Exploring Taylor Swift's Literary Influences Pre-'The Tortured Poets Department'

A Complete Guide to Taylor Swift s Literary References Before The Tortured Poets Department 880

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Before the Tortured Poets Department was even a thought for Taylor Swift, she incorporated references to classic literature in her music.

As far back as 2006, Swift made a nod to Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" in her song "The Outside" from her first album. In the lyrics, she sang, "I tried to take the road less traveled by, but nothing seems to work the first few times, am I right?"

The first lines in Taylor Swift's songs were just the beginning of her many literary references. She later included allusions to works by authors like Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne. One of her most famous songs, "Love Story," was inspired by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In 2010, Swift revealed that studying the play in ninth grade had influenced the track.

During a talk at Scholastic headquarters, Swift shared her love for poetry. She mentioned how people who are drawn to music often appreciate poetry because of its rhythmic words that come together perfectly. Swift expressed her admiration for poetry, highlighting how the right rhymes at the end of sentences can make words bounce off a page.

Keep reading for a complete, alphabetical guide to all of the literary references in Swift’s discography:

A Complete Guide to Taylor Swift’s Literary References Before ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

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‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’

In 2014, Swift paid tribute to Lewis Carroll's famous children's book in her album 1989 with the bonus track "Wonderland." The song tells the story of the narrator and her lover falling down a rabbit hole and getting lost in a magical world together. At one point, she sings about how her fears were calmed by a smile resembling the Cheshire Cat's.

In 2020, Swift once again referenced Carroll's work in the song "Long Story Short" from her album Evermore. In this song, she sings about falling from a pedestal and going right down the rabbit hole.

‘All’s Well That Ends Well’

In Taylor Swift's song "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" from the album Red (Taylor's Version) released in 2021, she references Shakespeare's comedy with the line, "They say all’s well that ends well, but I’m in a new hell / Every time you double-cross my mind."

She previously referenced the play on “Lover” from the 2019 album of the same name, singing, “All’s well that ends well to end up with you.”

The Bible

‘Compassion’

Taylor Swift’s song “Now That We Don’t Talk” from her 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album, released in 2023, makes a reference to a Bible story from the book of Exodus. In the lyrics, Swift compares someone to parting the crowd like the Red Sea, similar to how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

In Taylor Swift's song "Ivy" from the album Evermore released in 2020, she includes a line inspired by Miller Williams' poem "Compassion" from 1997. The verse goes, "I’d meet you where the spirit meets the bones." In Williams' poem, the line reads, "You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone."

A Complete Guide to Taylor Swift’s Literary References Before ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

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‘The Great Gatsby’

Swift first mentioned the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel in her song “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” from the album Reputation in 2017. The lyric goes, “Feeling so Gatsby for that whole year,” referencing the character Jay Gatsby known for his extravagant parties that mask his questionable past.

In her song “Happiness” from the album Evermore three years later, Swift made another nod to the book. The lyric, “I hope she’ll be a beautiful fool who takes my spot next to you,” is a twist on Daisy’s wish for her daughter to be a “beautiful little fool.” Additionally, the line “All you want from me now is the green light of forgiveness” is a reference to the book’s iconic green light symbolizing Gatsby’s unattainable dreams.

‘Humpty Dumpty’

In the song "The Archer" by Lover, there is a reference to the popular nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty." The lyrics mention, "All the king’s horses, all the king’s men / Couldn’t put me together again."

‘The Iliad’

The 1989 bonus track “You Are in Love” features a subtle mention of The Iliad with the lyrics, “And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars.” This line appears to allude to the legendary Trojan War, a conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans sparked by Paris's abduction of Helen from her husband, Menelaus, the king of Sparta.

King Midas

The famous song "State of Grace" from the album Red makes a reference to Achilles, a legendary hero from the Trojan War, with the line, “These are the hands of fate, you’re my Achilles heel.” Interestingly, the epic poem Iliad by Homer does not actually mention Achilles having a vulnerability in his heel.

Swift seems to have a fascination with mythology, as shown in the song "Champagne Problems" where she mentions King Midas, who could turn things into gold by touching them. In the lyrics, she sings about a character with a "Midas touch on the Chevy door."

‘One for the Money’

Peter Pan

In "Champagne Problems," Taylor Swift also pays homage to the classic children's rhyme "One for the Money," a popular rhyme that dates back to the 19th century. The lyrics in the song go, "One for the money, two for the show / I never was ready, so I watch you go."

