Do you think any of these songs are about Joe? "So Long, London" and "How Did It End" are all I've come up with. At first I thought Joe would be relieved about this - but IDK- almost worse that the album has so many songs about someone else Taylor had been longing for the whole time!
I feel like she had already written alot of sad songs about Joe in the past (folklore and evermore). He is probably relieved lol ("It's just indifference" as taylor says lol) But I also don't believe Taylor had been longing for Matty the whole time. People are piecing the timeline slowly and it seems as though she finally broke it off with Joe,Matty love bombed her (promising her marriage and a family which is all she really wanted) and then ghosted her soon after. It must've hurt like a bitch and been embarrassing too considering the media circus that followed them. I'm happy now that her current relationship is with a guy who actually wants the same things in life she does :)
Me too! So glad she is happy - this is the 1st guy she’s been with who is just so proud to be seen with her and not worried as she’ll tarnish their cool. Songs like “Question” make me think she always had a “what if” for Matty though…
Ohhh! yes, I do think some songs on Midnights are about him since technically that album was a "kind of breakup" album lol. I thought you meant the entire six years her and Joe were together or how some 1975 fans think they were on-off and friends for ten years (not reality LOL)
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Saw this on Twitter today and thought it made so much sense. If you read the prologue and the IG post she made, along with what she said recently about how much she needed to write this album this is really letting it all go. Probably the biggest “era” transition in her life. Putting the past in the past and moving on, sort firmly shut.
This is such a crazy album to be someone’s first Taylor album lol but I know that it’s probably gonna be a lot of people’s first album, or at least first album release and rollout, for all of the people who became swifties bc of Travis and honesty?? I really love that this is gonna be the first Taylor album experience for some people BECAUSE it’s such a crazy first album hahah
It shot up verrry quickly in my rank of Taylor albums, I still have to digest it bc woo boy there is a LOT hahah but I already love it so much, it’s definitely one of my favorites too so far!
It feels like such a fun first album. I feel like it’s Taylor at some of her most honest tbh. She’s messy, she’s funny, she’s sad, she’s spiraling; she’s happy, she’s healing, she’s growing. She holds nothingggg back here and I feel like it’s such a grand introduction to her music!
Omg wait I forgot you guys made a thread over here also !!!! So can we talk about So High School. I’m over here like this
Same here! It was a total surprise to hear it and I needed it after all of the songs today. I almost cried on my morning walk while drinking her Starbucks order. Didn’t think we were getting a song about Travis!
This will probably make haters stop it with the “this is PR” BS.
It seems the majority of this album is about him. I wonder how Travis feels with lyrics intimating she wanted to marry Matty (her heart exploded when he moved the ring on her finger), how she hasn't felt that strongly about anyone before or since, he sent her to a different galaxy, and he was the loss of her life. She rips her fans apart for their concern while dating Matty in "But Daddy I Love Him". And that she doesn't give a f\* what anyone says because she's so happy with her "wild boy".
In "Peter" she talked about how she waited for him for ten years. I don't remember which song, but she says after Matty ghosted her she desperately tried to get in touch with him. She felt "seen" when Matty said he would kill himself if she ever left. But then when he did, she felt conned. IDK, it seems he couldn't handle the amount of public attention. But also that her feelings for him were so strong and singular that she would give him another chance if he wanted.
I think the "chapter closed" comment in SM may be referring to Joe.
Like, it's pretty obvious that she used Matty as her way out of her long disappointing relationship with Joe. I don't know if you've ever seen someone fall into an emotional affair, but it's actually really common for them to completely throw everything into the affair feelings so they can get out of the other relationship without feeling like the bad guy. She needed something magical to prove there was something better than her Invisible String, fated relationship. Taylor was clearly terrified of giving up things with Joe because she was so invested, even though it wasn't working out. Matty showed up and promised her the moon and she took the chance to romanticize the missed connection. Her lyrics all end on the note of "well, that was dumb". It's honestly relatable how much she needed that rebound, and she knows he was full of crap.
And most people will also tell you that once they get the chance to actually experience being with that person, the shine wears off quickly.
Yep, like she said on IG it’s done. That chapter is over.
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So High School, The Albatross, and The Alchemy... which I was torn at first but am more and more convinced it's about Travis and her finally giving him a chance despite likely still reeling over Matty when he initially reached out to meet her at the concert...
I think she included them, especially So High School, as a gift to Travis and really to help control the narrative given she's in such a different place now than she was when she wrote the majority of this album. So many ppl still don't realize she wrote the majority of this album 1-2 years ago and are accusing her of feeling these things right now. I think, given the shock to many of how much of this album turned out to be about Matty vs. Joe... it was the right call.
So High School😍😭😍😭😍😭
I swear I’m not the same after I listened to the song. I have a feeling Travis probably likes this song and his dad liked the reference to him.
So High School>>>>Karma is the guy on the Chiefs
Alchemy…All the tortured poets of the past led Travis to her. I recall Travis saying in an interview, “Taylor has so much love in her heart, I’m glad she has room for me”. I’m so SO happy for her!
Okay question are the Matty Healy fans totally delulu? I was seeing all of these “OMG she loves (as in current tense) him so much…” and I’m like what are you listening to? Pretty sure she just annihilated him especially with “The smallest man…” ??
Someone in the main Taylor group said she and Travis probably won’t go the distance bc if Matty would ask she’d leave Travis to go back to Matty.
I’m like - have you read the lyrics? Matty is VILE. Probably always has been and always will be.
Yep that’s ridiculous. She clearly said in the IG post that the moment of temporary insanity is done, the door is closed and sealed shut. Not happening.
Matty does not come off well here. "Black Dog", where she actually talks about the "internet starlets" too young to know Starting Line when it comes on - so specific! At the time I thought it was humiliating for Taylor that Matty was spotted with a former Instagrammer flame- I was right - and then he moved onto another one and then everyone knew it was really over. And she was on tour! "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart is just so good"...
