Exploring Taylor Swift's Unreleased 'Tortured Poets Department' Drafts

Breaking Down Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department 1st Drafts That Did Not Make Final Cut

Taylor Swift Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift has decided to share her early lyrical inspirations by releasing her initial drafts from The Tortured Poets Department.

According to Taylor Nation, Swift's official merch page, she is unveiling her #TTPDFirstDraft Phone Memos of songs like 'Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?', 'Cassandra', and 'The Black Dog' on new digital albums.

For a limited time, fans have the opportunity to purchase a special digital edition of The Tortured Poets Department. This edition includes a bonus track voice message where the 34-year-old pop star shares insights into her writing process.

In these recordings, Swift explains that the track "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is about the theme of feeling crazy, while "Cassandra" draws inspiration from ancient mythology.

Cassandra, a figure from Greek mythology, was tasked by Apollo to forewarn others of future disasters. Unfortunately, she was cursed to never be taken seriously. Reflect on this tale in light of today's society and culture.

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Swifties had previously guessed that the song "Cassandra" was about either Kim Kardashian or Scooter Braun. Kim was involved in drama with Kanye West, while Scooter bought the rights to Taylor's music in 2019. Taylor said she was not allowed to buy her own music from her old label, Big Machine Records. Braun has now sold the rights.

Swift sings about how Cassandra was killed first because she feared the worst and tried to warn the town. She also mentions her own experience of having her cell filled with snakes, asking if you believe her now.

Fans have speculated that the snakes mentioned could be a reference to Swift's album Reputation, which is one of the two albums she has yet to rerecord. The 2017 album was originally inspired by her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. West had claimed that Swift gave him permission to use her name in his song "Famous" based on a video call edited together by Kardashian, his then-wife.

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Taylor Swift Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Keep scrolling to see what was added to Swift’s songs in the TTPD First Draft:

‘Cassandra’

Swift had written extra lyrics for “Cassandra” that didn’t make the final cut: “When the first shots fired, they’re screaming.”

‘The Black Dog’

Swift did not mean to name the song after a British pub. In her voice memo, she almost named it “Old Habits Die Screaming” after a lyric in the track.

‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?’

Swift recently added a new song to her Eras Tour set, with the initial lyrics including the line, "You don't get to tell me that I'm bad."

For those interested, the limited edition TTPD bundles can be purchased until Friday, May 17, at 6 p.m. ET.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's release of her initial lyrical drafts from The Tortured Poets Department offers a fascinating glimpse into her creative process. The recordings reveal her thoughtful approach to songwriting and the inspirations behind some of her most beloved tracks. By sharing these drafts, Swift invites fans to engage with her music on a deeper level, appreciating the nuances and evolution of her songwriting.

The article also highlights the ongoing speculation surrounding the meaning of Swift's songs, particularly "Cassandra." Fans have interpreted the track as a commentary on both ancient mythology and contemporary events, with potential references to her personal experiences and industry controversies. Swift's willingness to share her writing process and the interpretations of her fans fosters a sense of connection and intrigue, further solidifying her status as a cultural icon.