Taylor Swift Seems to Drop ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Breakup Lyrics, Fans Question Everything
Taylor Swift Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
The chairman of the Tortured Poets Department has spoken, and she’s dropping lyrical clues.
Taylor Swift took to Instagram on Sunday, April 14, to promote Target’s phantom clear vinyl edition of her The Tortured Poets Department album, commenting a cryptic quote in the process.
“I wish I could un-recall how we almost had it all,” Swift, 34, wrote, presumably quoting lyrics from the record.
While Swift did not further reveal the meaning of the quote or where it’s from, social media fans have frantically been trying to come up with an explanation.
Taylor Swift is treating her fans to more than one version of her upcoming 11th studio album. Three editions of The Tortured Poets Department, the original and two bonus versions, will be released on Friday, April 19. In addition to the 16 songs from the standard edition, each album variation will feature one of three […]
“Taylor’s new album has already broken me before it’s been released,” one fan wrote alongside Swift’s original line via X on Sunday.
Another added, “I just woke up SO hungover and the first thing I see is ‘I wish I could un-recall how much we almost had it all.’ SO THATS JUST GREAT.”
Taylor Swift Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Others pointed out that the line is “so f—king sad” and that the LP “is going to destroy” everyone. Further fan theories speculate that Swift is likely referring to her past relationship with Joe Alwyn, whom she dated between 2016 and early 2023.
“When I catch you, Joe,” a social media user quipped as others jokingly implored the actor, 33, to “pay for [their] therapy” when the album drops.
Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images While Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department came as a surprise to fans, the pop star seemingly left several Easter eggs hinting that her 11th studio album was on its way. Swift revealed her latest musical endeavor while accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album — her 13th career win — […]
Swift announced at the Grammys earlier this year that her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, would be released on April 19. The record, which she wrote once 2022’s Midnights was completed, helped her cope with a presumably difficult time.
“I needed to make [TTPD]. It was really a lifeline for me,” she said during a February concert in Australia. “It sort of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through life and I’ve never had an album where I’ve needed songwriting more than I needed it on Tortured Poets.”
While Swift has not further shared her lyrical inspiration, her fans have theorized that the album is predominately about Alwyn and their breakup based on the song titles. The LP features tracks called “So Long, London” — Alwyn is British and the subject of Swift’s 2019 hit “London Boy” — as well as “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” and “Fresh Out the Slammer.”
Swift, who has since moved on with NFL star Travis Kelce, also released multiple Apple Music playlists comparing her past songs (pre-TTPD) to the five stages of grief. Fans think the music roundups are also nods to TTPD being a breakup album.
The Tortured Poets Department drops on Friday, April 19.
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