On April 18, 2024, Taylor Swift released her newest album “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.” Fans had anticipated this album’s release after Swift announced the surprise during the Grammy Awards. The album has 16 songs, lasting one hour and five minutes and is Swift’s first album after making it official that her six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn ended. Two hours after the initial release, Swift announced and released “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY,” which features 15 more tracks, lasting two hours and two minutes total.
Fans believed the album would be based on her split with Alwyn. They would quickly see this is not the case. The opener, “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone),” was allegedly leaked weeks before the album had dropped. The rumored leak was created using AI that had gained lots of attention online, leading fans to be disappointed with the actual track.
“Your wife waters flowers, I wanna kill her / And for a fortnight there, we were together / Run into you sometimes, comment on my sweater / Now you’re at the mailbox, turned into good neighbors / My husband is cheating, I wanna kill him,” Swift sings.
Post Malone does not have a large part in the song as fans anticipated but sings the backing vocals along with a minor part toward the end.
Many were excited and devastated to stream “So Long, London” since it was rumored to be about Alwyn. Swift is often known for her skills in writing heart-wrenching songs about her former lovers. The lyrics angrily describe how Swift felt toward the end of her six-year relationship since the effort she had put in was not reciprocated.
Fans believe Swift wanted her relationship with Alwyn to result in marriage and children. Their goals, however, were not the same. Despite the years Alwyn and Swift spent together, she expresses her regret spending as much time as she did trying to get him to fix their love.
“You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues? / I died on the altar waitin’ for the proof / I’m just mad as hell ’cause I loved this place for / So (So), long (Long), London (London),” Swift sings.
“So Long, London” becomes even more heartbreaking as fans realize how honest Swift gets with her lyrics, showing her vulnerability. Swift’s shaky voice as she sings shows how much emotion she put into this track, especially while explaining how impossible it was to fix a relationship when one person was giving up.
“I stoppеd CPR, after all, it’s no use / The spirit was gonе, we would never come to / And I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free,” Swift sings.
The 13th track, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” caught many by surprise with an upbeat and fun tone. This song is unique compared to prior tracks until listeners read into the emotional lyrics. Fans realize how much Swift was going through during her Eras Tour, yet she still performed joyfully for her fans every night for more than a year.
“’Cause I’m a real tough kid / I can handle it / They said, ‘Babe, you gotta fake it ’til you make it’ and I did / Lights, camera, and smile / Even when you wanna die,” Swift sings.
Swift’s lyrics capture the experience of many teenagers by showing the ups and downs of having to go on even during difficult times. The beat and overall vibes does not suit the album, which deservedly resulted in harsh criticism.
“I’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday every day / I’m so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague / I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art / You know you’re good when you can even do it with a broken heart,” Swift sings.
1920s silent film actress Clara Bow has a track named after her on “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.” She was an actress in the 1920s, who coined the term “It girl.” Bow was one of the best actresses of her era. Her career, however, declined after going through several mental breakdowns.
“Clara Bow” not only mentions Bow, but Stevie Nicks as well. These two American icons left a mark on their industry, similar to Swift’s impact on the music industry. Some lyrics are sung in quotes as if someone is telling this to Swift, comparing her to Bow.
“‘You look/ like Clara Bow / In this light, remarkable / All your life, did you know / You’d be picked like a rose,’” Swift sings.
The women mentioned in the song were famous during different times – when one idol’s career ends, another begins. Swift acknowledges that one day she will not be the world’s “It girl.” The cycle of passing down the torch will continue, and Swift’s legacy will be remembered. “Clara Bow” is a beautiful, saddening song that reminds her fans that infamous artists come and go.
“You look like Taylor Swift / In this light, we’re lovin’ it / You’ve got edge, she never did / The future’s bright, dazzling,” Swift sings.
In the second half of the full album, “So High School” brings a gushing lovers’ tune to the heartache album with sweet lyrics describing Swift’s relationship with football player Travis Kelce. There are several lyrics in “The Alchemy” and “So High School” hinting Kelce is the inspiration for the love songs. Swift sounds happier and brings a light-hearted tone to the track, using silly references to videogames and childish party games.
“Truth, dare, spin bottles / You know how to ball, I know Aristotle / Brand new, full throttle / Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto,” Swift sings.
“ThanK you aIMee” is an obvious track of who it is supposed to be for, literally capitalizing the name in the title. Many fans believe the 24th track references Kim Kardashian and their feud that began in 2016 when Kardashian’s ex-husband, Kanye West, dissed Swift in his song “Famous.” Kardashian escalated the feud, eventually leading to Swift disappearing from the public eye for a while.
The Kardashian incident greatly impacted Swift’s career. Swift, however, came back better than ever with “Reputation” when the public despised her. Now, Swift could be considered one of the biggest musicians of the era.
“I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool / I built a legacy that you can’t undo / But when I count the scars, there’s a moment of truth / That there wouldn’t be this if there hadn’t been you,” Swift sings.
Despite their strained relationship, Swift thanks “aIMee” toward the end of the song since she recognized the controversy that caused so much hardship helped her become the person she is now.
Listeners experience Swift’s journey through “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” as she reflects on former, potential and current relationships. The album takes on an original style and sound, separating itself from Swift’s previous albums. Once again, she has forced her fans to reach for their dictionaries to decode her songs. Swift’s previous albums are hard to beat, but with 31 tracks, she has given her fans plenty of complex tracks to theorize and sob over.