The Red Thread of Fate

In the Folklore track “Cardigan,” Taylor Swift mentions the character Peter created by J.M. Barrie. She specifically mentions Peter losing Wendy in one part of the song. Later on, she talks about chasing shadows in the grocery line, which appears to be a reference to how Peter chases his shadow when he visits the Darling children.

"Invisible String" is inspired by the red thread of fate, a concept from East Asian mythology. According to this belief, a invisible cord is tied around the fingers of individuals who are meant to cross paths. In Chinese mythology, Yue Lao, the god of love and marriage, is responsible for connecting people with this red thread.

A Complete Guide to Taylor Swift’s Literary References Before ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

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Robert Frost

Taylor Swift has referenced Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" in three of her songs. The first mention was in "The Outside" from her debut album in 2006, where she sang, "I tried to take the road less traveled by, but nothing seems to work the first few times, am I right?"

She then included the same line in "Illicit Affairs" from Folklore, singing, "Take the road less traveled by, tell yourself you can always stop." The road is mentioned once again in "‘Tis the Damn Season" from Evermore with the lyric, "And the road not taken looks real good now."

‘Romeo and Juliet’

In Taylor Swift's song "Love Story" from her 2008 album Fearless, the narrator compares herself to Juliet and her love interest to Romeo. Unlike Shakespeare's tragic tale, this version has a happy ending as Romeo receives permission from Juliet's father to marry her. The song concludes with the proposal, and with Dad's approval, there is no need for the couple to stage their own deaths in order to be together.

Which Track From ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Are You Most Excited For?

‘The Scarlet Letter’

Taylor Swift makes two references to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel in her music. The first mention is in the song “Love Story,” where she sings, “Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter.”

The second reference can be found in the 2014 bonus track “New Romantics” from her album 1989. In this song, she sings, “We show off our different scarlet letters, trust me, mine is better.”

For a quick recap of high school English class: "The Scarlet Letter" tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is required to wear a red "A" on her clothing after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The scarlet letter stands for adultery.

'Slaughterhouse-Five'

‘Snow White’

Swift not only has a song called "So It Goes" on Reputation, but she also uses the phrase in "Style" and "You Are in Love" from 1989. It is uncertain if she is purposely alluding to Kurt Vonnegut in these songs, but "so it goes" is a frequently repeated line in the author's novel, Slaughterhouse-Five.

Swift mentions the Brothers Grimm fairy tale in her song "The Best Day" from Fearless. She sings, "Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away, but I know I had the best day with you today."

In another part of the song, she refers to Snow White’s friends by saying, "It’s the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs."

‘A Tale of Two Cities’

In Taylor Swift's song "Getaway Car" from her album Reputation, she cleverly references the famous opening line of Charles Dickens' classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Swift's lyrics say, "It was the best of times, the worst of crimes," while Dickens' original quote starts with, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

William Wordsworth

In her Folklore bonus track "The Lakes," Swift paid tribute to the Romantic poet William Wordsworth. The song features a clever pun on Wordsworth's name with the lyric, "I've come too far to watch some name-dropping sleaze tell me what are my words worth."

In the chorus, she sings about wanting to go to the Lakes, where many poets have found their final resting place. One of these poets was Wordsworth, who often wrote about England's Lake District. He passed away at his home in the area in 1850 and was laid to rest at St Oswald's Church in Grasmere.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's extensive use of literary references in her music showcases her literary depth and her appreciation for the power of words. Swift's incorporation of themes and characters from classic works of literature adds layers of meaning and depth to her songs, inviting listeners to explore the connections between the past and present and to find new perspectives on their own experiences. By referencing beloved characters like Romeo and Juliet and Peter Pan, Swift taps into the collective cultural consciousness and evokes a sense of nostalgia and familiarity in her audience.

Furthermore, Swift's references to poets like Robert Frost and William Wordsworth highlight her appreciation for the craft of songwriting and the importance of rhythm and rhyme. Her clever wordplay and subtle allusions demonstrate her literary prowess and her ability to weave together multiple sources to create something entirely new and unique. Swift's use of literary references is not merely ornamental but serves to enhance the emotional impact and resonance of her music, creating a deeper connection with her listeners and inspiring them to appreciate the transformative power of literature and storytelling.