up on how I’d thought it was “ferry” and left that option out lol 😝

[@MinervaLavender2371]

So glad to see you back! I've missed your reactions! My TTPD Top 5 at the moment are "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me ", "The Black Dog", "I Hate it Here", "The Prophecy", and "The Manuscript ", with honorable mentions for "Fortnight ", and "Cassandra". This list could easily change though.

[@OnWriting.]

There are just so many!!

[@ana_lynn_w2959]

Peter is sooo good .. I love it more each time I hear it.

[@OnWriting.]

Honestly? Same

[@aasthasharma8392]

Been waiting for your reviews. Please do loml, The Prophecy, How did it end, and The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

[@arpitaswain1940]

I've missed you too!! my top 5 from TTPD are, in no particular order: so long london, loml, peter, chloe or sam or sophia or Marcus, I hate it here

[@khadijanedhal4735]

Same!+ how did it end

[@hassaninexile]

You should analyze Clara Bow as well! I love how many different meanings one can get from just those three "celebrity" references in the song.

[@LuizFelipe-kh3iw]

so happy you're baaaack

[@OnWriting.]

Me tooooo! :')

[@eliasfrancis9782]

I was SO waiting for thiss

[@OnWriting.]

Aww :')

[@missblondiee22]

After all of my listens-I Look in Peoples Windows is still my favorite, which is literally the shortest on the whole album. Followed by the Prophecy, Fresh Out the Slammer, Cassandra, and I Hate It Here.

[@allanaaron2281]

I have been waiting for you to drop a video on this album, but when it dropped i am so busy now i am waiting till i can really pay attention and enjoy it. I really hope if not it this video, maybe in a separate video dedicated to it, you can read and analyze her prologue poem for the album "In Summation" But regardless I know i will really enjoy your discussion and thoughts and perspective on this latest work from T.S.

[@madelinewise8692]

I didn't like the album on first listen either. It's so weird because NOW I think it's some of her best work. After repeated listens, I love both albums. Excellent analysis as usual Megan. I really enjoyed listening to your break down.

[@mwcolton11]

SAME!

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you! :') And honestly, same haha

[@sirgnome]

The Prophecy is probably my favorite of all the songs, but I also like loml, The Albatross, and The Bolter

[@buahahaevillaugh1113]

