Taylor Swift premieres ‘The Black Dog’ live at London's Eras Tour opening night

Fans speculate ‘The Black Dog’ is about The 1975's Matty Healy, whom Swift was rumored to be dating in 2023.

Taylor Swift thrilled fans with the live debut of ‘The Black Dog’ during the opening night of her Eras Tour in London. 

The 34-year-old pop superstar delivered the emotional ballad for the first time ever during the surprise songs portion of her concert at Wembley Stadium on Friday (June 21).

‘I’ve never played this one live before,’ Swift told the crowd, as seen in a fan-captured clip on X (formerly Twitter).

Dressed in a long orange gown and seated at a piano, Swift performed ‘The Black Dog,’ a track from her double album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. 

The song, which reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May, was beautifully rendered and received with enthusiastic applause.

The setlist also included a mashup of ‘The Black Dog’ with ‘Come Back…Be Here’ from her 2012 Red album, and ‘Maroon’ from 2022’s Midnights. 

Fans were further delighted with a surprise mashup of ‘Hits Different’ and ‘Death By a Thousand Cuts.’ 

Speculation continues that ‘The Black Dog’ is about The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, whom Swift was rumored to have dated briefly in 2023. 

The song references pop-punk band The Starting Line, which Healy’s band has covered live.

Swift's poignant lyrics include, ‘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.’ 

Her tone shifts to anger as she sings, ‘And I hope it’s shitty 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 tragic fabric of our dreaming/ ‘Cause tail between your legs, you’re leavin’.’

Backstage, Swift took selfies with Prince William, who was celebrating his 42nd birthday. 

‘Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start,’ she wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo that included the prince’s children and her boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Swift’s Eras Tour is set for three shows at Wembley Stadium from June 21-23. 

Paramore is the special guest for all three nights, with METTE opening the first concert, Griff the second, and Benson Boone the third.