31 Tortured Lyrics from Taylor Swift’s 'The Tortured Poets Department' | ABS-CBN
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31 Tortured Lyrics from Taylor Swift’s 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Firas Abboud
Published Apr 30, 2024 01:57 PM PHT
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Updated May 02, 2024 07:28 PM PHT
Yes, 31 songs. Taylor Swift just dropped 31 songs. It’s a lot to take in, I know, which is why Itook the liberty of helping you ease into this double album. How? By introducing you to eachsong through its tortured lyrics.
Yes, 31 songs. Taylor Swift just dropped 31 songs. It’s a lot to take in, I know, which is why Itook the liberty of helping you ease into this double album. How? By introducing you to eachsong through its tortured lyrics.
Before we begin, I have to make a disclaimer–the goal of this list is to highlight how relatableTaylor Swift’s lyrics are. If you consider yourself a new Swiftie or you just happen to be curiousabout the album, then trust me when I say that there is nothing to worry about. There won’t beany album comparisons or references to Taylor Swift’s life… for now.
Before we begin, I have to make a disclaimer–the goal of this list is to highlight how relatableTaylor Swift’s lyrics are. If you consider yourself a new Swiftie or you just happen to be curiousabout the album, then trust me when I say that there is nothing to worry about. There won’t beany album comparisons or references to Taylor Swift’s life… for now.
1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone) – “I love you; it’s ruining my life.”While it may be slightly surprising that the title track is not the first single, it only takesone listen to Fortnight to understand why it was chosen instead. The tortured lyricsabove captures the album as a whole and prepares the listener for what lies ahead.
1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone) – “I love you; it’s ruining my life.”While it may be slightly surprising that the title track is not the first single, it only takesone listen to Fortnight to understand why it was chosen instead. The tortured lyricsabove captures the album as a whole and prepares the listener for what lies ahead.
2. The Tortured Poets Department – “You’re not Dylan Thomas. I’m not Patti Smith. Thisain’t the Chelsea Hotel. We’re modern idiots… we’re two idiots.”There’s a saying that life imitates art, and we sometimes purposefully imitate art whenliving our lives – in this case, mirroring people we look up to. Sadly, there are timeswhen we realize that we’re not writers and poets like Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith; theenvironment we’re in is not like the Chelsea Hotel which housed such visionaries.
2. The Tortured Poets Department – “You’re not Dylan Thomas. I’m not Patti Smith. Thisain’t the Chelsea Hotel. We’re modern idiots… we’re two idiots.”There’s a saying that life imitates art, and we sometimes purposefully imitate art whenliving our lives – in this case, mirroring people we look up to. Sadly, there are timeswhen we realize that we’re not writers and poets like Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith; theenvironment we’re in is not like the Chelsea Hotel which housed such visionaries.
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3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys – “He saw forever so he smashed it up.”I love the title of this track because really, when we were younger, the toys we end upbreaking are the toys we play with the most. And when they broke, we cried because wethought that those toys would be with us forever. So, yes, it’s a different story whensomeone breaks something that promises forever.
3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys – “He saw forever so he smashed it up.”I love the title of this track because really, when we were younger, the toys we end upbreaking are the toys we play with the most. And when they broke, we cried because wethought that those toys would be with us forever. So, yes, it’s a different story whensomeone breaks something that promises forever.
4. Down Bad – “’Cause fuck it, I was in love. So fuck you if I can’t have us.”Ah, that moment when we just curse out loud when it dawns on us that we really can’thave the person we love. Then right after, we direct that curse towards that person wecan’t have. Oh, what could have been…
4. Down Bad – “’Cause fuck it, I was in love. So fuck you if I can’t have us.”Ah, that moment when we just curse out loud when it dawns on us that we really can’thave the person we love. Then right after, we direct that curse towards that person wecan’t have. Oh, what could have been…
5. So Long, London – “I’m just mad as hell ’cause I loved this place for so long, London –had a good run, a moment of warm sun, but I’m not the one. So long, London”It’s normal to associate people with places, which is why it’s so heartbreaking when wehave to let go of both. Eventually, we tell ourselves to just make new memories in thatsame place with another person but of course, it’ll never be like it was the first timearound.
5. So Long, London – “I’m just mad as hell ’cause I loved this place for so long, London –had a good run, a moment of warm sun, but I’m not the one. So long, London”It’s normal to associate people with places, which is why it’s so heartbreaking when wehave to let go of both. Eventually, we tell ourselves to just make new memories in thatsame place with another person but of course, it’ll never be like it was the first timearound.