I will never get over how underappreciated Peter is, because it hits in such a specific, buried place. It voices a feeling that is usually left unspoken. We're used to screaming about how in love we are, the hurt and anger of a breakup. But what about when something you knew never had a chance dies, before it even got a moment ro live? Rant incoming, because this thing is loooooong: And you can't even justify feeling this strongly about it, because to everyone else, it was only a fortnight. It shouldn't be this serious. But it is. It was a fortnight you waited for years to have, because you wanted everything to be just right for this, you didn't want to mess it up, so the timing, the circumstances had to be ideal. Finally, the time came. Two weeks later, it's over. What happens when you've spent so long waiting for the right time, because it was important not to mess it up? Then you finally try, even while knowing deep down, it won't work, you try, because you want it to work so bad, and it's like addressing it, finally beginning it, marks its death. It's such a deep sadness, and anger, and betrayal, not directed to the other person, but to some higher power, to the world, to the fates, because it's as if it was meant to happen and meant to left you broken. Peter brings so many other songs in ttpd into perspective. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus (cooler in theory, but not if you force it to be, it just didn't happen), loml (it was momentary, it was unnecessary, should've let it stay buried), How did it End (are they second hand embarrassed.. something counterfeit is dead, it's happening again), the Prophecy (spending my last coin so someone will tell me it will be okay), they come from that same feeling of hopelessness and frustration, of knowing what you want and feeling as if you're doomed to always try to get it, only to end up in the bottom (Sisyphus?). Even in Guilty as Sin she says Am I Allowed to Cry? If I knew all along this was going to happen, to fall apart, if I could see, from the moment it started how inevitable it was for it to die, how come I'm still so heartbroken? If I had a hand in its downfall, am I allowed to still feel sad about it? In Fresh out the Slammer, she tries to reassure herself. It's going to be alright, I did my time. Now that I know better, I will never lose my baby again. She's out of a six year long relationship, where everything came crumbling down. She wants to start that something that had been lying dormant for about a decade, she feels the timing is right, at last. She tells herself she's been in enough pain, that after something so painful something good will come (karma?). But by the end of the song (both Fresh out the Slammer and Guilty as Sin) we realize she's recorded this after the second relationship fell apart too. Hopeful songs full of desire conclude with her almost sobbing while singing them, as if she's seeing what she'd been thinking while writing them and she's been proven wrong. Ttpd is a very long tragic timeline. And the fanbase/media played a pretty significant role in the whole thing spiralling, both times. In But Daddy I Love Him the references are pretty intense, in Florida, in I Hate It Here she says she's going to escape somewhere else where she won't have to listen to all the judgement, in How did it End, in Clara Bow, she adresses how much of an impact her fame/public image had in both relationships. In Who's Afraid of little old Me (At all costs keep your good name), even in Down Bad, I like to think Fuck you if I can't have us, cause fuck it I was in love has a double meaning. It not only adresses the love interest, accusing him of ruining the relationship, it also breaks the fourth wall, accusing us, the fans, of ruining things. I also find it fascinating that most songs can be applied to both relationships AND the meaning of many lyrics changes depending on who you have in mind at that moment. loml is the best example of that. *Peter is also connected to I Can Fix Him, No, Really, I Can. In both songs she talks about how she can change him as a person, how she's waiting for him to grow up. In Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus (just say I loved you the way that you were) there's multiple possible meanings to the lyric: Just say that you liked my previous self but don't like me now that I've changed, or Just say I didn't have to change myself, you would've loved me anyway and tou will love me anyway, or Just say I used to love you how you were, but it's not enough and now I want you to change, to grow up. Let's think about those last two from the opposite perspective. She's telling the other person to change, to become 'better', to 'grow up'. As if she feels she's better than him. He accepts her as she is, but she doesn't. He's not good enough for her. Not anymore. And it's almost as if in Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus she realises how absurd it was of her to expect that of a loved one, to transform to fit into her mold. She realises that to some extent, it was her fault, too, that it ended. That she been putting this pressure on him when she shouldn't have, and it's breaking her heart. (Especially if we take into account that Taylor subtly adjusts her behaviour to fit with the personality of whoever she's dating. So she expected of her partner to do the same, except, being with someone should be because of who they are, not who you want them to be, you shouldn't need to change yourself to be accepted) Love's never Lost When Perspective is Earned. The love was lost because there was no perspective earned. But whose? He didn't see things from her perspective, understand why she wanted him to change, to leave the Lost Boys behind, but she didn't either. She didn't see things from his perspective, couldn't understand that he's never going to grow up, because the Lost Boys is what he chose to be, and she couldn't accept that.

[@mallorymyers7525]

The way she examines the same subjects from so many different angles and over time is fascinating and so true to life. I love it about this album, and the tendrils of it in folklore and midnights. It gives the same depth of enjoyment of a long fantasy novel series. (which is why they call it lore, I guess) Love it.

[@alexhanna2445]

Great video as always 😍 but I especially loved you scribbling in your notebook after each song - made me feel like I’m in class 😂

[@OnWriting.]

Haha I love this! ^.^

[@hkandm4s23]

Yes! i love the recognition for Peter. I feel like it's goes hand in hand with my favorite song. I'm a therapist and i noticed a lot people miss a lot of the meaning of Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus. You should definitely breakdown that one because everyone misses the word 'decade' and gets very confused. I love it as a therapist because so many people feel that regret and guilt if they leave someone they love, only to watch them descend into addiction. The wondering if you could've made a difference or prevented it by loving them is hard for a lot of people, and her going on to describe how they changed in their time apart so he doesn't love her now, that he's turned her into an idea of sorts. There's so many good lines that give context for the whole album.

