Tennessee mother claims Taylor Swift song 'Ruin the Friendship' honors her late son Jeffrey Lang

A Tennessee mother believes Taylor Swift’s emotional track 'Ruin the Friendship' was inspired by her late son

A Tennessee mother believes Taylor Swift’s latest song “Ruin the Friendship” was written about her late son, Jeffrey Lang, whom the pop superstar befriended during high school, The Tennessean reported.

Susan Lang from Hendersonville, Tennessee, told the outlet that her son Jeff and Swift were close friends growing up. “They were really good friends. They hung out at her house a lot. They were always joking around with each other,” she recalled.

Jeffrey Lang passed away suddenly at the age of 21 on November 2, 2010, just days after Swift released her Speak Now album. His obituary stated that he was studying biology at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl, features the emotional track “Ruin the Friendship,” which explores the regret of not expressing love to a friend who later passes away. Fans were quick to notice a lyric referencing “Abigail called me with the bad news,” a likely nod to Swift’s longtime best friend Abigail Anderson Berard, who appeared in her earlier song “Fifteen.”

Upon hearing the song, Susan Lang said she immediately recognized the story. “After all this time, she hasn’t forgotten about him,” she said. “I’m thankful she’s keeping his name alive.”

Taylor had previously mentioned Jeff during her 2010 BMI Awards speech, where she tearfully revealed she had sung at his funeral just a week earlier. “He was 21, and I used to play my songs for him first. So I would like to thank Jeff Lang,” she said.

Although early speculation linked the song to Swift’s famous friendships or former relationships, the singer later explained at her Official Release Party of a Showgirl film that the track reflects her youthful nostalgia and missed chances at love.