6. But Daddy I Love Him – “Growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up atall.”There are moments in life that will make you look back and reflect. In retrospect, didgrowing up too fast do more good than bad? Did I waste my childhood years? How can Itell that I’m all grown up?
6. But Daddy I Love Him – “Growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up atall.”There are moments in life that will make you look back and reflect. In retrospect, didgrowing up too fast do more good than bad? Did I waste my childhood years? How can Itell that I’m all grown up?
7. Fresh Out The Slammer – “But it’s gonna be alright. I did my time.”To give ourselves hope, we sometimes have to convince ourselves that things are goingto turn out okay since we’ve put in the work, made some sacrifices, went through thefire and came out alive.
7. Fresh Out The Slammer – “But it’s gonna be alright. I did my time.”To give ourselves hope, we sometimes have to convince ourselves that things are goingto turn out okay since we’ve put in the work, made some sacrifices, went through thefire and came out alive.
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8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine) – “Little did you know your home’s really only atown you’re just a guest in.”It’s a weird, inexplicable feeling when home suddenly doesn’t feel like home anymore.Will you stay until it feels like home again? Or do you move out and look for anotherplace to call home?
8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine) – “Little did you know your home’s really only atown you’re just a guest in.”It’s a weird, inexplicable feeling when home suddenly doesn’t feel like home anymore.Will you stay until it feels like home again? Or do you move out and look for anotherplace to call home?
9. Guilty as Sin? – “Am I allowed to cry?”One form of emotional torture is when you doubt and question certain feelings, makingyou question whether you’re allowed to feel such feelings. Self-inflicted guilt is torturebecause no one can talk you out of it but yourself.
9. Guilty as Sin? – “Am I allowed to cry?”One form of emotional torture is when you doubt and question certain feelings, makingyou question whether you’re allowed to feel such feelings. Self-inflicted guilt is torturebecause no one can talk you out of it but yourself.
10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? – “Put narcotics into all of my songs, and that’s whyyou’re still singing along.”What’s heartbreaking about these lyrics is the fact that the truth can make someone runaway. It’s the fact that you need to hide the pain, dull the senses, and add somethingaddictive to make someone stay.
10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? – “Put narcotics into all of my songs, and that’s whyyou’re still singing along.”What’s heartbreaking about these lyrics is the fact that the truth can make someone runaway. It’s the fact that you need to hide the pain, dull the senses, and add somethingaddictive to make someone stay.
11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) – “I can fix him, no, really, I can. Woah, maybe I can’t.”Whether you’re saying these lyrics to yourself or to someone else, it’s painful when youhave to further convince yourself or another person that what you want to happen ispossible… only for it to be coupled with doubt.
11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) – “I can fix him, no, really, I can. Woah, maybe I can’t.”Whether you’re saying these lyrics to yourself or to someone else, it’s painful when youhave to further convince yourself or another person that what you want to happen ispossible… only for it to be coupled with doubt.
12. LOML – “It was legendary. It was momentary. It was unnecessary.”While the change from “love of my life” to “loss of my life” moved me to tears, it’s thesuccession of these lyrics that broke me. Have you ever wanted to remember and forgeteverything at the same time?
12. LOML – “It was legendary. It was momentary. It was unnecessary.”While the change from “love of my life” to “loss of my life” moved me to tears, it’s thesuccession of these lyrics that broke me. Have you ever wanted to remember and forgeteverything at the same time?
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13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart – “You know you’re good when you can even do it with abroken heart.”Can I get personal here? These lyrics reminded me of the time when I had a workpresentation thirty minutes after someone broke up with me. How about you? Whenwas a time you felt good because you did something with a broken heart?
13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart – “You know you’re good when you can even do it with abroken heart.”Can I get personal here? These lyrics reminded me of the time when I had a workpresentation thirty minutes after someone broke up with me. How about you? Whenwas a time you felt good because you did something with a broken heart?
14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived – “And I’ll forget you, but I’ll never forgive thesmallest man who ever lived.”People always talk about forgiving and not forgetting, but what happens if it’s the otherway around? Is it possible to forget the sum of the parts but single out one part forever– a part you’ll never forgive?
14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived – “And I’ll forget you, but I’ll never forgive thesmallest man who ever lived.”People always talk about forgiving and not forgetting, but what happens if it’s the otherway around? Is it possible to forget the sum of the parts but single out one part forever– a part you’ll never forgive?
