Taylor Swift: What her lyrics say about Matty Healy and Joe Alwyn

Swift's newest album, The Tortured Poets Department, marks her first release post her split with Alwyn that initially surfaced in April 2023. Nevertheless, she had a short stint with The 1975's lead vocalist before commencing a love affair with Travis Kelce, the football star at Kansas City Chiefs.

However, it was the brief (but widely discussed) romance with Healy that is documented in various songs on her most recent album, including the eponymous track.

What information have we gathered regarding Swift's involvement with Alwyn and Healy? Keep reading to discover the meaning behind her song lyrics...

Matty Healy stated that The 1975 were detained for a short while by the Malaysian government. He defended his action of kissing his bandmate on stage during a festival held in the country.

Department Of Tormented Poets

Fans initially believed that Taylor Swift's album title was aiming to mock her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's chat group name, The Tortured Man Club. However, upon listening to the title track, "Folklore", it appears that the song is referencing her brief relationship with Matty Healy in 2019.

In the song, she croons: "You indulged in smoking and gobbled up seven chocolate bars. We agreed that Charlie Puth deserves more recognition as an artist."

"I give you a head rub and you drift off to sleep, much like a tattooed golden retriever."

Initially, the musical group of Healy, The 1975, has a melody entitled Chocolate that pertains to the consumption of marijuana.

Additionally, Charlie Puth's mention came as a shock to his fans, however, the artist has previously performed songs by The 1975 and Taylor Swift.

Finally, the lyric mentioning the "golden retriever with tattoos" is most likely about Healy, who has a significant amount of body art.

"Daddy, I Love Him" - Fluently Expressed

After watching The Little Mermaid movie from Disney in 1989, Swift was motivated to respond to those who judged her for having a brief relationship with The 1975's lead singer in her song But Daddy I Love Him.

In her song, Swift croons about well-dressed Sarahs and Hannahs who are holding onto their pearls, huffing about the chaos. She adds, "I won't change my mind, even if it seems wild. He's the one for me."

In May 2023, when news spread that the two were dating, fans became skeptical and surprised. The concern was more for Swift's reputation, given Healy's history as a troublemaker and the string of controversies he has been associated with. This is in contrast to how Joe Alwyn is perceived- as a private and respectable individual.

In her blog post, But Daddy I Love Him, Swift stands up for her romantic involvement with Healy and admits that it may seem unconventional.

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Fixing Him? Yes, I Can

It's possible that I Can Fix Him, No Really I Can was influenced by Healy in some way. The lyrics mention a man exhaling smoke and cracking crude jokes at a high volume.

In plain terms, Healy is a recognized individual who smokes frequently and has been involved in various controversial incidents.

Just like the song "But Daddy I Love Him," Swift's "No Really I Can" also has her standing up for her relationship. In this track, Swift addresses the doubters shaking their heads and saying "God, help her" when she tells them that her man is hers. However, Swift doesn't believe that her lord needs to do anything to make things better. She confidently proclaims that she can fix him all on her own, without anyone's help.

World's Tiniest Man In History

The song titled The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived appears to be aimed at Healy and their failed romance. Healy is referred to indirectly as a man dressed in a "Jehovah's Witness suit," and the lyrics mention "ruining my bright summer days."

Healy typically dons a suit and tie during his performances, and he and Swift were romantically involved during the initial stretch of her Eras Tour last summer.

Afterwards, she sings "Because once it was no longer taboo, it lost its appeal, and I would have sacrificed everything for you" which could be interpreted as how their relationship lost its allure when it became known to the public and received criticism. She also may be referencing how she defended Healy during his numerous negative media instances.

In the song "So Long, London", Swift expresses her emotions about leaving a place she considered her home for six years with her significant other, Joe Alwyn.

In the song, she expresses, "I departed from everything that was familiar to me, and you abandoned me at the residence by Hampstead Heath. I decided to cease performing CPR because it was futile." The lyrics pertain to the dwelling she and Alwyn once resided in located in north London's Hampstead Heath.

One of the most devastating lines in this song is "I'm angry that I gave you all my best years without being compensated," which alludes to their relationship's beginning at the age of 26 and ending six years later.

The blog post probably refers to Loml's romantic involvement with Alwyn, wherein she had the impression that they would be inseparable. However, the reality turned out to be fleeting despite their belief that it would last forever.

It appears that Swift shared her belief that they were close to starting a family and tying the knot through the lyrics "You spoke negatively about me behind my back/We talked about engagement rings and starting a family."

Another suggestion that indicates that this song is about Alwyn is the line, "You love black and white movies/All those unexpected turns and thrilling moments," which might imply that he is an actor (and his love for black and white photography as shown on his Instagram).