[@milenadorow33]

Girl, I've missed your videos soooo much. I'm glad you're back

[@OnWriting.]

Aww thank youuu! I'm glad to be back :') And Peter has crept back up there for me. I think my first instinct was spot on :P And I've gotta revisit so many! FOTS is one of them

[@AgentsOfNothing]

I always interpreted the second verse of The Alchemy to be referring to the US and American men in general lol. No idea if that's right, but that's the way I read it!

[@carolinebrayner]

comenting halfway: i love the altar line cause it ties to the fact she wanted to marry him and was waiting there, but also she talks about him sacrificing them, which is also done at an altar, so he was killing her at the altar for his "sad" go

[@OnWriting.]

YESSS I can't believe I didn't catch that. LOVE the double-meaning ^.^ thanks for adding this!

[@caesarq7513]

This album definitely requires time with to grow on you. The bops pop out at first but the slow songs are really beautiful the more you listen to them. ❤

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

​@OnWriting. I am pleased to say my favourite is whichever one of the 31 is currently running through my brain. Currently it is "rhanK you aIMee". A couple of hours ago it was "Peter". I think the "boyfriend" is a cimbination of traits from several real people, fictional people and Taylor's imagination. I cannot believe that half a dozen men can have rhe traits of 200+ songs between them 😁

[@sinizin]

Peter is absolutely in my top 5 Taylor songs ever! I haven't loved a song so much on first listen in years.

[@OnWriting.]

Tbh, as I keep listening to it, I'm like, "no yeah I really like that one" ^.^ I stand by Peter as a top choice ;) haha

[@brixxmartin]

your videos are always a pleasure to watch.

[@OnWriting.]

I'm so glad! :')

[@juliabreda9450]

I kinda knew from the first second that the last song would be Peter haha it felt a lot like your vibe of a song, idk, I thought you would like it (I love it)

[@OnWriting.]

You did?? That's so funny!! Haha it really is my vibe, tbh...

[@Loud_Nimai]

Yes more please!!

[@biasampaio5899]

Megan!! You’re back! I missed you girl! Now, onto the reaction, I’m kinda shocked that you didn’t like more songs on the album, when I first heard it I could not stop thinking about you and how I was sure you’d be dissecting some of those lyrics. I do feel like you should give a few more songs a try because they do have very piercing and beautiful lyrics, like: loml The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? All from the standard version of the album. Now, I know you love the references to other things and I present to you: Cassandra. That song is about Cassandra from Greek mythology (I did a play about her when I was 14), she was this woman who could basically see into the future and everything she ever said would happen, actually came true, but Zeus cursed her to never be heard or believed in again, she tried to warn the city that they would be attacked and no one believed her anymore, and that’s how they were tricked with the Trojan horse, so that song is very interesting if you know that point of view (Taylor also said that’s the perspective she wrote from as well). Then we got The Prophecy, which lyrically is just a masterpiece in my opinion, and you can also find a lot of biblical references in it as well as some mythological ones. Lastly, I think you should give another chance to Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus and How Did It End? Those two have very powerful lyrics when you stop to pay attention to them. So I would suggest, maybe (just maybe) a video on those, perhaps just on Patreon or something like that? Could be great and I’m sure you’d really enjoy those songs if you gave them another listen. I wrote a lot, I’m gonna go, please don’t leave us again

[@OnWriting.]

Aw you're so sweet! Honestly, I looked back at the list I made after my first listen of the songs I liked, and I'd picked like 20 of them LOL so...I think it was just tempting to skip a lot of them because the melodies are fairly repetitive. But yes, that was just my first impression! Ooh thanks for the insight into Cassandra and the Prophecy as well. I'm excited to do more from TTPD! And thank you for writing so much and spending time here!!

[@IanHillan]

Been waiting for this since April 19th!

[@OnWriting.]