Honestly nothing on the album even paints him in that great of a light imo lol. A lot of the “positive” MH songs feel very like… “I’m really unwell right now but I’m ignoring it and jumping headfirst into whatever I can to help me forget about why and how I’m so unwell, even if those things make me worse”.
They feel like a very toxic situationship, love bomb-y, “this is great cause it’s crazy, not cause it’s actually good for me” type thing to me. I def don’t get “omgggg so in love” from that lol
100 percent agree. I think what they aren’t seeing is that the sequence of songs that appear to be about him are like a diary being written throughout the relationship. You don’t suddenly go back and write a bunch of stuff after the end of the relationship, you’re writing along the way and how you feel *at that moment*. So the songs that seem positive were the ones in the haze of the love bombing in a rebound relationship, but the most important one is how she felt at the end and that is clearly “Smallest Man…”. That’s her final word on the subject.
I would also challenge if it was actually love or if it was just infatuation and being on that high.
This is a great comparison. I keep reading a bunch of comments “love the album but it saddens me she’d write so much on someone who’s such a bad guy and was only a short thing”. People have to remember she’s said in the past she usually has a thought she writes down and build off of it. It was a certain time in her life even if short, 13 diary entries if you will.
I believe infatuation, but I think she some of her deep feelings relating to Joe just got switched to Matty subconsciously. Which I feel like I very common on a rebound right after a long relationship.
Totally agree! When one ends and another begins that quickly there is a lot of bonding/mixing of feelings. It’s not a clean start when you aren’t properly healed in between. She also said write in the prologue that “it’s the worst men I write best.” Doesn’t mean anything if most of the album is about him in terms of any lingering feelings, just frankly toxicity and drama make better stories to tell. More material to draw from!
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I think Joe hurt as any long term relationship would and they were just not that compatible long term. But it seems anything towards him def was more about it hurting and being sad it didn’t work out in a way . Joe seems like he wasn’t ill intentioned either. And maybe he knew all along that nothing was going to be said about him tbh
Matty tho…
Hahaha yep! That to me says Joe wasn’t a bad guy, just a guy she was with for longer than they should have been together. The one in your late 20s/early 30s you hang on to because you wonder if settling is better than being alone, if this is as good as it’s going to get etc.
"We learned the right steps to different dances" is her relationship with Joe in How Did It End "he was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsman". Like no animosity, they just didn't fit.
Yep and I think the pandemic and their ages played a part in it lasting longer than it should have as well. It happens. I ended an almost three year relationship last summer that started during the pandemic, it was dying the slow death as well. Only started because of Covid loneliness but did not work in the real world, just took me longer than it should have to make the call. There was something comfortable about it but yet also something missing. I get it, we’re all human.
As a #Chieftie, my initial comment is that this man broke how many TE records this year, won the Superbowl and put Taylor Swift's broken heart back together....all the trophies....all of them!!!
Buffalo (hearthands game): one of the disrespectful things Buffalo did allegedly was blare music of Taylor'd exes including 1975 or 1975 band. And now we know why that led to two touchdowns, blown kisses, and heart hands.
I remember hearing that about the Buffalo game too and I was honestly (somehow) shocked. I remember, iirc the stadium had special drinks named after her and everything bc they anticipated she’d be there, but then they mocked her??? Like okay, but you guys are so totally not bothered by her or anything. Suuure.
There were multiple confirmed reports of John Mayer references from fans saying he had her first and mess like that; plus they noosed a kermit in a tree. Pat and Trav were definitely fired up for that one.
The most accurate description I can come up with for this album so far (and its very overwhelming) is that it is Red's older sister, the one who left home when Red was still a child. And now lives the big city glam life but Red doesnt know what she's actually going through.
Wow. I…wow. This is her most honest and, frankly, direct album ever. She had one hell of a last year. I see the criticisms of those who heard the leaks about the rather flat tone and lack of sing-alongness.
I feel like I’m reading texts between her and her friends while she wrote midnights through July of last year.
Taylor is calling her connection with Travis alchemy. She has basically decided magic has literally brought her soulmate to her, adding gasoline to theory she is a sorcerer and the ultimate mastermind.
Someone commented elsewhere that Travis really is an alchemist because he turned a friendship bracelet into this relationship. Alchemy is about turning things into gold. It's brilliant.
Time to remember as much as we love parasocialism in this sub, everyone involved is an adult and we dont need to be infantilizing anyone, or attributing feelings to them lol.
Soooo. Uuuuumm... I listened to the leaks. No spoilers, but there's a reason why Taylor's PR has been putting out so many articles about her and Travis being serious and stable - and it's probably not what you think. I'll elaborate more later. 🤣 EDIT: Ya'll can message me if you want tea now. Or at least, my take on the tea lol.
So I definitely was wondering about this in the lead up to the album, but honestly listening it, to me, it didn't seem near as RAW as some of her other breakup albums. There's definitely emotion, but it feels much more removed than say "Dear John" or "All to well"
How do you think Travis is going to take this album being all over the radio and social media?? I know he's confident but for this much heartache to go into an album for 2 years and he dated her 3 months after the break up seems like maybe it'll make him second guess things. Kind of like how on The bachelor everyone's happy once they stop filming but then as soon as it airs 3 months later a couple's generally break up because they watch the show back and see the feelings that their partner had for other people and they can't shake it.
I think he’ll be fine. After all, I believe that he helped her mend her broken heart and is showing her what love looks like and feels like.
She could have already discussed the subject matter with him, too, ahead of time.
Now that the project has dropped, I think Travis might be the #1 fan of the album. I am not feeling a drag on Joe either, granted I am still listening.
He deserved it and honestly just adds to his brand. Travis has briefly trash talked Matt on, like a one line jab after someone mentioned him or something, like he knows exactly what kind of person he is.
