Exploring Taylor Swift's 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' Playlist: Understanding Acceptance

Feature Breaking Down Taylor Swift I Can Do It With a Broken Heart Playlist

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Taylor Swift knows a lot about heartbreak, and she also understands the process of healing that follows.

Before her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, was released on Friday, April 19, Swift put together Apple Music playlists that explored the five stages of grief. Each playlist was connected to a different version of her new album. The last playlist, called "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart," represents the stage of acceptance.

Introducing my 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' playlist on Apple Music, where we embrace acceptance and moving forward from heartbreak. These songs symbolize making space for positivity in life and choosing to move forward. Loss may bring gain too.

Swift revealed her 11th album at the 2024 Grammy Awards, almost a year after confirming her split from Joe Alwyn. During an Eras Tour performance, she described writing TTPD as a lifeline. Fans who attended the tour or watched the concert film may have seen Swift finding solace in the song "You're on Your Own, Kid."

The acceptance playlist for the 2022 Midnights hit has been a highlight of the Eras Tour, being performed five times as a surprise song - the most out of any other song. It has become an anthem for Swift's post-Alwyn chapter and even inspired her fans to create friendship bracelets. Swift's current boyfriend, Travis Kelce, once tried to give her a bracelet with his phone number on it during one of her July 2023 concerts, before they started dating. Their love story perfectly reflects the lyric, "Everything you lose is a step you take."

Travis Kelce Breaking Down Taylor Swift I Can Do It With a Broken Heart Playlist

It is unclear how much of the Midnights album was influenced by Alwyn, but it is evident that there were issues in the duo's relationship before they broke up. According to a source, Swift's fame played a significant role in their decision to split. Some fans speculate that the song "Midnight Rain" being included in the acceptance playlist suggests a partner's reluctance to be in the spotlight or to live in Swift's shadow.

In the chorus, she sings about the contrast between them: he was sunshine, she was midnight rain. He preferred comfort while she embraced pain. He sought a bride while she focused on making her own name and chasing fame. Despite his consistency, she underwent a transformation.

Although Swift was already a major figure in the music industry, her status soared even higher during her relationship with Alwyn, especially with the release of Folklore and Evermore in 2020. At the start of their romance, Swift was laying low due to the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West drama, but eventually, everything changed for her. The sun and rain imagery is also evident in the song "Peace" from Folklore.

"I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" moves on to the next Midnights track, "Labyrinth," which talks about the fear of getting too deeply involved in a relationship too quickly. During a commencement speech at New York University in May 2022, Swift left a hidden message for her fans by mentioning lyrics from "Labyrinth" before the song was even released.

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In May 2022, she shared a message of resilience: "Hard things will happen to us, we will recover, we will learn from it, we will grow more resilient because of it." She emphasized the importance of breathing, stating, "As long as we are fortunate enough to be breathing, we will breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep and breathe out."

Swift enjoys dropping clues for her fans to decipher, and one of the biggest hints may have been when she performed “The 1” instead of “Invisible String” during a concert in April 2023, just before news of her breakup with Alwyn. Even though she never explained the switch, “The 1” has remained on her setlist ever since. This song, along with “August,” which was co-produced by Alwyn, are both part of the acceptance playlist.

During the 2020 documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, Swift shared her interpretation of the songs. She explained that “Cardigan” is from Betty's perspective many years later, reflecting on a turbulent past love. In her mind, Betty and James ultimately end up together, despite the challenges they faced in their relationship.

In the song "August," James reflects on her summer romance and acknowledges, "You were never really mine."

Alwyn played a role behind the scenes in Swift's album Evermore, a companion to Folklore. He collaborated with Swift and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on the title track. Vernon also lends his vocals to the song. "Evermore" captures the narrator's journey through a period of depression ("Gray November, I’ve been down since July") that eventually shifts towards hope and renewal.