You're too sweet :') I'm sorry it took me so long DX

[@alwayscandace]

Also, Peter. 2 of her other exes are also from the UK, and it strikes me as either of them would make more sense. HS because he was younger, so him needing to grow up and come back. But I think it’s MH. The more I listen to songs that seem to be about him it seems like they had one of those relationships where there was tons of chemistry for a long time but timing was never right. Also, the growing up could refer to his drug problem and him needing to ‘grow up’ aka get clean to be with her.

[@davidpacheco268]

Personally, I haven't had a six year relationship end to relate to So Long, London like that, but there's a part at the end of it that makes me ugly cry if I think too much about it. I used to be in love with my birthplace. It used to be my home. When I was at my lowest, it was my safe space. Now that I'm better, I just associate it with my suffering and just need to get away from here as soon as possible. "And I'm just getting color back into my face I'm just mad as hell cause I loved this place For so long, London Had a good run A moment of warm sun But I'm not the one" Just replace "London" with any other place and the feeling is there. Damn it

[@OnWriting.]

UGH

[@sarahgray6157]

Love your videos! If you go back and listen to the first album, try to see it as two interwoven narratives, which Fortnight sets up in a fictional kind of way: One is a long-term relationship that has stagnated despite the narrator's hopes. The other is a past fling from earlier in her life who seems to have been a "what if?" with him, someone who has a "bad boy" persona. As the long-term relationship is crumbling, the other seems to be reviving, providing a possible "answer" to all the loneliness of the long-term relationship. But it fails, too after a brief, hot blaze of passion, leaving the narrator mourning two lives lost. Some songs hint more heavily at the long-term relationship (My Boy, So Long London, How Did it End, I Hate it Here); some hint at the lost love (The Tortured Poets, Down Bad, But Daddy, The Smallest Man, imgonnagetyouback, Chloe et. al., Peter); some discuss both (Fortnight, Fresh Out, Guilty as Sin); and some seem to be ambiguous and could apply to both (loml, The Black Dog, The Albatross). It's quite a story. Mixed in with that are songs about fame and making art, past wrongs from non-loves, youth, and new love.

[@OnWriting.]

This is great! Thanks for adding it ^.^

[@becausemiro]

I think second time she uses phrase “you forgot to turn it off” in a first verse of The Black Dog is referred to her heart and not simply to emphasize the previous statement; “And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog, and pierce new holes in my heart you forgot to turn it off”.

[@OnWriting.]

Yes! Can see that for sure

[@WaltMossberg]

Great to see you’re back and analyzing Taylor. I am still partial to “Peter”, but the whole double album is poetic, packed with great writing. I suggest you do “I can do it with a broken heart”. It’s an upbeat song with very sad lyrics. But first watch the clip from the Eras Tour on YT , starting with two of her dancers reviving her from near-death and pushing her back on stage to do this song. She’s so deeply sad she can’t even do the costume change. They have to do it for her. Then she snaps into the performance, doing it with a broken heart.

[@OnWriting.]

You know what, the more I listened to Peter as I edited, the more I was like, "actually........I still really like it" ^.^ haha. ICDIWABH is so sad T.T would love to take a look at that one with you. I've seen the performance - it really brought a new level to the song! And glad to be back. Thanks for all the support, Walt!

[@camilaalgaranaz2801]

My fav song right now from the album is the prophecy❤

[@andyg7747]

Yeeess been wondering if you were gonna do any videos on TTPD. Happy to see So Long, London and Peter get some more attention. I would love to hear your thoughts on The Manuscript, The Prophecy, and The Bolter. Also it might not seem like it but I think there might be some interesting discussion about So High School and how Taylor creates such a different vibe than the rest of the album.

[@krystalv1189]

I hope How Did it End gets its own video cause that song is so good

[@DrMLE-76]

I always thought the “old habits die screaming” line was in reference to her checking his location- because it wouldn’t just pop up on her screen - and she got burned by checking after they were newly over. I love loml and the religious imagery she repurposes in Guilty as Sin? - so good. The Prophecy is so sad, wanting to trade money and fame for someone who loves her 😢

[@dwicahya]

"How Did It End?" pleaseeeee

[@esthercamarenarodriguez757]

Yayyyy!!!! Finallyyyy ❤🎉

[@chandrixaranas3242]

more!!!❤❤

[@angiepeterson1282]

I’m wondering if the reference to “different galaxies” in Peter is meant to tie Peter to the same relationship as referenced in Down Bad with the alien abduction metaphor. Top 5: Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? The Black Dog Guilty As In? The Prophecy Loml

[@marigolden_mariposa]

she references Sisyphus in thank you Aimee.