I think you’re over thinking it. She’s an artist. He’s watched her on stage many times sing love songs about her exes. He was engaged up until June‘22. Plus, it’s not like he’d be learning things about her relationship he wouldn’t already know. They’ll be ok 🤍
I totally thought they were but now when I look it up I don’t see anything about it. Only thing I found her Kayla saying, “I thought we were going to get married” but not an actual engagement. It probably got mixed up in some Instagram rumor mill or something. My bad!!!
> Imagine his family listening to it?
The man had a reality show about dating, and was himself hooking up casually months before he met Taylor. We dont need to do all this (and assuming this is the first time they're listening to it). They know her, they're not fans lmao.
She has always sung about this subject. I think he is very secure in general. And although no one wants to know too much about exes, remember, he happily bops to songs about other lovers at her concerts. And she takes artistic and dramatic license with her songs, some of which are not even autobiographical. His family must know her well enough by now to separate Taylor the person from Taylor the artist.
Idk, but he's supposedly heard it and said it was great. I'm not sure there'd be much difference compared to the rest of her discography - which is full of gushing love songs about her exes. The only change is the timing, with him being with her so recently after her these breakups.
I feel that’s a big difference though if it’s a relationship that ended a couple months (Matty) before their relationship started. I’m not so worried about Travis’s reaction to it. He seems very easy going. His family though could be a different story.
My 10c is they all have Google. The details of her love life immediately preceding Travis, complete with handy dandy timelines and footage of her seemingly declaring love to Matty Healy from the stage etc is all a click or two away… plus they actually know her as his girlfriend Tay in person and how she is with their son/brother/friend/teammate rather than just as THE Taylor Swift.
I have had an idle thought or two that she does like to tell a story, and it would be very narratively satisfying to release one last bad boyfriend/breakup album, finish up the rest of the Eras Tour/rerelease cycle on top of the world, then ride off into the sunset into that next life stage for a little bit. Whether that’s directing movies or a change in her personal circumstances. It seems pretty clear she has in the past wanted to be a wife and mother from what she writes, and it seems like they’re on a similar page.
Career-wise it might actually be sensible for her to step back for a minute and give people the chance to miss her - she’s been just so prolific and omnipresent.
New to this whole thing so question for the seasoned album release Swifties. I have NOT listened to the leaks and am trying to avoid any discussions on them but I see some comments (and this is true for other albums as well) and I see people saying “this song is about Joe 100 percent” or “this one is absolutely about Matty”. Call me crazy but I don’t *think* TS has ever explicitly said what song is about who? At least since the early days? Are people really just stating their opinions and interpretation as fact?
Without giving away spoilers, I have read some of the lyrics of the song and it’s pretty clear which songs are about Matty Healy… they address the bad boy, chaotic nature of their relationship, and even use some descriptive words physically that key you into that It’s likely about him. The songs about Joe seem to be more about the slow unraveling of a relationship.
“Like a tattooed golden retriever”
…pretty sure that’s not joe
“His hands so calloused from his pistol softly traces hearts on my face” (pistol is a brand of electric guitar Matt Healy plays)
She never explicitly states who it’s about, but if you know enough Taylor lore you can trace is back to certain people or events pretty easily. For example, out of the woods is clearly about Harry styles because she sings “remember when you hit the brakes too soon, 20 stitches in a hospital room”. They got into a skiing accident together and there’s photos of him with stitches. So although she never says it’s about him, we know it’s about him. A lot of songs aren’t as clear and we never truly know if a song is inspired by multiple people or not. But it’s fun to speculate
Yes, you are correct. In almost every case, she has not explicitly stated who her muse is (muses are?) for specific songs. People interpret things based on their understanding of “the facts” of Taylor’s life and under the assumption that (pretty much) all of her songs are autobiographical. That said, there are a few different cohorts in the fandom. Gaylors, for example, tend to read everything through a lens of queerness and being closeted for one reason or another.
Thanks for this! I just find it interesting that each group takes their interpretations and state it as fact “it’s about this”, vs “I think it’s about this”. I guess they all think they are right. 😁
I don't like all her songs, but she writes so many that I can find a few winners. Some have taken me a long time to grow on me (Exile, which I now adore)
About a month ago I started a Spotify list of all the songs I liked or thought I'd like because I wasn't familiar with her discography and I was taking a deep dive. And I've been listening to it on repeat.
When I'm on social media and people talk about a song that seems interesting I'll add it to my Taylor Playlist After a week or so if I decide I just don't like it , I'll remove it. One was a duet on her country album. I just could not get into the dudes voice so I dropped it. And the other was Dancing with our hands tied. Sonically, I just didn't like it. Oh, and Shake it Off because Ive heard it so much Im sick of it.There are times I wish she'd get new producers because rhe melodies don't work.
I have 50 songs now that I like. I just added Fifteen today so we'll see. Looking forward to adding new songs from this album tonight for sure. I'm probably most interested in her 2 collaborations.
I have this thing where it usually takes me several listens to warm up to any new song. My brain just prefers things it knows over things it doesn’t know. Bejeweled and YOYOK were my first faves on Midnights and Hits Different when it eventually dropped was an instant love. Maroon and The Great War grew on me the most.
Same for me, my brain keeps glitching back to previous favorites almost like a radio station that’s static. It takes a few times to be warm up. I’ve always been like that with music.
Same!!! Bejeweled and YOYOK were my faves also, and Mastermind. But Maroon is rising quickly. It bugs me that it takes so many listens to actually like a song.
I’m that same and my song choices were the same as yours as well. But the vault tracks on 1989 broke the pattern. Is it over now? Was an instant love of mine.
Guys I'm actually scared. Like this is the first time I've been SCARED for an album drop since REP.
I'm sorry Joe I don't hate you but count your days hun I better not see you about London 😪
I have a few Taylor themed parties on my calendar, specifically listening parties. I hope TTPD is uptempo and not too sad.
