Taylor Swift caused a stir at the Grammys earlier this month when she announced her forthcoming eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. This news sent her fans into a frenzy on social media, with many Swifties speculating whether the album title was inspired by her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The “Anti-Hero” singer, 34, and Conversations with Friends actor, 33, were romantically linked from 2017 to 2023.
Swift added to the excitement during her recent Eras Tour concert in Sydney, Australia by revealing that an alternate cover and edition of the album, The Albatross, would be released in April. Fans were delighted to hear that this version includes a bonus track titled “The Albatross,” which has sparked even more speculation about Alwyn’s possible influence on the song’s title.
The Albatross pic.twitter.com/a6QpybYsaG
— saw taylor!!! (@dhivergent_) February 23, 2024
Is Taylor Swift’s New Track & Album Edition ‘The Albatross’ About Joe Alwyn? Here’s Why Fans Think So
On February 23rd, Swift sat at her piano at the Accor Stadium and told her Australian audience: “Direct your attention to the main screen. This is an alternate cover for The Tortured Poets Department.” The Grammy winner then showed a black-and-white photograph of herself with windswept hair, posing on a beach. In the shot Swift could be seen looking directly into the camera and donning a white, long-sleeved top.
She continued, dishing to concertgoers: “And so this edition is called The Albatross because there is an exclusive bonus song on this vinyl called ‘The Albatross’ and I can’t wait for you to hear it.” Soon after Swift announced this, many Swifties headed to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reasoning as to why many thought this was inspired by Alwyn, who Swift dated for nearly six years.
File Name: The Albatross
Pre-order the new edition of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT with exclusive bonus track “The Albatross”on my website nowhttps://t.co/BAtr2MpPIs: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/62Bmrc5zs5
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) February 23, 2024
One fan recently tweeted: “the albatross is the name of a bird that can fly for 6 or more years without touching land. the same amount of time she was with that man. joe alwyn you’re over!” Another added: “the albatross being a clear reference to the time she was isolated with joe alwyn as these birds normally only land on dry land to build nests and most of the time they stay in the open sea far from the rest of the world.”
Someone else chimed in, writing: “The word albatross is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse” JOE ALWYN BE SCARED.” One other Swiftie noted, regarding her recent Sydney setlist: “She sang coney island after announcing the albatross. And what happened in coney island in 1903? A fire was started by one of the ALBATROSS hotel employees because of unrequited love at the west end of the Bowery.”
Alwyn previously co-wrote songs with Swift on her 2020 records Folkore and Evermore under the pseudonym, William Bowery, as more fans pointed out. Swifties previously tied Alwyn to the name of Swift's upcoming record (out April 19th), The Tortured Poets Department, after watching a 2022 interview between the Harriet alum and Irish actor, Paul Mescal.
In the video that reemerged on Twitter, Alwyn engages with Normal People actor, Mescal, 28. The two talk about their membership in a group chat with Fleabag star Andrew Scott titled "The Tortured Man Club." Mescal asks Alwyn: "So what's the name of the WhatsApp group we're in?" in the Variety video, adding, "Tortured..." Alwyn then replies: "It's either 'The Tortured' or 'The Lonely,'" before correcting himself: "'The Tortured Man Club,' I think."
Alwyn then adds: ""It hasn't had much use recently." Mescal then notes: "No, I feel like we're less tortured now." Swift also recently shared the track list for her forthcoming album, and some song titles stuck out to fans online. For example, the fifth song is titled, "So Long London," and many presume that this is about bidding adieu to her romance with the British Alwyn (as they spent so much time in his native city together).
On April 19, 2023, many fans noticed last year that Swift's famous friends (including Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds) unfollowed Alwyn on social media. Another fan tweeted, regarding the April 19th Tortured Poets release date: "The great unfollowing of Joe Alwyn happened after a dinner w/TS and friends that took place April 19, 2023. The Tortured Poets Department release date April 19, 2024. This is not a coincidence. Remember the name of the WhatsApp group chat Alwyn was in."
We're keeping our eyes peeled for more details and Easter eggs until April 19th!
