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After absorbing the standard version of The Tortured Poets Department, we finally listened to The Anthology (it was hard to wait!). Listen along as we do our best to interpret these additional 15 songs. I'm sure you all have a better understanding, so please share them in the comments!

TIMESTAMPS:

  • The Black Dog (0:21)

  • Imgonnagetyouback (8:51)

  • The Albatross (14:05)

  • Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus (21:01)

  • How Did It End? (28:44)

  • So High School (36:55)

  • I Hate It Here (44:28)

  • Thank You Aimee (52:53)

  • I Look in People's Windows (1:01:41)

  • The Prophecy (1:08:42)

  • Cassandra (1:16:15)

  • Peter (1:24:12)

  • The Bolter (1:31:48)

  • Robin (1:39:58)

  • The Manuscript (1:47:16)

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Comments

Mary M

I agree with Ryan on How Did It End. She’s been in the public eye for so long that all of her relationships are public fodder and everyone wants to know how they ended

Mary M

Not me yelling at the screen telling you guys to be quiet during Cassandra cause it’s my favorite anthology track 😂

wavereact

Haha, sorry we really tried not to talk too much over this round of songs!! -Ryan

Mary M

I found out Aaron Dessner’s son is named Robin and it made me love the song 🥹

niccala

so high school was a travis song! you may have missed the obvious connection with the "you know how to ball I know aristotle"

wavereact

Thanks! I think we all kind of assumed that her feeling of a new relationship was about him. I really hope they work out because I think we all need an upbeat and happy album from her next! 😊 -Ryan

Shannon Davidson

I don't think The Manuscript is about a specific person. I think The Manuscript is a summary of all the life experiences that she has and has put into songs. And like you said, since she's put them out, they now belong to the world. It's truly beautiful.

Shannon Davidson

I would love for you all to react to The Eras Tour!

wavereact

Agreed! Although, after Kelsey said Jake and I thought on this more, it made me think of the All Too Well music video where at the end she had a book about her experience. Which if that was the intention, it's really cool! But I also like it being the end of this album and her closing the chapter on this part of her life and moving on. -Ryan

Amber Kincaid

For The Albatross: there is an old poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge called The Rime of the Ancient Mariener (old like late 1700s I think), and in the poem a sailor shoots the albatross and the others make him wear it around his neck. There have been other movies and cultural references that make it so the Albatross is like a curse. It’s like some shameful burden you have to bear and should avoid, because it’s hard to escape the consequences of it. I think this is about Travis. I think the line about them dragging him from bed is related to how he had to buy a new house to get away from the paparazzi camped on his street, and it’s said his first few days there in his new gated community someone knocked on his window. I think people were warning him away from her, and that’s what this song is about.

Ashley Murphy

I think its about all her relationships and how the press and people tell them that you shouldn't date her because she'll write a song about you but as she said in an interview if you do nothing wrong then you have nothing to worry about.

Amber Kincaid

Yes I can agree with that :) in fact I think a lot of the songs purposely have multiple meanings, which I love :)

wavereact

Thanks for this context on The Albatross. Zach and I mentioned Port Blue during this because we love his EP The Albatross but we realized we never really knew what it was so this not only puts Taylor's song in context but also his work. -Ryan

Carrie

I took "how did it end" as another relationship ending and not only having to deal with the heartbreak break of not knowing why it's really ending but having to deal with the public scrutiny that comes with "Taylor Swift & ______ has broken up" & the slut shaming she has dealt with her entire life

wavereact

I agree! After more listens this is what makes the most sense to me. -Ryan

Ashley Murphy

I took How Did It End to basically mean the relationship ended and instead of people asking how someone is feeling about it they just want to know How Did It End. also the come one come all sounds like welcoming someone to a circus.

Ashley Murphy

the marry kiss or kill me line is taken from an interview Travis did a long time ago where he was asked if he would Marry Kiss Or Kill Taylor, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande. He said kiss Taylor.

wavereact

I meant to bring that up during this because I saw it on socials last week. I might clip that into the YT version! Thanks for reminding me 😊 -Ryan

Teresa Salas

“How Did it End” has two concepts, first the “empathetic hunger” where everyone wants to say, oh you broke up, how did it end? Then they will use that for gossip fodder. Second, her own processing of how did it end. What does she say to those nosy people when she doesn’t have a clear answer bc she’s still grieving the relationship.

Teresa Salas

“I Look in People’s Windows” when a relationship ends suddenly and you’re always searching for that person in hopes of seeing them one more time. Sort of relates back to “Is it Over Now?” “I see your profile and your smile on unsuspecting waiters”

Teresa Salas

“The Bolter” she’s always looking for a reason to escape relationships and it gives her a sense of relief like escaping the icy water.

wavereact

Thanks for all these! I feel we were 70% there on most of these but failed to get the other 30%! -Ryan

codenamewitch xx

awesome reaction! Just curious if you plan to react to The Eras Tour?

wavereact

We've had requests for it and we want to do it. We will likely split it into parts tho because 3 hours is a lot!

Richard

Robin is Aaron Dessner's son. Taylor wrote it for him.

wavereact

thanks! i really love that song and love it even more that it was a tribute of sorts to Aaron's child. -Ryan