[@OnWriting.]

STOP

[@evericed5516]

ahhhhh THE RETURN OF THE QUEEN

[@evericed5516]

btw yessss i was hoping peter was going to be on here. Interested to get your thoughts on loml.

[@OnWriting.]

Haha oh my XD and yes, Peter :'). I'm hoping to do loml soon!

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

Honestly, at 79 i like ALL 31 songs very much. I mention my age because us old folk can also be affected by the narcotics she puts in her songs. London is only a wet cold place in winter. Most days are rsther nice. I suppose that you, like Taylor are describing a fictionalised place and a fictionalised man. After all, it is POETRY🙂

[@OnWriting.]

I'm so glad you like all of them ^.^ And yeah! I was referring to the winters in London. The most common stereotype I've come across (mostly from Brits) is often that for much of the year, London is rather overcast and rainy (with around 11-15 rainy days per month), but I think that's a perfect fit to lean into in So Long, London, given its subject matter. Nothing like rain and fog to highlight the sadness of a breakup T.T Do you have a favorite from the 31?

[@Ricky48888]

Both albums are masterpieces. Faster songs are great too. Not only sad slow songs

[@kristenkeys3273]

I love Peter, it's my #1. I may be biased, though, as both a lover of the story of Peter Pan and a pianist. That simple but beautiful piano accompaniment is a joy to both listen to and play.

[@OnWriting.]

Aw, seems like the perfect song for you!!

[@livelurklaugh]

Missed seeing your videos, glad to see you back. I don't think Peter and So Long London are inspired by the same relationship but hey, it's just a matter of interpretation. also interesting that you're drawn to Peter because of literary reference, because I'm the complete opposite lol. Can't wait for the loml video, it's the home run of the album for me.

[@oriyanbarnes]

In The Black Dog she was the habit he had that died screaming 😢

[@OnWriting.]

Yes UGH T.T

[@grantpanganiban1133]

Tbh, The Anthology was definitely the most powerful and best part of TTPD without a doubt. All of my top 5 are from The Anthology: 1. The Albatross 2. Peter 3. The Black Dog 4. So High School 5. The Bolter

[@OnWriting.]

The Albatrossss yessss

[@OrngePeel]

Chloe or Sam or Sohpia or Marcus is my fave! Guts me every time.

[@gothandwhimsy]

In The Alchemy i get psychiatric hospital vibes. Especially considering the video for Fortnight. Like that brief relationship was a momentary insanity.

[@daveysversion]

I love all these songs!! I hope you can review as well fresh out the slammer, guys as sin, loml and chloe sam sophia or marcus, how did it end, i hate it here and the prophecy as I love these songs as well and wanna here your comments on them. Thank you! Was waiting for this 💖🙏🏻✨

[@gutsed]

I think the songs that have the best writing is probably: So Long, London, loml, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, Clara Bow, and How Did It End

[@frans-jozefhendrickx2267]

I heard the black dog before reading the lyrics and heard " until recent events" as until recently OFFENCE. Even knowing the lyric, as written, I still hear "offence" sung. Do you? Anyway, thanks for this work, I appreciate it.

[@OnWriting.]

Ohhh interesting! I've only ever heard "events" but I can totally see how you'd hear "offense"

[@eevaliisha]

The songs "Peter", "The prophecy" and "Chloe, Sam, Sophia or Marcus" are amazing and my favorite 🙏🏻❤️ I'm sure you would love them too! Storytelling and more poem like. The Anthology songs are so much better, I always just start the album from "The black dog" 😅