Hidden Meanings, Riddles, and Clues in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department Album

The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album, is now available for purchase. She has a history of including puzzles and hints for her fans to solve throughout each of her albums. Many assumed that the main focus would be on her separation from six-year-old boyfriend Joe Alwyn, whom she split up with just before the start of her record-breaking Eras Tour. The album’s thirty-one songs, however, are crammed with new poetry to read, bands to check out, unexpected vacation locations to discover, and references that appear to reference another London youngster from 1975, Matty Healy. Healy isn’t the only one who gets acknowledged, however.

An overview of some of the sources needed to comprehend the Tortured Poets Department is provided below:

The album’s title could allude to Joe Alwyn’s group chat:

It took Swifties a minute to figure out that The Tortured Poets Department may be a reference to The Tortured Man Club, Joe Alwyn’s WhatsApp group with Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. It will remain unverified, however.

Matty Healy:

Many of the songs on Tortured Poets, like “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” “The Black Dog,” and “Down Bad,” have fans wondering whether Taylor was influenced by the vocalist of 1975, Matty Healy. Swift’s reference to The Starting Line in The Black Dog—a band Healy covered while on tour last spring—is the source of this rumor. Furthermore, some fans claim that Healy matches the description of a “tattooed golden retriever” in the album’s title tune.

Dylan Thomas

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s most recent song is particularly strong, since she appears to be stating unequivocally that her new partner is not Dylan Thomas. Her topic of derision is nothing like the renowned Welsh poet, whose emotionally driven lyrical poetry is full of vivid imagery and deft wordplay. Thomas, whose career started in the 1930s, is well remembered for pieces like “Do not go gentle into that good night,” a moving essay that inspires readers to valiantly resist the inevitable approach of death.

Post-Malone and Fortnight:

“I was a functioning alcoholic who was supposed to be sent away, but they forgot to come get me.” Beginning with the release of her album Reputation in 2017, Taylor Swift has often alluded to drinking. Even though being a “functioning alcoholic” could attract criticism, you should never take a lyric at face value since it’s art.

Charlie Puth:

“You smoked and then consumed seven chocolate bars. Charlie Puth ought to be a more well-known artist.” Puth, a successful pop musician, is probably having a rather interesting Friday. With singles like “See You Again,” from 2015, Puth’s career has been steadily advancing, earning him three Grammy nominations.

But I love him, Daddy:

“God save the most judgmental creeps who say they want what’s best for me, because the saboteurs protested too much.”

Given that Healy has previously made “racist remarks” and “offensive jokes,” some fans who have voiced dislike of Taylor Swift’s connection with him may see this as a message.

Florida

The reference to a beach in northwest Florida with pure white beaches and crystal-clear seas that is connected to Taylor Swift is still unclear.

The Chelsea Hotel:
The Tortured Poets Department appears to have found its ideal home at the Chelsea Hotel, which is notorious for its connections to musicians and artists. Playwright Arthur Miller famously called it “the high spot of the surreal,” having lived there for six years after his 1961 divorce from Marilyn Monroe. The hotel has a long history; Sid Vicious is said to have slain his lover Nancy Spungen there, Bob Dylan composed Blonde on Blonde there, and Andy Warhol shot scenes for Chelsea Girls there. The Chelsea Hotel posted on Instagram after the release of Swift’s new album, saying they were “screaming” over the song and excited to welcome “Swifites.”

Travis Kelce:
Fans have been speculating a lot about the album, especially in relation to the song “The Alchemy.” Many are identifying football star Travis Kelce as the song’s inspiration, citing lines like “So when I / Touch down, call the amateurs and cut ’em from the team, / Ditch the clowns, get the crown, baby, I’m the one to beat.” Swift continues the sports-themed story in the bridge with her song, “Where’s the trophy? / He just comes running over to me.” Some admirers, however, are not persuaded, pointing out that the issue may not be American given her usage of the phrase “blokes.”

Taylor Swift has given her fans a literary treasure hunt in addition to 31 songs with the publication of her most recent album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift has left literary Easter eggs for her followers to find and explore in between her digs at Kim Kardashian and swipes at Matty Healy.