Taylor Swift
James Devaney/GC ImagesThere are a number of theories about whether or not Taylor Swift‘s observe “The Black Dog” is about ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn — however is it additionally a reference to an actual place?
Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Departmentwas launched on Friday, April 19, and inside two hours, she shocked followers with The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthologywhich featured 15 extra songs. “The Black Dog” was one of many new additions after beforehand being teased as a bonus observe.
“I am someone who until recent events you shared your secrets with and your location / you forgot to turn it off / And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog,” Swift, 34, sings, seemingly referencing her break up from Joe Alwyn after six years of courting.
She continued: “I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me in The Black Dog when someone plays The Starting Line and you jump up, but she’s too young to know this song that was intertwined in the magic fabric of our dreaming.”
When Swift initially introduced The Black Dog variant in March, followers assumed the title was a reference to her weathering the aftermath of a breakup. The Black Dog variant even included a lyric on the again, which learn, “Old habits die screaming,” which linked again to Swift’s despair playlist that she created forward of TTPD’s launch.
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn GOR/GC Images
However, there’s a bar referred to as The Black Dog Freehouse in Vauxhall, which is situated in Alwyn’s native England. Fans have already began leaving feedback on the pub’s Instagram posts and The Black Dog Freehouse social media has additionally been having enjoyable by selling Swift’s music on their official account. Their Instagram bio now reads, “Pub, restaurant & beer garden 🎶Home to tortured poets @taylorswift.”
“The Black Dog” shouldn’t be the one observe that made references to life in England. Swift additionally launched a observe titled “So Long, London,” which supplied a glimpse into her breakup from Alwyn, 33. The former couple began courting in 2017 and sometimes collaborated on her music earlier than calling it quits.
They’re so attractive! Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn saved their romance comparatively non-public, however there have been loads of milestones to look again on previous to their April 2023 break up. Swift’s relationship with the U.Okay. native was made public in May 2017. One 12 months later, a supply advised Us Weekly solely that the “Cardigan” singer believed […]
Us Weekly confirmed in April 2023 that Swift and Alwyn parted methods attributable to their romance being too high-profile.
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
Jackson Lee/GC Images“Joe is very shy and never liked all of the attention that came with dating one of the most popular singers in the world,” a supply advised Us earlier than noting that Swift wasn’t at “fault” for the breakup. “[Joe] just didn’t like having to be on all of the time.”
Swift moved on with ex Matt Healy — who gave the impression to be the primary inspiration for TTPD — however their connection shortly fizzled out. She has since been courting boyfriend Travis Kelcewho she went public with late final 12 months.
In February, Swift introduced the discharge of her eleventh album on the 2024 Grammy Awards, saying, “[The way I can celebrate my Grammys win] is by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the past two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19th. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department and I’m going to go post the cover right now backstage.”
Devoted Swifties subsequently identified that Alwyn beforehand talked about having a bunch chat with an analogous title, which featured Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott.
“It’s the Tortured Man Club, I think. It’s me, you — and Andrew Scott started the group,” Alwyn stated throughout Variety’s Actors on Actors interview particular in December 2022. “[Andrew is] just messaging himself good mornings. We were both in the Sally Rooney universe and crossed over with Lenny Abrahamson. We were so lucky to have that experience.”
