Taylor Swift's Inspiration: Exploring Songs About Travis Kelce in 'The Tortured Poets Department'

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce started dating before Taylor released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, and fans are curious to know if there's a special love song dedicated to him.

Although most of the songs on Taylor's album talk about her past relationships with guys like Matty Healy and Joe Alwyn, there is one song called "The Alchemy" that seems to be inspired by her current romance with Kelce.

Swift cleverly incorporates football references in her lyrics as a subtle nod to her boyfriend, who plays as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. In one of her songs, she sings about standing out from the rest and being the one to beat, alluding to her special connection with her boyfriend. She also mentions a sign on his heart that is reserved just for her, questioning who they are to resist their strong bond.

In another song, Swift seems to recall a moment she shared with her boyfriend on the field after he won the Super Bowl LVIII. She describes a scene where his friends lift him up in celebration, with beer spilled on the floor and cheers filling the air. The lyrics suggest disbelief at his success in becoming the greatest in the league and the search for the elusive trophy.

In the second batch of surprise songs released hours later, Taylor Swift appears to mention Kelce again on the track "So High School." She compares falling for the athlete to feeling like she is 16 again.

On this upbeat track, she sings, "I’m watching American Pie with you on a Saturday night / Your friends are around so be quiet / I’m trying to stifle my sighs." She continues, "Cause I feel so high school every time I look at you / But look at you."

Swift keeps up with the teenage references in the bridge of the song, where she sings about playing truth or dare and spinning bottles. She also mentions not being as smart as Aristotle and being ready to learn new things at full speed.

In 2023, Swift started dating Kelce, who is 34 years old. They met when the Kansas City Chiefs tight end tried to give her his number using a friendship bracelet at her Eras Tour. Even though it didn't work out at first, they eventually got together. Swift began supporting Kelce by attending his football games and even cheered him on during Super Bowl LVIII.

Taylor Swift revealed her 11th studio album in February, following her win of the 13th Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Even though Kelce couldn't make it to the ceremony because he was getting ready for the Super Bowl, he did manage to get a sneak peek of the new album and was really impressed.

Travis Kelce Recaps Coachella Madness With Girlfriend Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce shared his excitement for Taylor Swift's upcoming music during a press event, saying, "I have heard some of it. It is unbelievable. I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops."

During her concert in Melbourne, Australia weeks later, Swift shared the reason behind writing TTPD amidst her hectic touring schedule.

In March, she expressed to the audience, "I felt the need to create it. It was like a lifeline for me. It made me remember why songwriting is so important to me. I've never relied on songwriting as much as I did for Tortured Poets."

Are you looking forward to a specific track from 'The Tortured Poets Department'? In that same month, a source shared exclusively with us that Swift had already penned a few songs inspired by her relationship with Kelce, but she was keeping them under wraps.

According to an insider, Taylor Swift has written at least two songs that are very personal and revolve around her love story and feelings for her partner. These tracks are so special to her that she may not share them with anyone, as songs are like poetry to her and a way of expressing her emotions. Her relationship with Travis has been a major inspiration for her songwriting.

When Taylor announced her new album, TTPD, many fans speculated that it would be her breakup album dedicated to her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The couple dated for six years before parting ways in April 2023. Interestingly, the album title itself may be a reference to Alwyn, as he, along with Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, were part of a group chat with a similar name.

"It's called the Tortured Man Club, I believe. It was started by me, you, and Andrew Scott," he mentioned during Variety's Actors on Actors interview special in December 2022. "Andrew is always sending himself good morning messages. We all were part of the Sally Rooney world and worked with Lenny Abrahamson. We felt really fortunate to be a part of that."

The Tortured Poets Department is available now.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, has sparked speculation among fans about the inspiration behind its songs. While the album primarily focuses on Swift's past relationships, there are subtle hints that point to her current romance with Travis Kelce. Swift's clever incorporation of football references and nostalgic lyrics in "The Alchemy" and "So High School" suggests that Kelce has become a muse for her songwriting.

The album's title itself, which echoes the name of a group chat between Kelce and his friends, further supports the theory that he has had a significant influence on Swift's creative process. Swift's decision to keep some of her Kelce-inspired songs private highlights the deeply personal nature of her songwriting and the importance of her relationship with the football star in her life.