As anticipation builds for Taylor Swift's upcoming album, "The Tortured Poets Department," fans are eagerly deciphering clues and hints dropped by the singer, particularly those that seem to shed light on her six-year relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The latest round of speculation comes after a special "library installation" pop-up event held by Swift and Spotify at The Grove in Los Angeles.
One of the most striking elements of the installation was a 72-box library card file unit, which many Swifties believe represents the 72 months, or six years, that Swift and Alwyn dated before their highly publicized breakup in April 2023. Adding to the intrigue, six of the boxes were left open, potentially signifying significant events or milestones in their relationship.
Fans took to social media to speculate about the meaning behind the open boxes, with one user commenting, "sooooo, if this was the case, do [these] months say anything to you, guys?? 10/2016, 12/2017, 10/2018, 9/2019 ,12/2019, 8/2021." Another Swiftie pondered, "Now WHAT IF those open mailboxes were not chosen randomly and instead they point to an event that happened in those months? What happened on their 10th month together? Then on their 2nd anniversary?"
However, Swift is known for her intricate and often cryptic clues, and the library installation held even more hints for fans to unravel. Various books featuring specific album song titles were displayed, and at the center of the showroom, an open book revealed lyrics to an unidentified song: "Even statues crumble if they're made to wait."
This line has led many fans to speculate that Swift may have been "made to wait" during her relationship with Alwyn, possibly alluding to a desire for a more public relationship or even a proposal. As one fan suggested on X (formerly Twitter), "Omgggg she was so excited to marry him she would've marry him with paper rings but he was just wasting time."
Another intriguing detail noted by a fan who attended the exhibit was the presence of a sculpture resembling Diana of Ephesus, the goddess of childbirth, fertility, and the moon. The fan pointed out that the original statue of Diana crumbled while waiting to be shipped to London in the 6th century, drawing parallels to the idea of a relationship crumbling over time.
With the release of "The Tortured Poets Department" set for April 19, Swift has remained tight-lipped about what to expect from the album. However, during a stop on her Eras Tour in Melbourne, she revealed that the record was a "lifeline" and that she had never felt such a strong need to complete an album before.
"I needed to make it," the 34-year-old shared. "It sort of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through life. I've never had an album where I've needed songwriting more than I needed it on Tortured Poets."
As fans continue to piece together the clues and speculate about the meaning behind the lyrics and installations, all eyes are on Swift and her new relationship with Travis Kelce. The couple, who confirmed their romance in September 2023, have been jet-setting around the world and recently attended Coachella together, appearing very much in love.