15. The Alchemy – “He jokes that it’s heroin but this time with an ‘E’.”It’s a double-edged sword when a “something” that gives us so much happiness andbliss turns into a “someone.” What happens when something we supposedly havecontrol over turns into someone who has a mind of their own?
15. The Alchemy – “He jokes that it’s heroin but this time with an ‘E’.”It’s a double-edged sword when a “something” that gives us so much happiness andbliss turns into a “someone.” What happens when something we supposedly havecontrol over turns into someone who has a mind of their own?
16. Clara Bow – “Beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours, demanding ‘more’.”Oscar Wilde once said that beauty is a form of genius. In fact, it’s higher than geniusbecause it needs no explanation. In today’s time, however, it feels as if beauty needs allthe explanation in the world.
16. Clara Bow – “Beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours, demanding ‘more’.”Oscar Wilde once said that beauty is a form of genius. In fact, it’s higher than geniusbecause it needs no explanation. In today’s time, however, it feels as if beauty needs allthe explanation in the world.
17. The Black Dog – “I move through the world with the heartbroken.”It’s one thing to go through life with a broken heart alone; it’s another to do so knowingthat there are people around you experiencing the same. However, yes, there will stillbe days where you feel all alone even when amongst the fellow brokenhearted.
17. The Black Dog – “I move through the world with the heartbroken.”It’s one thing to go through life with a broken heart alone; it’s another to do so knowingthat there are people around you experiencing the same. However, yes, there will stillbe days where you feel all alone even when amongst the fellow brokenhearted.
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18. imgonnagetyouback – “Told my friends I hate you, but I love you just the same.”Ah, a lie we tell our friends, even though we know it’s far from the truth. Hey, there’s acertain kind of peace that goes with keeping such love to yourself. However, isn’t it alsotorture when you can’t tell your friends about the love you have for someone?
18. imgonnagetyouback – “Told my friends I hate you, but I love you just the same.”Ah, a lie we tell our friends, even though we know it’s far from the truth. Hey, there’s acertain kind of peace that goes with keeping such love to yourself. However, isn’t it alsotorture when you can’t tell your friends about the love you have for someone?
19. The Albatross – “You were sleeping soundly when they dragged you from your bed, and Itried to warn you about them.”What if someone you love is suffering the consequences of not listening to a piece ofadvice you gave? What do you tell them? Do you say, “I told you so”? Will you still offera helping hand?
19. The Albatross – “You were sleeping soundly when they dragged you from your bed, and Itried to warn you about them.”What if someone you love is suffering the consequences of not listening to a piece ofadvice you gave? What do you tell them? Do you say, “I told you so”? Will you still offera helping hand?
20. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus – “Could it be enough to just float in your orbit?”Oh, the desire to be in proximity of someone you love, even if your presence isn’t evenacknowledged. Of course, we know it’s not enough, but we settle for it any way becauseit’s better than nothing at all.
20. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus – “Could it be enough to just float in your orbit?”Oh, the desire to be in proximity of someone you love, even if your presence isn’t evenacknowledged. Of course, we know it’s not enough, but we settle for it any way becauseit’s better than nothing at all.
21. How Did It End? – “I can’t pretend like I understand. How did it end?”It takes a lot of courage to admit we don’t understand or have forgotten something.Don’t we understand because we never thought it would end? Did we forget because itwas too painful?
21. How Did It End? – “I can’t pretend like I understand. How did it end?”It takes a lot of courage to admit we don’t understand or have forgotten something.Don’t we understand because we never thought it would end? Did we forget because itwas too painful?
22. So High School – “Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me? It’s just a game, but really I’mbetting on all three.”So high school, indeed. And betting on all three – not surprising. After all, when it comesto the game we call love, we really just want to be considered, be offered a chance toplay.
22. So High School – “Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me? It’s just a game, but really I’mbetting on all three.”So high school, indeed. And betting on all three – not surprising. After all, when it comesto the game we call love, we really just want to be considered, be offered a chance toplay.
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23. I Hate It Here – “All you’ll ever be is my eternal consolation prize.”It’s a torturous feeling when you know that no matter what you try to do, that someonewill always be a consolation prize to you. How do you tell that someone they’ll never bethe grand prize?
23. I Hate It Here – “All you’ll ever be is my eternal consolation prize.”It’s a torturous feeling when you know that no matter what you try to do, that someonewill always be a consolation prize to you. How do you tell that someone they’ll never bethe grand prize?
