In her track-by-track commentary, Swift unveils the motivations and themes behind several songs on her album. “Fortnight,” the lead single featuring Post Malone, is described by Swift as “a very fatalistic album” with “very dramatic lines about life or death.” Speculation has linked the song’s lyrics to Swift’s rumored relationship with The 1975’s Matty Healy.
Another song rumored to be about Healy, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys,” is said by Swift to be written from the perspective of a child’s toy. The song explores the pain of being valued only until one is broken or discarded.
“Florida!!! Florida!!!,” co-written with Florence + The Machine, reflects on the desire to reinvent oneself after a heartbreak. Swift draws a parallel between people who flee to Florida to escape their past and those who seek a new identity following a painful experience.
“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” expresses Swift’s frustrations with the public scrutiny that musicians face. She criticizes the tendency to judge and criticize artists excessively.
The final song with Swift’s commentary, “Clara Bow,” is a commentary on the industry’s tendency to compare women to their predecessors. Swift references iconic women like Clara Bow and Stevie Nicks, highlighting the pressure on women to meet unrealistic expectations.
