Everyone Taylor Swift referenced on her title track “The Tortured Poets Department”

Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poet’s Department," was released on streaming platforms at midnight Eastern Time on April 19th. The album, which consists of 17 songs, delves into the inspiration behind its name in the title track.

"Tortured Poet’s Department," is a fitting title for the song as Taylor makes references to renowned poets such as Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith.

The song is rumoured to be about Swift's ex, Matty Healy, who, like Swift, is a singer and songwriter for the band The 1975. Given their shared background as songwriters, the poet references in the song may be an artistic depiction of their shared dynamic.

Matty Healy

Matty Healy, born on April 8, 1989, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the indie art pop band The 1975. Swift's lyrics in the song mention her partner smoking and then eating "seven bars of chocolate," which could be a nod to The 1975's hit "Chocolate." She also describes him as a "tattooed golden retriever," which aligns with Healy's heavily tattooed appearance.

The 35-year-old singer has also been seen smoking on stage while performing with his band The 1975. (Image: Daily Mail)

Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith

In the song, the couple compares themselves to other artists. Swift sings, "I laughed in your face and said, 'You're not Dylan Thomas. I'm not Patti Smith. This ain't the Chelsea Hotel. We're modern idiots.'" Dylan Thomas, known for poems like "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" and "And Death Shall Have No Dominion," was a Welsh writer famous for his troubled life. Patti Smith, a singer-songwriter, is known for blending poetry with rock & roll.

Patti Smith has also talked about Taylor when she told The New York Times in 2019. "It's unbelievable to not be able to go anywhere, do anything, have messy hair. And I'm sure that she's trying to do something good. She's not trying to do something bad. And if it influences some of her avid fans to open up their thoughts, what does it matter?"

Charlie Puth

Swift mentions Charlie Puth singing, "We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist," indicating that both she and her partner in the song agreed on this. Puth has expressed admiration for Swift in the past, often covering her songs during his shows.

In the year that Swift joined TikTok, she and Puth had a charming interaction on the platform. Swift revealed, "I've been quietly following your account for a long time! Thanks for the welcome, piano prince," along with a crown emoji, confirming that she has been a fan of his for some time.

Jack Antonoff

Another mention in the song is rumoured to be Jack Antonoff, saying, "Sometimes I wonder if you’re gonna screw this up with me / But you told Lucy you’d kill yourself if I ever leave / And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen." Jack Antonoff is a frequent collaborator and longtime friend of Swift, having worked extensively on her recent albums.

Lucy Dacus

The mention of “Lucy” in the song likely refers to the singer-songwriter and Boygenius member, Lucy Dacus who has connections to both Swift and Healy, the rumoured love interest in the song. Swift was seen congratulating Lucy Dacus's band Boygenius at the Grammys, where Swift announced her new album. Boygenius, which includes Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, performed in Nashville, where Healy was also present. Healy has collaborated with Bridgers in the past, further connecting Dacus to both Swift and Healy.