24. thanK you aIMee – “But when I count the scars, there’s a moment of truth that therewouldn’t be this if there hadn’t been you.”Whenever we talk about the scars we have in life, we tend to give credit to the peopleand experiences that gave us those scars. “I won’t change a thing because I wouldn’t bethe person I am today…” Familiar words, right?
24. thanK you aIMee – “But when I count the scars, there’s a moment of truth that therewouldn’t be this if there hadn’t been you.”Whenever we talk about the scars we have in life, we tend to give credit to the peopleand experiences that gave us those scars. “I won’t change a thing because I wouldn’t bethe person I am today…” Familiar words, right?
25. I Look in People’s Windows – “A feather taken by the wind blowing, I’m afflicted by thenot knowing.”There’s a reason why we have a saying that goes, “Better the devil you know.” If yourmind is that feather and not knowing feels like the wind blowing, then imagine themany far places your mind will go. That’s quite the torture.
25. I Look in People’s Windows – “A feather taken by the wind blowing, I’m afflicted by thenot knowing.”There’s a reason why we have a saying that goes, “Better the devil you know.” If yourmind is that feather and not knowing feels like the wind blowing, then imagine themany far places your mind will go. That’s quite the torture.
26. The Prophecy – “I guess a lesser woman would’ve lost hope; a greater woman wouldn’tbeg, but I looked to the sky and said please.”The concept of the golden mean talks about being in the middle of two extremes. Iflosing hope and not begging are the two extremes, then to be in the middle meanshaving to beg. Maybe picking an extreme doesn’t sound so bad.
26. The Prophecy – “I guess a lesser woman would’ve lost hope; a greater woman wouldn’tbeg, but I looked to the sky and said please.”The concept of the golden mean talks about being in the middle of two extremes. Iflosing hope and not begging are the two extremes, then to be in the middle meanshaving to beg. Maybe picking an extreme doesn’t sound so bad.
27. Cassandra – “When it’s ‘Burn the bitch’, they’re shrieking. When the truth comes out, it’squiet.”I can’t help but think of the metaphor of shooting the messenger with these lyrics. It’sso easy to ignore the message and just focus on who delivered the message. And can Ijust add how I love the several witch references in this album?
27. Cassandra – “When it’s ‘Burn the bitch’, they’re shrieking. When the truth comes out, it’squiet.”I can’t help but think of the metaphor of shooting the messenger with these lyrics. It’sso easy to ignore the message and just focus on who delivered the message. And can Ijust add how I love the several witch references in this album?
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28. Peter – “But the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light.”There comes a point in life when we must wake up and stop waiting, hoping, anddreaming. There comes a point in life when we must step outside and start doing,creating, and living.
28. Peter – “But the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light.”There comes a point in life when we must wake up and stop waiting, hoping, anddreaming. There comes a point in life when we must step outside and start doing,creating, and living.
29. The Bolter – “But as she was leaving, it felt like breathing.”It’s sad that leaving can have such a negative connotation. People associate leaving withgiving up, saying that quitting is an easy way out. But why does it always have to bedifficult? There’s relief in leaving. There’s peace in letting go.
29. The Bolter – “But as she was leaving, it felt like breathing.”It’s sad that leaving can have such a negative connotation. People associate leaving withgiving up, saying that quitting is an easy way out. But why does it always have to bedifficult? There’s relief in leaving. There’s peace in letting go.
30. Robin – “And you have no idea buried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we allvowed to keep it, from you, in sweetness.”Ignorance is bliss, yes, but have you ever thought about the things purposefully keptfrom you, by the people in your life?
30. Robin – “And you have no idea buried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we allvowed to keep it, from you, in sweetness.”Ignorance is bliss, yes, but have you ever thought about the things purposefully keptfrom you, by the people in your life?
31. The Manuscript – “And at last she knew what the agony had been for… now and then Ire-read the manuscript, but the story isn’t mine anymore.”When all is said and done, more often than not the best thing to do is to pay it forward.Because you see, a good story is the story that gets passed on.Needless to say, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is such a good story. Youmade it all the way to the end, after all. And you’ll pass it on too, right?
31. The Manuscript – “And at last she knew what the agony had been for… now and then Ire-read the manuscript, but the story isn’t mine anymore.”When all is said and done, more often than not the best thing to do is to pay it forward.Because you see, a good story is the story that gets passed on.Needless to say, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is such a good story. Youmade it all the way to the end, after all. And you’ll pass it on too, right?
Lead photos from @taylorswift
Lead photos from @taylorswift
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