The Tortured Poets Department - Taylor Swift Lyrics
The Tortured Poets Department
ANNOTATIONS:
In 2018, Taylor Swift's rumored muse, Matty Healy, discussed his love for typewriters in a video interview with GQ. Typewriters were first invented in 1868 and played a significant role in the aesthetic of Swift's 11th studio album. However, they have been replaced by electronic devices like computers and phones, leading to the belief that typewriters are old-fashioned and complicated. Taylor claims her lover is weird and crazy for using such an old machine, but she knows she will come out as a hipocrite since she too uses a typewriter.
Matty Healy has engaged in self-sabotaging behavior as he has publicly shared his struggle with addiction. In her song "Exile," Swift compares a bad situation to seeing a movie or TV show, with the latter being shorter and only an episode from a show. The lyrics of "Exile" and "Dear John" share similarities, with the former referring to a situationship she keeps coming back to, while the latter may refer to a relationship she keeps coming back to, even if it ends up not being together.
The words "decode" and "bars" could be referring to the early days of typewriter development, suggesting she was trying to fix him, which could connect to a later track on the album, "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)." The Chelsea Hotel, a luxury 12-storey hotel in Manhattan, New York, is known for its history and renowned occupants, including Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith. Taylor is self-deprecating in saying that she and her lover are not Dylan Thomas or Patti Smith, as their romance is not legendary.
Matty Healy is known for smoking, with the 1975's song "Chocolate" featuring "bars" as lines in a song. The phrase "bars" might be referring to a line from the 1975's song "Nana." Charlie Puth, an American pop artist, is known for his classic songs like "Marvin Gaye" and "We Don't Talk Anymore."
Matty Healy, the rumored muse of the song, has many tattoos and has spoken about his struggles with nightmares. He believes that nightmares and migraines are the two defining problems in his life. The phrase "read this one" could be referring to a news article criticizing him, while "Cyclone" may refer to the media storm that followed Taylor's reported relationship with The 1975 singer Matty Healy in May 2023.
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy, who were first linked in 2014, entered into a brief relationship in 2023. Healy faced criticism for dating Healy due to his past controversies, including mocking the ethnicity of rapper Ice Spice. Healy has since apologized publicly and privately to the rapper.
The song "You Left Your Typewriter at My Apartment" is likely referring to Grammy Award-winning artist Lucy Dacus, who was part of a band with Swift's fellow collaborator Phoebe Bridgers. The song's alleged subject is rumored to be about Matty Healy, who was close friends with Taylor and supported her at one of her shows. However, their friendship ended when Healy tweeted that he told Lucy Dacus that 'Boygenius' had inspired him and George to start a new band called 'Girlr****d'.
The song also references Jack Antonoff, who is a close friend of Swift's and frequent collaborator on her albums. The song "At Dinner, You Take My Ring Off My Middle Finger And Put It On The One People Put Wedding Rings On" suggests that Healy put a ring on Swift's middle finger to imply they were engaged or to joke about it, but it wasn't a joke for her. This moment is possibly referenced on the album cover and its variants as it depicts Swift wearing two rings, possibly as a symbol of her break-up.
Matty Healy has been open about his love of typewriters, suggesting that the typewriter left behind carries more weight than just a forgotten possession; it carries the aura of creativity, emotion, and possibly even pain associated with their relationship. Healy suggests that this typewriter becomes a bittersweet symbol of their past relationship and the creative energy they once shared.
Introduction
"The Tortured Poets Department" is the second track on Taylor Swift's *The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology*. Co-produced by Jack Antonoff and Swift, the song delves into a complex relationship marked by self-sabotage, artistic tension, and emotional dependency. The lyrics highlight a tumultuous yet deeply connected bond, exploring themes of love, creative frustration, and existential musings. With witty dialogue and a self-aware critique of their pretensions, Swift paints a vivid picture of two modern "tortured poets" navigating love and art in a world far removed from romanticized past figures like Dylan Thomas or Patti Smith.
Song Info
- Producers: Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift
- Release Date: April 19, 2024
- Genre: Alternative Pop, Synth-Pop, Singer-Songwriter
- Album: *The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology*
Exploring the Lyrics of "The Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift
This track serves as a commentary on the romanticized image of tortured artists, expressed through the lens of a modern, fraught relationship. Swift offers both self-reflection and humor, while challenging the notions of what it means to be a "tortured poet" in today's world. The song balances the intimate with the ironic, juxtaposing deep emotional moments with clever asides.
Verse 1
The song opens with Swift reflecting on her partner leaving a typewriter at her apartment—an overt symbol of artistic angst. She critiques this gesture with the question, "Who uses typewriters anyway?" signaling her awareness of the performative nature of their relationship. Her partner is in "self-sabotage mode," a recurring theme in the song, where their destructive behavior is met with Swift’s understanding and, to some extent, acceptance. Despite having seen this pattern before ("I've seen this episode"), she remains emotionally invested, asking, "Who else decodes you?"