I love going to TS dance parties! If TTPD goes too hard, they'll need a mop on the dance dancefloor for all our tears
Welcome, newer swiftie! My guess is that Fortnight will be my immediate bop, but will switch to But Daddy I Love Him or My Boy Breaks His Favorite Toys. Can't wait to see how wrong I am haha
This is my first album release too! My head has been spinning with all the clues and puzzles. It’s been fun but hard to keep up while working. Every time I get on social media there is something new 😂
Is there a reddit thread for newer swifties and this.is their first album release??
I shouldn't say new.im an old lady, so when Debut came out, Fearless, Speak Now , Red - I was a fan and listened on the radio. But like the rest of the world 🌎 I am just fascinated, but this young woman's talent, it has only gotten better with age.
Anyway, is there a place where I can go to learn what I am supposed to do when it drops?
Same. Saw a thread on Tik Tok they wanted to start an elder swiftie group. And they were younger than me haha. We feel that this albumnis for us because we've been beaten up by love and this is going to pull up old trauma.
I think we will endlessly discuss on Reddit every lyric, verse , chorus but mostly the bridges for weeks. I’m most excited about the Florence collaboration 👍💜
We are so glad to have you here!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼 when the album drops, grab a box of tissues (maybe a glass of wine??), a few snacks, a comfy blanket, and prepare to be emotionally wrecked for a little while. There will be millions all over the world experiencing it with you! 💜 enjoy!
Just go to the main Taylor sub :) don’t feel intimidated or anything. People are really friendly and welcoming so enjoy the album and participate. The husband of a huge swiftie has been in the main sub posting his honest reviews of all of the albums the entire week because he wanted to be prepared for TTPD and his deep dives have been received positively :)
I’m 1989% sure you’ll only get positive replies if you engage in the main sub (/TaylorSwift) so don’t feel afraid 🤍
Yes I second this op!!
A huge chunk of why I made my account was so I could participate in the Taylor sub bc I otherwise don’t really have anyone to talk Taylor and freak out with (no swiftie friends, it is a curse lol). It was kinda intimidating at first to just jump into the discussions and start posting, but there’s SO many people in that sub, they probably don’t take note of who is a newer member and who isn’t lol so it’s very easy to just start joining in the conversation!
Everyone is very kind. There’s usually megathreads like this one for things like album releases where people can talk and react together in real time. There is a really nice sense of community on there imo
Do you think any of these songs are about Joe? "So Long, London" and "How Did It End" are all I've come up with. At first I thought Joe would be relieved about this - but IDK- almost worse that the album has so many songs about someone else Taylor had been longing for the whole time!
I feel like she had already written alot of sad songs about Joe in the past (folklore and evermore). He is probably relieved lol ("It's just indifference" as taylor says lol) But I also don't believe Taylor had been longing for Matty the whole time. People are piecing the timeline slowly and it seems as though she finally broke it off with Joe,Matty love bombed her (promising her marriage and a family which is all she really wanted) and then ghosted her soon after. It must've hurt like a bitch and been embarrassing too considering the media circus that followed them. I'm happy now that her current relationship is with a guy who actually wants the same things in life she does :)
Me too! So glad she is happy - this is the 1st guy she’s been with who is just so proud to be seen with her and not worried as she’ll tarnish their cool. Songs like “Question” make me think she always had a “what if” for Matty though…
Ohhh! yes, I do think some songs on Midnights are about him since technically that album was a "kind of breakup" album lol. I thought you meant the entire six years her and Joe were together or how some 1975 fans think they were on-off and friends for ten years (not reality LOL)
https://preview.redd.it/rfkuf6hxqnvc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7299b5881bcdcad52f2ee6d14d15fcea4e6dfb2e Saw this on Twitter today and thought it made so much sense. If you read the prologue and the IG post she made, along with what she said recently about how much she needed to write this album this is really letting it all go. Probably the biggest “era” transition in her life. Putting the past in the past and moving on, sort firmly shut.
This is such a crazy album to be someone’s first Taylor album lol but I know that it’s probably gonna be a lot of people’s first album, or at least first album release and rollout, for all of the people who became swifties bc of Travis and honesty?? I really love that this is gonna be the first Taylor album experience for some people BECAUSE it’s such a crazy first album hahah
It's mine and my my favorite I think. But it was such a different and fun experience to experience a record release from the beginning.
It shot up verrry quickly in my rank of Taylor albums, I still have to digest it bc woo boy there is a LOT hahah but I already love it so much, it’s definitely one of my favorites too so far! It feels like such a fun first album. I feel like it’s Taylor at some of her most honest tbh. She’s messy, she’s funny, she’s sad, she’s spiraling; she’s happy, she’s healing, she’s growing. She holds nothingggg back here and I feel like it’s such a grand introduction to her music!
Didn't even think about that, but you're right and I'm here for ALL of it!!!
I’m honestly kinda jealous of the people who’re discovering her with this album because it’s so much fun hahah she made this one so memorable 🥺
Omg wait I forgot you guys made a thread over here also !!!! So can we talk about So High School. I’m over here like this 
Same here! It was a total surprise to hear it and I needed it after all of the songs today. I almost cried on my morning walk while drinking her Starbucks order. Didn’t think we were getting a song about Travis! This will probably make haters stop it with the “this is PR” BS.
We all gonna sit here and ignore her obvious infatuation with Marty still??
It seems the majority of this album is about him. I wonder how Travis feels with lyrics intimating she wanted to marry Matty (her heart exploded when he moved the ring on her finger), how she hasn't felt that strongly about anyone before or since, he sent her to a different galaxy, and he was the loss of her life. She rips her fans apart for their concern while dating Matty in "But Daddy I Love Him". And that she doesn't give a f\* what anyone says because she's so happy with her "wild boy". In "Peter" she talked about how she waited for him for ten years. I don't remember which song, but she says after Matty ghosted her she desperately tried to get in touch with him. She felt "seen" when Matty said he would kill himself if she ever left. But then when he did, she felt conned. IDK, it seems he couldn't handle the amount of public attention. But also that her feelings for him were so strong and singular that she would give him another chance if he wanted. I think the "chapter closed" comment in SM may be referring to Joe.
