Context

I think these songs came out of a pretty tumultuous stretch in Taylor’s life: a long run of lows, with a few highs mixed in.

Most of the album seems to orbit Taylor’s relationship with Joe Alwyn, followed by a short and infamous liaison with Matty Healy (who I’ve only ever heard described in two ways: guys saying the funniest stuff, and girls sounding deeply disappointed).

But near the end, it also touches on the Eras Tour and lands on a note of hope, with Travis Kelce. So yeah, this album is massive.

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Standout Songs

Fortnight

On my first listen, this felt like Taylor looking back. With hindsight, the whole Joe-and-Matty situation reads like a brief blip in her life — a fortnight, in the grand scheme of things.

But she still hits some interesting points.

“I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary”

I read the “miracle move-on drug” as Mr. Matty. The word “temporary” makes it feel like he was a rebound, and that her feelings for Joe resurfaced after that.

“Your wife waters flowers, I wanna kill her”

To me, this kind of seals it: she can’t fully get over Joe, and part of her wants to rekindle everything.

Lyrics aside, I loved the track. And I adored the music video with Post Malone. I watched his concert once, and he was unreal — such a family lover and a rockstar.

The Tortured Poets Department

This one sounds hopeful on the surface, but the lyrics carry this quiet tragedy. It feels like a relationship that’s meant to end, but neither person has accepted it yet.

“You left your typewriter at my apartment”

That line felt so specific to me that I had to look it up. Apparently Matty mentioned in a GQ interview that he’s fascinated with typewriters. I’m pretty sure he’s who this one is about.

So Long, London

In my opinion, this is aggressively Joe Alwyn. Side note: my girlfriend says that no matter what you argue, there’ll always be at least one line that keeps it ambiguous — so it’s probably best to form your own take.

“I stopped tryna make him laugh, stopped tryna drill the safe”

“And I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free”

Both lines read like Taylor regretting the almost six years she poured into this relationship, fighting for something that felt one-sided.

I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

After this album, I keep coming back to this song. I’m pretty sure I’m a sucker for joyful beats with devastating lyrics. I might have a juxtaposition kink.

This one feels like it’s about doing the Eras Tour while going through a very public breakup with Joe.

“I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art”

That hit me as weirdly relatable: how sometimes you have to move through life with a smile while you’re dying inside.

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Overall, I really enjoyed this album. Next I’m going to dig into a few songs more deeply (plus the Reddit threads and Insta takes) and see what I missed.

See y’all soon.