Chorus
The chorus contrasts romantic intimacy with the realization that their connection may be unique, despite its dysfunction. Swift mocks their pretensions with the line, "You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith," drawing attention to their artistic posturing. By rejecting the idealized version of their relationship ("This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we're modern idiots"), Swift recognizes that their struggles, though intense, are far from extraordinary. Yet, there's a deep bond ("Who's gonna hold you like me?") that persists beneath the irony.
Post-Chorus
The post-chorus underscores the irreplaceable nature of their relationship, with Swift emphasizing that "Nobody" could understand or connect with her partner in the same way. The repetition of "No-f**king-body" adds emotional weight to her frustration and resignation.
Verse 2
The second verse captures more intimate details of their relationship, painting a vivid picture of mundane yet significant moments. Swift describes her partner eating "seven bars of chocolate" and their shared opinion on pop artist Charlie Puth, signaling both humor and closeness. However, her partner's recurring anxiety is revealed when they awaken with "dread" and "pounding nails" in their head. The line "I chose this cyclone with you" suggests that despite the chaos, Swift is willingly committed to the storm of their relationship.
Bridge
The bridge reveals deeper emotional stakes, as both partners express fears of losing each other. Swift references a conversation in which her partner tells someone that they would "kill yourself if I ever leave," signaling the intensity of their emotional codependence. Swift admits to feeling "seen" in this moment, indicating the shared madness that binds them together. The verse ends on a tender note, with a symbolic gesture of her partner moving a ring to her wedding finger, a subtle yet profound expression of their bond.
Outro
The outro brings the song full circle, returning to the image of the typewriter left behind. Swift repeats the line, "Who else decodes you?" suggesting that despite the turbulence, their connection is built on a deep understanding of each other's complexities.
Song Theme
The central theme of "The Tortured Poets Department" revolves around love, artistic frustration, and the myth of the "tortured artist." Swift critiques this romanticized notion by highlighting the flawed, modern-day reality of such relationships. The song is both a reflection on emotional codependency and a playful commentary on the self-importance often associated with artists. Through witty references and personal anecdotes, Swift explores how art, love, and identity intertwine in her own life.
Technical an*lysis
Musically, the song leans into a rich, alternative pop sound, with Jack Antonoff’s production offering a minimalist backdrop that emphasizes the lyrics. The instrumentation includes a Hammond B-3 organ, acoustic and electric guitars, and light percussion, creating a spacious soundscape that complements the introspective mood of the song. The conversational tone in the verses contrasts with the emotional intensity of the chorus, while the stripped-back arrangement allows Swift’s voice to shine through. The bridge introduces a swelling instrumental buildup, adding to the emotional climax before the song quietly resolves in the outro.
Comparisons to Previous Work
"The Tortured Poets Department" shares similarities with earlier songs like "The Archer" and "My Tears Ricochet," where Swift reflects on vulnerability, self-doubt, and emotional complexity. However, this track adds a more playful, self-aware dimension, as Swift uses humor to dissect the seriousness of her relationship. The juxtaposition of raw emotion with ironic commentary distinguishes this song from her previous introspective works.
Artist
Taylor Swift continues to evolve her songwriting, blending personal narratives with broader cultural critiques. Known for her sharp observations and emotional depth, Swift frequently uses her music to explore the intricacies of relationships, self-identity, and societal expectations, as she does here with a mix of vulnerability and wit.
LYRICS:
[Verse 1]
You left your typewriter at my apartment
Straight from the tortured poets department
I think some things I never say
Like, "Who uses typewriters anyway?"
But you're in self-sabotage mode
Throwing spikes down on the road
But I've seen this episode and still loved the show
Who else decodes you?
[Chorus]
And who's gonna hold you like me?
And who's gonna know you, if not me?
I laughed in your face and said
"You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we'rе modern idiots"
And who's gonna hold you like me?
[Post-Chorus]
Nobody
No-f**king-body
Nobody
[Verse 2]
You smokеd, then ate seven bars of chocolate
We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist
I scratch your head, you fall asleep
Like a tattooed golden retriever
But you awaken with dread
Pounding nails in your head
But I've read this one where you come undone
I chose this cyclone with you
[Chorus]
And who's gonna hold you like me?
(Who's gonna hold you? Who's gonna hold you?)
And who's gonna know you like me?
(Who's gonna know you?)
I laughed in your face and said
"You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we're modern idiots"
And who's gonna hold you like me?
(Who's gonna hold you? Who's gonna hold you?)
[Post-Chorus]
No-f**king-body
(Who's gonna hold you? Who's gonna hold you?)
Nobody
(Who's gonna hold you? Gonna know you? Gonna troll you?)
Nobody
[Bridge]
Sometimes, I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me
But you told Lucy you'd kill yourself if I ever leave
And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen
Everyone we know understands why it's meant to be
'Cause we're crazy
So tell me, who else is gonna know me?
At dinner, you take my ring off my middle finger
And put it on the one people put wedding rings on
And that's the closest I've come to my heart exploding
[Chorus]
Who's gonna hold you? (Who?)
Me
Who's gonna know you? (Who?)
Me
And you're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we're two idiots
Who's gonna hold you?
[Post-Chorus]
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Who's gonna hold you?
Gonna know you? Gonna troll you?
[Outro]
You left your typewriter at my apartment
Straight from the tortured poets department
Who else decodes you?