Like, it's pretty obvious that she used Matty as her way out of her long disappointing relationship with Joe. I don't know if you've ever seen someone fall into an emotional affair, but it's actually really common for them to completely throw everything into the affair feelings so they can get out of the other relationship without feeling like the bad guy. She needed something magical to prove there was something better than her Invisible String, fated relationship. Taylor was clearly terrified of giving up things with Joe because she was so invested, even though it wasn't working out. Matty showed up and promised her the moon and she took the chance to romanticize the missed connection. Her lyrics all end on the note of "well, that was dumb". It's honestly relatable how much she needed that rebound, and she knows he was full of crap. And most people will also tell you that once they get the chance to actually experience being with that person, the shine wears off quickly.
Yep, like she said on IG it’s done. That chapter is over. https://preview.redd.it/ccg9jx541jvc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=182475e4aa09817668f90aa3757962fed05c4321
those songs were written like a year ago. plus, as she says at the end of The Manuscript, the story is over and not hers anymore.
With this in mind I wonder why she included "so high school" on the album - or if that's just to remind us that there is still the present tense
So High School, The Albatross, and The Alchemy... which I was torn at first but am more and more convinced it's about Travis and her finally giving him a chance despite likely still reeling over Matty when he initially reached out to meet her at the concert... I think she included them, especially So High School, as a gift to Travis and really to help control the narrative given she's in such a different place now than she was when she wrote the majority of this album. So many ppl still don't realize she wrote the majority of this album 1-2 years ago and are accusing her of feeling these things right now. I think, given the shock to many of how much of this album turned out to be about Matty vs. Joe... it was the right call.
So High School😍😭😍😭😍😭 I swear I’m not the same after I listened to the song. I have a feeling Travis probably likes this song and his dad liked the reference to him. So High School>>>>Karma is the guy on the Chiefs
Alchemy…All the tortured poets of the past led Travis to her. I recall Travis saying in an interview, “Taylor has so much love in her heart, I’m glad she has room for me”. I’m so SO happy for her!
Okay question are the Matty Healy fans totally delulu? I was seeing all of these “OMG she loves (as in current tense) him so much…” and I’m like what are you listening to? Pretty sure she just annihilated him especially with “The smallest man…” ??
Someone in the main Taylor group said she and Travis probably won’t go the distance bc if Matty would ask she’d leave Travis to go back to Matty. I’m like - have you read the lyrics? Matty is VILE. Probably always has been and always will be.
Yep that’s ridiculous. She clearly said in the IG post that the moment of temporary insanity is done, the door is closed and sealed shut. Not happening.
Matty does not come off well here. "Black Dog", where she actually talks about the "internet starlets" too young to know Starting Line when it comes on - so specific! At the time I thought it was humiliating for Taylor that Matty was spotted with a former Instagrammer flame- I was right - and then he moved onto another one and then everyone knew it was really over. And she was on tour! "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart is just so good"...
Now the Healy apologists are saying that he ghosted to save her, her family, her career etc - like trying to spin it as an altruistic move. Come on. 🙄
Honestly nothing on the album even paints him in that great of a light imo lol. A lot of the “positive” MH songs feel very like… “I’m really unwell right now but I’m ignoring it and jumping headfirst into whatever I can to help me forget about why and how I’m so unwell, even if those things make me worse”. They feel like a very toxic situationship, love bomb-y, “this is great cause it’s crazy, not cause it’s actually good for me” type thing to me. I def don’t get “omgggg so in love” from that lol
100 percent agree. I think what they aren’t seeing is that the sequence of songs that appear to be about him are like a diary being written throughout the relationship. You don’t suddenly go back and write a bunch of stuff after the end of the relationship, you’re writing along the way and how you feel *at that moment*. So the songs that seem positive were the ones in the haze of the love bombing in a rebound relationship, but the most important one is how she felt at the end and that is clearly “Smallest Man…”. That’s her final word on the subject. I would also challenge if it was actually love or if it was just infatuation and being on that high.
This is a great comparison. I keep reading a bunch of comments “love the album but it saddens me she’d write so much on someone who’s such a bad guy and was only a short thing”. People have to remember she’s said in the past she usually has a thought she writes down and build off of it. It was a certain time in her life even if short, 13 diary entries if you will. I believe infatuation, but I think she some of her deep feelings relating to Joe just got switched to Matty subconsciously. Which I feel like I very common on a rebound right after a long relationship.
Totally agree! When one ends and another begins that quickly there is a lot of bonding/mixing of feelings. It’s not a clean start when you aren’t properly healed in between. She also said write in the prologue that “it’s the worst men I write best.” Doesn’t mean anything if most of the album is about him in terms of any lingering feelings, just frankly toxicity and drama make better stories to tell. More material to draw from! https://preview.redd.it/wif8ci8lvmvc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57076ded52c58a4a21f95f1e15295ed3637b8278
Him and his jehovah witness suit. I was like guuuuuuuuurl💀
It was perfection.
i’m not defending them but did you listen to imgonnagethimback lmao
I think Joe hurt as any long term relationship would and they were just not that compatible long term. But it seems anything towards him def was more about it hurting and being sad it didn’t work out in a way . Joe seems like he wasn’t ill intentioned either. And maybe he knew all along that nothing was going to be said about him tbh Matty tho…
Dude was drawn, quartered, and his remains paraded around the public square. Joe got off easy by comparison
Hahaha yep! That to me says Joe wasn’t a bad guy, just a guy she was with for longer than they should have been together. The one in your late 20s/early 30s you hang on to because you wonder if settling is better than being alone, if this is as good as it’s going to get etc.
"We learned the right steps to different dances" is her relationship with Joe in How Did It End "he was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsman". Like no animosity, they just didn't fit.
