Exploring Taylor Swift's Depiction of Marriage in 'The Artistic Musings Collection'

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Taylor Swift is known for singing about progressing in relationships, and she didn't avoid the subject of marriage in her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department.

After the release of TTPD on April 19, dedicated fans, also known as Swifties, noticed similarities in the lyrics about wedding rings. In her 2019 album Lover, she talked about getting married with "paper rings," while in TTPD she mentioned "imaginary rings" in the song "Fresh Out the Slammer."

In the song, Swift appeared to share her experience of reconnecting with Matty Healy after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Some fans believe that other songs from TTPD may be about Alwyn and their six-year relationship that ended before marriage.

Swifties also observed that the pop star wore a white gown, possibly a wedding dress, in her music video for "Fortnight" with Post Malone.

Scroll down for every time Swift alluded to marriage on TTPD:

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‘The Tortured Poets Department’

In the song "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys," Swift reflects on the nature of love and heartbreak. The lyrics convey a sense of bittersweet nostalgia, as she sings about the pain of watching someone you care about self-destruct. She poignantly sings, "My boy only breaks his favorite toys / And he cuts his fingers wide open on his favorite knives / But I saw the forest and I got lost in it."

Using a metaphor for a child no longer wanting to play with a broken toy, Swift sang, “He saw forever, so he smashed it up, oh, oh.”

‘So Long, London’

'But Daddy I Love Him'

Swift expressed her feelings of betrayal and heartbreak in a song about her breakup with Alwyn. She questioned his love for her, singing, "You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues? I died on the altar waitin’ for the proof."

While seemingly defending her relationship with Healy, Swift sang, “No, you can’t come to the wedding / I know he’s crazy but he’s the one I want.”

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‘Fresh Out the Slammer’

Swift seemingly detailed the end of her relationship with Alwyn, singing, “At the park where we used to sit on children’s swings / Wearing imaginary rings.”

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Swift expressed feelings of betrayal as her relationship with Alwyn came to an end. In the chorus, she sang about the quick progression from a kiss to marriage, portraying a sense of legendary love. The second verse highlighted the hurtful words exchanged, with mentions of talking about rings and cradles.

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Swift was torn between the idea of trying to win back her lover or feeling angry about the situation. She expressed her conflicting emotions through lyrics like, "Whether I’m gonna be your wife or / Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet."

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‘How Did It End?’

Swift referenced the nursery rhyme “K-I-S-S-I-N-G” in her song, singing about the progression from love to marriage to having a baby. She expressed feeling lost and overwhelmed, with her ghostly companion by her side, sitting in a tree and facing death.

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‘So High School’

Swift referenced a viral video of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, being asked to play "Marry, Kiss, Kill" with her, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry back in 2016. Kelce chose to "kiss" Swift, "kill" Grande, and "marry" Perry at the time.

In one of her tracks about Kelce, Swift sang, "Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me (Kill me) / It’s just a game, but really (Really) / I’m bettin’ on all three for us two (All three)."

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift