TTPD The Timeline: Lyric Analysis

1. Early Stage / Rekindling of the Relationship

• "Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus" — Matty (written about the decade before they rekindled relationship, imo): This song reflects on past betrayals and complicated history before their recent rekindling.
• "The Tortured Poets Department" — Matty, Phoebe trolling fans: During the rekindling phase, this song addresses the media frenzy and public speculation surrounding their relationship, especially with Phoebe Bridgers’ involvement in trolling the fans.
• "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys" — Matty: Taylor acknowledges the fragile nature of their rekindled relationship, hinting at the potential for heartbreak and disappointment.
• "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" — Matty: A hopeful yet resigned tone as Taylor delves into her belief that she can be a positive influence in Matty’s life despite knowing his complexities.

2. Peak of the Relationship / Intense Connection

• "Fortnight" — Matty and Sylvia Plath: The chaotic and passionate stage of their relationship, where Taylor expresses the intensity and fleeting nature of their love, using Sylvia Plath as a metaphor for emotional turmoil.
• "Guilty as Sin?" — Matty fantasizing about him while she is with Joe: During the overlapping phase with Joe, Taylor grapples with her emotional attraction to Matty, exploring the lines of emotional infidelity.

3. Conflict / Complications Arise

• "But Daddy I Love Him" — Matty being cancelled by the fans, it’s a country song like the fans always wanted but it’s not nice to these fans who want to control her life: Taylor addresses the backlash from her fans, who disapproved of Matty, showing defiance in loving him regardless of their judgment.
• "Fresh Out the Slammer" — Both, Joe was the slammer and Matty is her first phone call: Joe represents the emotional prison she felt confined in, while Matty becomes the escape and the person she turns to for freedom.
• "imgonnagetyouback" — Matty after the breakup, unsure if she's going to get even or try to fix the situation: Post-breakup, Taylor is caught between revenge and reconciliation, showing her conflicted emotions about Matty.
• "Down Bad" — Matty: Taylor captures the depth of her longing and emotional pain, as she struggles with the difficulties of their intense relationship. She compares him to an alien that lovebombed and abuducted her and she's waiting to be taken back on the ship because she's ruined for regular life now.
• "Peter" — Matty, continuation of Cardigan: This track reflects the whimsical nature of their reconnection, like picking up a youthful, unfulfilled romance. Matty was said to have said at one point their relationship was fun when it was in secret but not after.

4. Breakup / Aftermath

• "The Black Dog" — Matty after the breakup, hoping his favorite bar is ruined for him: A darker reflection on the aftermath of their breakup, with Taylor hoping to leave a haunting impact on Matty’s life and memories.
• "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" — Matty at the end of the relationship, post drugs, and actually getting to be with him after fresh out of the slammer after waiting 14 years: A brutally honest portrayal of Matty’s downfall and the disillusionment Taylor felt as their relationship came to an end.
• "loml" — Matty: Taylor reflects on the loss of what she considered the love of her life, mourning the end of their intense connection and the resulting emptiness.
• "I Look In People’s Windows" — Matty breakup: Taylor’s loneliness and longing for connection after their split, feeling like an outsider looking into other people's lives.
• "The Albatross" — Taylor herself, more ambiguous, and the “you” could be Matty, Joe, both, or any/all of her lovers who need to reckon with her fame and what it means for their own life: A song reflecting on the weight of her fame and its impact on her relationships, potentially referencing Matty and others who struggled with her public life.

5. Post-Breakup / Reflection

• "The Alchemy" — Travis by placement on the album and the football metaphors, but I strongly believe this was originally written for Matty (a rekindled relationship, the heroine line) and repurposed for Travis after the breakup: Originally intended for Matty, this song showcases the longing for rekindling and the idea of their love being transformative before being repurposed for Travis.

Relationship with Joe Alwyn

1. "How Did It End?" — Joe: Explores the slow decline and eventual breakup of their relationship, filled with introspective questioning.
2. "So Long, London" — Joe: A heartfelt goodbye to both Joe and the life they built together in London.
3. "I Hate It Here" — Taylor herself, but during the time of her relationship with Joe and he is referenced (ouch): Taylor reflects on the disconnection and longing for escape during her relationship with Joe.

Nostalgia and Reflections on the Past

4. "Robin" — More ambiguous song, I read it as Taylor singing to a younger version of herself: A nostalgic look back at her childhood, singing with tenderness and self-reflection.
5. "Peter" — Matty, continuation of Cardigan: Also fits into this category with its whimsical nature and reference to lost innocence and unfulfilled love.

Personal Reflections and Self-Identity

6. "Clara Bow" — Taylor herself: Reflects on her role in the industry, comparing herself to the iconic Clara Bow and the cycles of fame.
7. "The Bolter" — Taylor herself: Depicts her tendency to run away from deep emotional connections, exploring her own patterns of detachment.
8. "The Prophecy" — Taylor herself: A track about breaking free from the expectations and prophecies others have placed on her, trying to take control of her own destiny.
9. "Cassandra" — Taylor, snakegate: Reflects on the aftermath of the "snakegate" controversy, feeling silenced and betrayed despite telling her truth.

Conflicts with the Media and Public Perception

10. "thanK you aIMee" — Kim Kardashian: A direct response to her feud with Kim Kardashian, revisiting the feelings and aftermath of that public conflict.
11. "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" — Don’t come for my job is the ending line, referencing Karlie and Scooter’s actions against her, showing her resilience and proving she can withstand attacks from those who’ve tried to undermine her.

New Relationship with Travis Kelce

12. "So High School" — Travis: A light-hearted and nostalgic track celebrating the carefree nature of new love and a fresh start.
13. "The Alchemy" — Travis, by placement on the album and football metaphors: Though originally written for Matty, this song has been repurposed to reflect her relationship with Travis, focusing on their undeniable chemistry and new beginnings.

Metaphorical and Symbolic

14. "Florida!!!" — A coming out for the old ME! Taylor who kills off the eras Taylors to be reborn, as a metaphor. Truman in 'The Truman Show': Symbolizes her rebirth and reclaiming of her true self, shedding past personas and embracing authenticity.
15. "The Manuscript" — Unclear, perhaps an older muse (John or Jake) and event in her life. It's closeted Taylor, she's the man- you - script like 'The Truman Show': A contemplation of her public persona versus her private self, questioning the scripts she’s been forced to follow.

If you'd like any further details or have other specific groupings in mind, feel free to ask!