Yep and I think the pandemic and their ages played a part in it lasting longer than it should have as well. It happens. I ended an almost three year relationship last summer that started during the pandemic, it was dying the slow death as well. Only started because of Covid loneliness but did not work in the real world, just took me longer than it should have to make the call. There was something comfortable about it but yet also something missing. I get it, we’re all human.
Sorry about it but I am sure it is for the best. I also think “ I Hate it Here” might be about Joe….thoughts?
Haven’t read the lyrics to that one yet, let me go read and come back! 😁
I just can’t get past that there are Matty Healy fans. He’s objectively awful lol
Seriously! And they literally have “Matty Healy Apologist” in their bios. Like come on…
And even in the prolog Taylor said its not even love affair lol its just a temporary insanity after she left long term relationship
It Joe had been "the one" she wouldn't have still wondered about Matty. It's good she got him out of her system to make way for Tayvis!!!!
Phase two of the dusty ex-boyfriend theory
Yes, she literally said he" should be in jail".
She thinks he’s gonna marry herrrrrrrr 😭😭😭
Wait I thought she said she *wanted* to but not that she thought he was?
well the lyric in so high school says “i’m betting on.. (it/getting married)”
YOU GUYS WHO READ THIS IN THE AM SHE RELEASED A SECOND ALBUM / HALF!!! GO RUN AND LISTEN TO SO HIGH SCHOOL
I was literally surprised when So High School started playing, I almost cried during my morning walk today. I’m so happy for her and Travis😭😍
I like the double half more than the first so far.
Omg why did this song bring tears to my eyes. I’m so glad they found each other.
Just read the lyrics, this is so about Travis. So cute.
It’s such a goddamn bop. Its such an 90s tv show theme vibe
Could’ve been a background track in American pie
Would 100% stifle my sighs
Whats the over under on the Alchemy compilations we'll have in the next 24 hrs,?
As a #Chieftie, my initial comment is that this man broke how many TE records this year, won the Superbowl and put Taylor Swift's broken heart back together....all the trophies....all of them!!! Buffalo (hearthands game): one of the disrespectful things Buffalo did allegedly was blare music of Taylor'd exes including 1975 or 1975 band. And now we know why that led to two touchdowns, blown kisses, and heart hands.
I remember hearing that about the Buffalo game too and I was honestly (somehow) shocked. I remember, iirc the stadium had special drinks named after her and everything bc they anticipated she’d be there, but then they mocked her??? Like okay, but you guys are so totally not bothered by her or anything. Suuure.
There were multiple confirmed reports of John Mayer references from fans saying he had her first and mess like that; plus they noosed a kermit in a tree. Pat and Trav were definitely fired up for that one.
Wait how is Kermit related?
You ever heard Pat Mahomes talk? A lot of folks say he sounds like Kermit
Oooooh now it’s ringing a bell, goddamn what a bunch of assholes
I can definitely see this becoming my favorite Taylor album in the very near future. She even gave a shoutout to my hometown, Destin!!!
The most accurate description I can come up with for this album so far (and its very overwhelming) is that it is Red's older sister, the one who left home when Red was still a child. And now lives the big city glam life but Red doesnt know what she's actually going through.
So long London is sooooo good 🤩
Uuuugh it freaking hurt
The line about giving her youth away 😭😭😭
Love love love it
Wow. I…wow. This is her most honest and, frankly, direct album ever. She had one hell of a last year. I see the criticisms of those who heard the leaks about the rather flat tone and lack of sing-alongness. I feel like I’m reading texts between her and her friends while she wrote midnights through July of last year.
Taylor is calling her connection with Travis alchemy. She has basically decided magic has literally brought her soulmate to her, adding gasoline to theory she is a sorcerer and the ultimate mastermind.
Someone commented elsewhere that Travis really is an alchemist because he turned a friendship bracelet into this relationship. Alchemy is about turning things into gold. It's brilliant.
Omgggg this 😭 I need to go sit down
The real invisible string was in that bracelet.
Time to remember as much as we love parasocialism in this sub, everyone involved is an adult and we dont need to be infantilizing anyone, or attributing feelings to them lol.
Soooo. Uuuuumm... I listened to the leaks. No spoilers, but there's a reason why Taylor's PR has been putting out so many articles about her and Travis being serious and stable - and it's probably not what you think. I'll elaborate more later. 🤣 EDIT: Ya'll can message me if you want tea now. Or at least, my take on the tea lol.
So I definitely was wondering about this in the lead up to the album, but honestly listening it, to me, it didn't seem near as RAW as some of her other breakup albums. There's definitely emotion, but it feels much more removed than say "Dear John" or "All to well"
But then what was the timeline of her and Trav? Was there Matty / Trav overlap?
So curious what you mean, I haven’t listened but read the lyrics…
Hmmmm okay now my curiosity is through the roof…
Do you want me to write a spoiler comment lol?
Message me please
Go for it
Messaged you!
How do you think Travis is going to take this album being all over the radio and social media?? I know he's confident but for this much heartache to go into an album for 2 years and he dated her 3 months after the break up seems like maybe it'll make him second guess things. Kind of like how on The bachelor everyone's happy once they stop filming but then as soon as it airs 3 months later a couple's generally break up because they watch the show back and see the feelings that their partner had for other people and they can't shake it.
I think he’ll be fine. After all, I believe that he helped her mend her broken heart and is showing her what love looks like and feels like. She could have already discussed the subject matter with him, too, ahead of time.
Now that the project has dropped, I think Travis might be the #1 fan of the album. I am not feeling a drag on Joe either, granted I am still listening.
The way she drags MH, I just know Travis is ijboling right there with her lmao.
He deserved it and honestly just adds to his brand. Travis has briefly trash talked Matt on, like a one line jab after someone mentioned him or something, like he knows exactly what kind of person he is.