Joe Alwyn Breaking Down Taylor Swift I Can Do It With a Broken Heart Playlist

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Swift sings about a feeling that is uncertain, but she is hopeful that the pain will not last forever.

On the acceptance playlist, four more songs from Evermore are featured, including "Happiness." This song reflects on the good memories of a relationship that has ended. Despite the pain, the song acknowledges that no one person is to blame for the heartache. Fans have found irony in the sad tone of the song despite its title suggesting a positive emotion.

The playlist features songs like “Long Story Short,” “Closure,” and “It’s Time to Go.” The latter song serves as a reminder for both the listener and possibly Taylor Swift herself to trust their intuition, even when it's tough to move on from a situation.

In the lyrics, she sings, “Sometimes, giving up is the strong thing / Sometimes, running away is the brave thing / Sometimes, walking out is the one thing / That will lead you to the right thing.”

Swift doesn't just stick to heartbreak songs. In tracks like "I Forgot That You Existed" from Lover and "Now That We Don’t Talk" from the vault of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), she looks at the brighter side of moving on after a breakup.

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In a recent performance, she sang about not pretending to enjoy acid rock or being on a mega yacht with important men who have important thoughts. She reflects that maybe she is better off now that they don't talk.

Including “Daylight” as a soundtrack to acceptance offers a fresh perspective to the beloved song. When Lover came out in 2019, the track seemed to symbolize a new love brightening Swift’s life following a series of unsuccessful relationships. Now, it can be said that moving on from that same relationship is what allowed her to “step into the daylight.”

Learning to let go is a lesson that Swift has truly embraced. When discussing her inspiration for “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” which was originally released in 2014, Swift openly talked about recognizing when a relationship has reached its end.

In an interview with iHeartRadio, she shared a personal experience about caring for someone who is not ready for a relationship. She emphasized the importance of letting go of someone you care about if you know it's not the right time for them. It can be tough to make that decision, but being selfless in relationships is crucial. If the person is meant to be in your life, they will come back.

Breaking Down Taylor Swift I Can Do It With a Broken Heart Playlist

In the lyrics of “Clean (Taylor’s Version)” and “Begin Again (Taylor’s Version,” Taylor Swift expresses similar feelings. In 2015, she shared about the moment she realized she stopped thinking about an ex after a breakup.

She shared with Elle that she wrote "Clean" while leaving Liberty in London. It dawned on her that she had been in the same city as her ex for two weeks without even thinking about it. When the realization finally hit her, she simply wished him well and nothing more.

A crucial aspect of moving on is forgiveness, a theme explored in "Innocent (Taylor's Version)," one of the final tracks on the playlist. This song was penned in the aftermath of West's infamous VMAs interruption. Swift acknowledges that the incident does not define him and expresses hope for his growth and change. It's interesting to note that at the time of their split, Alwyn was 32 and "still growing up now," while West was also 32 when she released the track.

"I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” ends with “Breathe (Taylor’s Version),” where she sings about the difficulty of reaching acceptance. She reminds us that sometimes things just don't work out between people, and no words can prevent the aftermath.

Swift will likely share more on The Tortured Poets Department, and fans will have plenty to dissect about her breakup with Alwyn. One thing is clear though: she is prepared to start anew.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" playlist, released in conjunction with her upcoming album, explores the journey of healing and acceptance after heartbreak. The playlist features songs from her previous albums, including her post-breakup album Midnights, which reflect the various stages of grief. Swift's music offers a relatable and comforting narrative for those navigating the challenges of heartbreak, reminding them that they are not alone in their pain and that healing is possible.

The playlist's title track, "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart," encapsulates the spirit of resilience and determination that comes with accepting heartbreak. The lyrics convey the idea that while heartbreak can be painful and overwhelming, it is not a permanent state of being. With time and support, it is possible to heal and move forward, carrying the lessons learned from the experience. Swift's personal experiences with heartbreak, which she has often shared through her music, add depth and authenticity to the playlist's message, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking solace and guidance during difficult times.