Taylor Swift’s album The Tortured Poets Department has finally dropped, following her surprising announcement at the 2024 Grammys just two months ago.
During a concert in Melbourne, Australia, the global sensation shared that this album served as a lifeline for her, emphasising the significance of songwriting in her life.
Swift expressed that she had never relied on songwriting as much as she did for Tortured Poets.
“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,” she explained.
Now, fans are eagerly dissecting the lyrics of the album’s 31 songs, speculating about the individuals they may reference.
Among the theories circulating is whether the album sheds light on the reasons behind Swift’s break-up with former partner Joe Alwyn.
Who is Joe Alwyn?
Alwyn is an English actor who was relatively unknown before dating Swift.
He appeared in Ang Lee’s 2016 war drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, before performances in films such as The Favourite, Boy Erased, Mary Queen of Scots, and Harriet.
After six years together, Swift and Alwyn reportedly called it quits over “differences in their personalities”.
At the time, a source said: “They’ve had rough patches before and always worked things out, so friends thought they would take some time apart but eventually come back together.”
Their collaboration extended beyond romance, as Alwyn contributed to 10 of Swift’s songs released between 2020 and 2022. Notably, their collaboration on “Exile” from Swift’s eighth studio album, Folklore, earned critical acclaim, winning Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Why did Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn break up?
The news of their split broke on 8 April 2023, just over a year ago, with reports flooding in as insiders close to Swift and Alwyn shed light on the couple’s situation.
At the onset of Swift’s Eras tour a year ago, Alwyn had been notably absent from any of her shows.
A source revealed to People on 22 March 2023, that Alwyn would accompany her when possible, highlighting their strong bond and his support for her career.
However, two weeks later it was revealed the surprising news: Swift and Alwyn had ended their relationship “a few weeks ago”. According to a source, the split was attributed to the natural conclusion of their relationship.
According to sources, one significant factor contributing to their divergence was Alwyn’s struggle to cope with the spotlight accompanying Swift’s fame.
Reflecting on their early days, another source told People: “They fell in love in a safe bubble while she was retreating from the world during Reputation. Then the pandemic hit, and they were locked down together, continuing to nurture their relationship in isolation. However, once the pandemic ended, Joe found it challenging to cope with Taylor’s fame and the public attention, causing their personalities’ disparities to become more apparent.”
Similarly, a source quoted by The Daily Mail on the same day noted: “Ultimately, they both realised they were no longer aligned. Joe struggled with his career aspirations in Hollywood while dating one of the world’s most famous women. Although they gave it their all, the emergence of Taylor Swift, the superstar, post-pandemic, magnified their differences, leading to the dissolution of their relationship.”
What does Swift say about Alwyn on The Tortured Poets Department?
The standout track from The Tortured Poets Department that likely references the actor is “So Long, London”, a poignant ballad where Swift bids farewell to the city that was something of a home to her for six years.
In heart-wrenching lyrics, she reminisces, “I left all I knew you left me at the house by the Heath,” possibly alluding to her relocation from the US to Alwyn’s homeland in pursuit of a quiet, private life with him.
Despite their relationship beginning in early 2017, engagement rumours persisted throughout their long-term romance. However, Swift seemingly dispels these speculations on “Loml”, hinting that they never progressed beyond contemplating their future.
In “So Long, London,” she appears to touch on the loneliness she experienced when Alwyn was absent from their shared home, singing of the moment she discovered he had left: “I founded the club she’s heard great things about / I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath / I stopped CPR, after all it’s no use / The spirit was gone, we would never come to.”
The song “I Can do it With a Broken Heart” contrasts sharply with Swift’s onstage persona, delving into her hidden misery. “Lights, camera, bitch smile / even when you want to die,” she sings, followed by a chilling reference to her concerts: “All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting, ‘More!’”
On the 14th track of her album, Swift delivers a message, likely directed at Alwyn, whom she refers to as “the smallest man who lived”. She expresses her lack of desire to reconcile, instead seeking clarity on whether sacrificing her happiness for their relationship was worthwhile.