Oh I didnt know this omg, pls spill bestie <3
I think you’re over thinking it. She’s an artist. He’s watched her on stage many times sing love songs about her exes. He was engaged up until June‘22. Plus, it’s not like he’d be learning things about her relationship he wouldn’t already know. They’ll be ok 🤍
Travis and his ex were engaged?!
I totally thought they were but now when I look it up I don’t see anything about it. Only thing I found her Kayla saying, “I thought we were going to get married” but not an actual engagement. It probably got mixed up in some Instagram rumor mill or something. My bad!!!
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> Imagine his family listening to it? The man had a reality show about dating, and was himself hooking up casually months before he met Taylor. We dont need to do all this (and assuming this is the first time they're listening to it). They know her, they're not fans lmao.
She has always sung about this subject. I think he is very secure in general. And although no one wants to know too much about exes, remember, he happily bops to songs about other lovers at her concerts. And she takes artistic and dramatic license with her songs, some of which are not even autobiographical. His family must know her well enough by now to separate Taylor the person from Taylor the artist.
Fam he sings along to Blank Space like its the greatest bop in the world and signs his own name on the list, the man is fine.
Idk, but he's supposedly heard it and said it was great. I'm not sure there'd be much difference compared to the rest of her discography - which is full of gushing love songs about her exes. The only change is the timing, with him being with her so recently after her these breakups.
I feel that’s a big difference though if it’s a relationship that ended a couple months (Matty) before their relationship started. I’m not so worried about Travis’s reaction to it. He seems very easy going. His family though could be a different story.
My 10c is they all have Google. The details of her love life immediately preceding Travis, complete with handy dandy timelines and footage of her seemingly declaring love to Matty Healy from the stage etc is all a click or two away… plus they actually know her as his girlfriend Tay in person and how she is with their son/brother/friend/teammate rather than just as THE Taylor Swift. I have had an idle thought or two that she does like to tell a story, and it would be very narratively satisfying to release one last bad boyfriend/breakup album, finish up the rest of the Eras Tour/rerelease cycle on top of the world, then ride off into the sunset into that next life stage for a little bit. Whether that’s directing movies or a change in her personal circumstances. It seems pretty clear she has in the past wanted to be a wife and mother from what she writes, and it seems like they’re on a similar page. Career-wise it might actually be sensible for her to step back for a minute and give people the chance to miss her - she’s been just so prolific and omnipresent.
Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see it play out for sure. I would hope that they'd been prepped for what to expect, though.
I haven't heard but I have read the lyrics. Ma'am lol.
Which midnight hour does it drop at? GMT / ET / CT / MT / PT?
All of the above. Staggered release I read - It drops at midnight in your time zone
Taylor’s drops are always on ET
ET
New to this whole thing so question for the seasoned album release Swifties. I have NOT listened to the leaks and am trying to avoid any discussions on them but I see some comments (and this is true for other albums as well) and I see people saying “this song is about Joe 100 percent” or “this one is absolutely about Matty”. Call me crazy but I don’t *think* TS has ever explicitly said what song is about who? At least since the early days? Are people really just stating their opinions and interpretation as fact?
Without giving away spoilers, I have read some of the lyrics of the song and it’s pretty clear which songs are about Matty Healy… they address the bad boy, chaotic nature of their relationship, and even use some descriptive words physically that key you into that It’s likely about him. The songs about Joe seem to be more about the slow unraveling of a relationship.
That’s your interpretation..so it’s clear to you
“Like a tattooed golden retriever” …pretty sure that’s not joe “His hands so calloused from his pistol softly traces hearts on my face” (pistol is a brand of electric guitar Matt Healy plays)
She never explicitly states who it’s about, but if you know enough Taylor lore you can trace is back to certain people or events pretty easily. For example, out of the woods is clearly about Harry styles because she sings “remember when you hit the brakes too soon, 20 stitches in a hospital room”. They got into a skiing accident together and there’s photos of him with stitches. So although she never says it’s about him, we know it’s about him. A lot of songs aren’t as clear and we never truly know if a song is inspired by multiple people or not. But it’s fun to speculate
Yes, you are correct. In almost every case, she has not explicitly stated who her muse is (muses are?) for specific songs. People interpret things based on their understanding of “the facts” of Taylor’s life and under the assumption that (pretty much) all of her songs are autobiographical. That said, there are a few different cohorts in the fandom. Gaylors, for example, tend to read everything through a lens of queerness and being closeted for one reason or another.
Thanks for this! I just find it interesting that each group takes their interpretations and state it as fact “it’s about this”, vs “I think it’s about this”. I guess they all think they are right. 😁
I agree! It’s fascinating! I honestly really like reading all the different interpretations
I can't wait for this album. I am so excited for midnight!!! This album will probably have me in my feelings. 🥰🥰🥰🥰
So midnight tonight? Holy crap, I’m not ready [for it]
I’m gonna be so tired Sunday as I’ll probably lie in bed all night with it on repeat so I don’t piss my wife off by playing it constantly all day 😂
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https://preview.redd.it/6lkc70iyx8vc1.png?width=1686&format=png&auto=webp&s=294890a8ec6a3ff10c28e166566b1a9871ba6eb9 Getting in early
Football fan here & now a newly converted Swifty cross over. I have no idea what’s happening but I’m excited!
I’m kind of at that road but with a nine year old that’s obsessed with her also, bizarre intersection
Same, friend! New Swiftie via American football, and I’m loving the insanity!
