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Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In her 11th studio double-album “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” Taylor Swift beautifully weaves her emotions into lyrics that are equally scathing and heartbreaking, journeying through the five stages of heartbreak. The album captures the vulnerability and rawness after a devastating heartbreak. Although the album spans 31 songs, here are six from each album, 12 total, that gives a deeper glimpse into the woes of heartbreak.
“So Long, London”
“You swore that you loved me,
but where were the clues?
I died on the altar waitin’ for the proof”
With yet another devastating track 5, “So Long, London” gives a glimpse into the end of Swift’s past relationship and the heavy burdens she carried as everything started to fall apart. The lyrics weave together to form a story painted with hurt, vulnerability, and desperation. She sings about trying to hold on, only to realize that it wasn’t enough to revive the dying relationship.
“But Daddy I Love Him”
“I’d rather burn my whole life down
Than listen to one more second of all this gripin’ and moanin’
I’ll tell you something ’bout my good name
It’s mine alone to disgrace
I don’t cater to all these vipers dressed in empath’s clothing”
On the outside, this may feel like the older, rebellious sister to “Love Story,”with the reference to “The Little Mermaid” and its themes of love. But as we look closer at the lyrics, Swift promptly crafts a message to her haters, saying how she is indignant of the criticism she receives about her relationships.
“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”
“Cause you lured me and you hurt me and you taught me
You caged me and then you called me crazy
I am what I am ’cause you trained me
So who’s afraid of me?
Who’s afraid of little old me?”
Accompanied by a hauntingly cinematic and beautiful instrumental track, Swift pours out her heart through chaotic and confrontational lyrics. The self-written lyrics reflect how she undertook the criticism as her life played out on a stage for all the world to see. With its dramatic crescendos and powerful lyrics, this song is definitely scream-worthy.
“loml”
“You talked me under the table
Talkin’ rings and talkin’ cradles
I wish I could un-recall
How we almost had it all”
“loml” is arguably one of the most gut-wrenching ballads in the album, where you slowly start to realize that you’re not meant for each other, but it hurts anyway. Throughout the song, the meaning of the title quickly shifts from “love of my life” to “loss of my life,” signaling the dramatic change a relationship can go through in a period of time. The shift from hearing wedding bells in the distant future to hearing nothing but silence.
“I Can Do It With a Broken Heart”
“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”
Have you ever smiled through the pain? Put on a face to show that you’re fine when you’re really breaking inside? This bottled up feeling is even heavier when it’s filled with feelings of sorrow and heartbreak. Yet the juxtaposition of the song’s powerfully painful lyrics hidden behind a catchy beat indicates the mask Swift had to put on during her Eras Tour while dealing with a broken heart.
“The Alchemy”
“Baby, I’m the one to be
‘Cause the sign on your heart
Said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?”
Who’s to say you can’t come back stronger than ever? Swift definitely feels the ray of hope once again in this song. A song that provides a happier and more distinct perspective on love despite the melancholic undertone of the album. The lyrics are full of giddy happiness and blissful love that are a stark contrast to the other songs, so maybe this album wouldn’t be as heartbreaking.
“The Black Dog”
“That was intertwined in the tragic fabric of our dreaming
‘Cause tail between your legs you’re leaving
And I still can’t believe it
‘Cause old habits die screaming”
This song’s soft melody holds an ethereal yet melancholy feel, and then dynamically crescendos into the main lyric “old habits die screaming,” unveiling her confusion over the end of her relationship and how lost she feels in the midst of it. “The Black Dog” is not only a reference she uses to a place where they used to frequent back in London, but a metaphorical meaning of depression, a heavy feeling Swift has felt since then.
“imgonnagetyouback”
“Bygones will be bygone, eras fading into grey
Rebuild all the pieces, but still wanna play the game
Told my friends I hate you, but I love you just the same
Pick your poison, babe, I’m poison either way”
“There’s a thin line between love and hate” they say. But what if I’m unsure of how I feel about you? This question is explored heavily throughout this song as Swift expresses her conflicting emotions of love and hate. The title of the song itself indicates a double meaning of wanting someone back, either for a second chance or for revenge. The back and forth lyrics pair well with the up-beat tempo in such a way that it makes the initial message relatable.
“How Did It End?”
“We were blind to unforeseen circumstances
We learned the right steps to different dances
And fell victim to interlopers’ glances
Lost the game of chance, what are the chances?”
In the aftermath of a breakup, the most common question you hear is “how did it end?” and never “how are you doing?”. The lyrics serve as a warning that when your relationship is under a microscope, no one really wants to hear about how you’re doing, but only how the breakup happened. Though this may feel like a solemn song, what’s most devastating about it is that sometimes it can be the truth.
“So High School”
“And in a blink of a crinklin’ eye
I’m sinkin’, our fingers entwined
Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights
Tell me ’bout the first time you saw me”
High school sweethearts and winning prom king and queen, what more could be better? Swift compares the love that she feels now to how a high school experience might feel, full of highs and amazing memories. Considering “So High School” is one of the few love songs on the album, you can be happy for at least 3:48 minutes until the tears come back.
“The Prophecy”
“A greater woman has faith
But even statues crumble if they’re made to wait
I’m so afraid I sealed my fate
No sign of soulmates
I’m just a paperweight, in shades of greige”
The feeling of waiting and waiting can be torturous, especially if it’s for something you desperately yearn for. Swift shares a rare type of vulnerability in this song as she mentions her fear and uncertainty over her life. Though she acknowledges her success, she yearns for a love that will last and questions whether it’s her fate to be in love or to be alone. Yet in the midst of this hopelessness, she doesn’t lose faith and resilience.
“Cassandra”
“So, they killed Cassandra first ’cause she feared the worst
And tried to tell the town
So, they filled my cell with snakes, I regret to say
Do you believe me now?”
“Cassandra” is the literal definition of a mad woman, at least according to the Greeks back then. With vivid imagery and excellent storytelling, Swift explores themes of betrayal, isolation, and insanity as she references the story of Cassandra of Troy. She details the frustration of no one believing you and the immediate silence that follows as soon as the truth is revealed. She draws parallels between Cassandra of Troy to her own life, as she sings about the lies spread about her and the hate she’s received, but knowing the truth all along.
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Though “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” has a vast array of songs, each song’s production, lyrics, and beat are intricately intertwined to compose an album full of love and loss. While altogether the songs tell the story detailed by the five stages of heartbreak, each track presents a unique perspective of a love that burned too much and all that’s left is the ashes of heartbreak.
