Taylor Swift Breaks Down Songs from ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Album
In an exclusive commentary on Amazon Music, Taylor Swift provides insights into some of the tracks from her 11th studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’
’Fortnight’
Taylor explains that this song, featuring Post Malone, explores “a lot of the common themes that run throughout this album,” including fatalism, longing, and lost dreams. She notes that the song is “very hyperbolic, dramatic” and represents a “kind of album” that revolves around “life or death.”
’My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys’
This song, produced with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, is about “being somebody’s favorite toy until they break you and then don’t want to play with you anymore,” according to Taylor. She relates it to the experience of being valued in a relationship and then suddenly being devalued or discarded.
’Florida!!!’
Taylor reveals that the inspiration for this duet with Florence Welch came from her love of the TV show ‘Dateline’ and the topic of criminals escaping to Florida. The song explores the desire to reinvent yourself and escape the past after experiencing a heartbreak.
’Clara Bow’
Taylor discusses the pressures and criticisms faced by women in the entertainment industry, using the song ‘Clara Bow’ as a commentary. She draws parallels between her own experiences and those of past female stars like Clara Bow, Stevie Nicks, and others.
’Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?’
This song, according to Taylor, is a response to the “all the things we do to our artists as a society and as a culture.” She expresses frustration with the way artists are put under scrutiny and pressure, and how it can lead to their pain and suffering.