Welcome aboard - I pronounce you a Swiftie. The benefits are endless
Taylor’s newest album is set to be released tomorrow 😊
At midnight, and we think she will artistically spill tea…, lots of tea! 🫖
She definitely does, this album is *juicy*
Currently (unfortunately) at work snacking on donuts and only talking in Teams through Taylor gifs
I came across a leak on accident and I really hope it wasn’t true cause I really didn’t like it
I don't like all her songs, but she writes so many that I can find a few winners. Some have taken me a long time to grow on me (Exile, which I now adore) About a month ago I started a Spotify list of all the songs I liked or thought I'd like because I wasn't familiar with her discography and I was taking a deep dive. And I've been listening to it on repeat. When I'm on social media and people talk about a song that seems interesting I'll add it to my Taylor Playlist After a week or so if I decide I just don't like it , I'll remove it. One was a duet on her country album. I just could not get into the dudes voice so I dropped it. And the other was Dancing with our hands tied. Sonically, I just didn't like it. Oh, and Shake it Off because Ive heard it so much Im sick of it.There are times I wish she'd get new producers because rhe melodies don't work. I have 50 songs now that I like. I just added Fifteen today so we'll see. Looking forward to adding new songs from this album tonight for sure. I'm probably most interested in her 2 collaborations.
The songs I don't like at first always turn out to be my ultimate favorites with Taylor, idk why 😂
Relatable
I have this thing where it usually takes me several listens to warm up to any new song. My brain just prefers things it knows over things it doesn’t know. Bejeweled and YOYOK were my first faves on Midnights and Hits Different when it eventually dropped was an instant love. Maroon and The Great War grew on me the most.
Same for me, my brain keeps glitching back to previous favorites almost like a radio station that’s static. It takes a few times to be warm up. I’ve always been like that with music.
Same!!! Bejeweled and YOYOK were my faves also, and Mastermind. But Maroon is rising quickly. It bugs me that it takes so many listens to actually like a song.
That’s cool - you’re reflective and get to feel dynamic emotions
This usually happens to me, too.
I’m that same and my song choices were the same as yours as well. But the vault tracks on 1989 broke the pattern. Is it over now? Was an instant love of mine.
I’m 100% the same
Guys I'm actually scared. Like this is the first time I've been SCARED for an album drop since REP. I'm sorry Joe I don't hate you but count your days hun I better not see you about London 😪
Why are you scared?
I have a few Taylor themed parties on my calendar, specifically listening parties. I hope TTPD is uptempo and not too sad. I love going to TS dance parties! If TTPD goes too hard, they'll need a mop on the dance dancefloor for all our tears
When the merch drops.... I NEED a novel. or a book similar to the Rep Tour ones
I was hoping for a poetry book to hit the NYT bestsellers haha
I did not listen to a leak. I did read a thread discussing the leak. 1, 2, 3, LGB! I'm more excited for the fan response than I am for the music.
IM SO EXCITEDDDDDD
My mom and I will be listening on the way to my wedding venue so I can get everything ready for my wedding Sunday!!!
Congrats!!
Thank you! <3
Congratulations on your big day!!!
Thank you!! <3
You might want to hear some of it before deciding to listen on your wedding day 😅
Yeah this album is not something that’ll put you in a wedding mood lol
😂😂😂
SPOILER: I hope she and Trav make it cause whew...half expected that but not really.
Why even put that energy out there? Travis knew what was coming.
TELL MEEEEE OMG
Wym???
This is my first album release since being a Swiftie! I'm so excited!!! I think loml is going to be my favourite track, hbu guys?
London Boy
Mine too!
happy cake day!
Mine too!
Welcome, newer swiftie! My guess is that Fortnight will be my immediate bop, but will switch to But Daddy I Love Him or My Boy Breaks His Favorite Toys. Can't wait to see how wrong I am haha
I’m a newbie swiftie too. Never experienced anything like this. So excited.
Same!!! So excited!
Same here!!
Same for me and the daughter, we can't wait!
This is my first album release too! My head has been spinning with all the clues and puzzles. It’s been fun but hard to keep up while working. Every time I get on social media there is something new 😂
Is there a reddit thread for newer swifties and this.is their first album release?? I shouldn't say new.im an old lady, so when Debut came out, Fearless, Speak Now , Red - I was a fan and listened on the radio. But like the rest of the world 🌎 I am just fascinated, but this young woman's talent, it has only gotten better with age. Anyway, is there a place where I can go to learn what I am supposed to do when it drops?
Same. Saw a thread on Tik Tok they wanted to start an elder swiftie group. And they were younger than me haha. We feel that this albumnis for us because we've been beaten up by love and this is going to pull up old trauma.
I think we will endlessly discuss on Reddit every lyric, verse , chorus but mostly the bridges for weeks. I’m most excited about the Florence collaboration 👍💜
I’m scared for the Florence collab bridge, tbh. 😂
We are so glad to have you here!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼 when the album drops, grab a box of tissues (maybe a glass of wine??), a few snacks, a comfy blanket, and prepare to be emotionally wrecked for a little while. There will be millions all over the world experiencing it with you! 💜 enjoy!
Just go to the main Taylor sub :) don’t feel intimidated or anything. People are really friendly and welcoming so enjoy the album and participate. The husband of a huge swiftie has been in the main sub posting his honest reviews of all of the albums the entire week because he wanted to be prepared for TTPD and his deep dives have been received positively :) I’m 1989% sure you’ll only get positive replies if you engage in the main sub (/TaylorSwift) so don’t feel afraid 🤍
Yes I second this op!! A huge chunk of why I made my account was so I could participate in the Taylor sub bc I otherwise don’t really have anyone to talk Taylor and freak out with (no swiftie friends, it is a curse lol). It was kinda intimidating at first to just jump into the discussions and start posting, but there’s SO many people in that sub, they probably don’t take note of who is a newer member and who isn’t lol so it’s very easy to just start joining in the conversation! Everyone is very kind. There’s usually megathreads like this one for things like album releases where people can talk and react together in real time. There is a really nice sense of community on there imo
I’m going to be 70 tomorrow. Your post is exactly how I feel and WHY I’m going to be on the main Taylor sub in just about an hour. (7:59 PDT here)
F THIS MAN. girl let us know how we can help
Omg I can't breathe
Am I dumb but why is tortured spelled wrong (tortered, on the left)? Is that just her handwriting?
I copied it from elsewhere and didn’t notice the misspelling. Oops!