Taylor Swift has never shied away from making clear references to the men she’s dated in her extensive discography. From Joe Jonas to Jake Gyllenhaal, many have been the subjects of her popular tunes, whether good or bad.
Swift released her 11th album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” at midnight Friday. Swifties were in for bonus fun as the album, originally believed to be only 16 songs, turned out to be a double album, including 15 bonus songs as part of “TTPD: The Anthology.”
Fans have speculated since last summer whether Swift’s latest album would feature any songs about her latest boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The high-profile relationship has blended the massive following of Swift’s fanbase with the sports world, particularly as Swift made frequent appearances at Arrowhead Stadium and the Super Bowl.
MORE: Kelce details experience in Singapore for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
Did Swift wind up writing any songs about Kelce for her new album? Here’s what you need to know.
There are a pair of songs that certainly appear to link to the Swift-Kelce romance. The first that comes up is the 15th song on the album, “The Alchemy.” Next is a song titled, “So High School,” which comes up 22nd on the extensive album.
“The Alchemy” is the most heavy-handed in referencing Kelce. The song’s lyrics feature lines like, “So when I touch down call the amateurs and cut ’em from the team,” “These blokes warm the benches we’ve been on a winning streak” and “Beers stickin’ to the floor, cheers chanted ’cause they said ‘There was no chance trying to be the greatest in the league’ Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me.”
Then there’s also direct references to love, with lines like “‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me. Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?” Alchemy, for those non-historians, is a type of medieval chemistry that was often about trying to turn base metals into finer metals like gold.
She might even be at one point alluding to the meme that was going around for a while that she put Kelce “on the map.” One of the lyrics to “The Alchemy” is “I circled you on a map,” which would certainly appear to be a direct reference to that meme.
MORE: Kelce jams out at Taylor Swift’s Singapore show
Those football references are fairly obvious. However, as has been discussed in Swift Reddit circles, there is some speculation over whether the song is actually about her, with some fans theorizing it’s about her and her relationship with the public. Others have speculated it could be about her and Kelce, but more about her getting over past heartbreaks.
So is “The Alchemy” actually about Kelce? There are probably too many football references in here for it to at least not be tangentially about the tight end.
Travis Kelce highlights set to “The Alchemy” by Taylor Swift.
This is the video I was born to make. #TTPD pic.twitter.com/YTfc2baVuR
There were the heavy-handed football references in “The Alchemy.” “So High School” is less overt and yet also more directly about Kelce.
Early in the song, she writes, “Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me,” which references an old video of Kelce in which he played the Kiss, Marry, Kill game with Swift, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande, picking the three pop stars in that order. Though at the time Swift was only the kiss option, she wrote in the song, “It’s just a game, but really I’m bettin’ on all three for us two.”
She then referenced him “getting my car door,” a reference to photos of him opening up car doors for her. And later in the song she writes, “You knew what you wanted, and, boy, you got her,” which appears to reference his explanation of the friendship bracelet he got to her with his cell phone number on it.
There is at least one clear football reference where she writes, “You know how to ball, I know Aristotle,” referencing his day job.
Given that most of the song appears to be about an ongoing romance, it would make sense the song is written about her ongoing relationship with Kelce.
taylor swift travis kelce tayvis edit the tortured poets department the anthology so high school fancam ttpd tsttpd pic.twitter.com/pI7rjkL2kz
Travis Kelce highlights set to “So High School” by Taylor Swift.
My new favorite video I’ve ever worked on pic.twitter.com/Ul9k2muuke
This happens once every few lifetimes
These chemicals hit me like a white wine
What if I told you I’m back?
The hospital was a drag, worst sleep that I ever had
I circled you on a map
I haven’t come around in so long
But I’m coming back so strong
So when I touch down call the amateurs and cut ‘em from the team
Ditch the clowns, get the crown baby
I’m the one to beat
‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
Hey you, what if I told you we’re cool?
That child’s play back in school is forgiven under my rule
I haven’t come around in so long
But I’m making a comeback to where I belong
So when I touch down call the amateurs and cut ‘em from the team
Ditch the clowns, get the crown baby
I’m the one to beat
Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
These blokes warm the benches
We’ve been on a winning streak
He jokes that “It’s heroin, but this time with an ‘E’”
‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
Shirts off and your friends lift you up over their heads
Beer sticking to the floor, cheers chanted cause they said
There was no chance
Trying to be the greatest in the league
Where’s the trophy?
He just comes running over to me
Touchdown!
Call the amateurs and cut ‘em from the team
Ditch the clowns, get the crown baby
I’m the one to beat
‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
These blokes warm the benches
We’ve been on a winning streak
He jokes that “It’s heroin, but this time with an ‘E’”
‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
This happens once every few lifetimes
These chemicals hit me like a white wine
I feel so high school every time I look at you
I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you
And in a blink of a crinkling eye
I’m sinking, our fingers entwined
Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights
Tell me ’bout the first time you saw me
I’ll drink what you think and I’m high
From smoking your jokes all damn night
The brink of a wrinkle in time
Been a sweet 16 suddenly
I’m watching American Pie with you on a Saturday night
Your friends are around, so be quiet
I’m trying to stifle my sighs
‘Cause I feel so high school every time I look at you, but look at you
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me (Kill me)
It’s just a game, but really (Really)
I’m bettin’ on all three for us two (All three)
Get my car door, isn’t that sweet? (That sweet)
Then pull me to the backsеat (Backseat)
No one’s evеr had me (Had me), not like you
Truth, dare, spin bottles
You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
Brand new, full throttle
Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto
It’s true, swear, scouts honor
You knew what you wanted, and, boy, you got her
Brand new, full throttle
You already know, babe
I feel like laughing in the middle of practice
To that impression you did of your dad again
I’m hearing voices like a madman
And in a blink of a crinkling eye
I’m sinking, our fingers entwined
Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights
Tell me ’bout the first time you saw me
I’ll drink what you think and I’m high
From smoking your jokes all damn night
The brink of a wrinkle in time
Been a sweet 16 suddenly
I’m watching American Pie with you on a Saturday night
Your friends are around, so be quiet
I’m trying to stifle my sighs
‘Cause I feel so high school (So high school) every time I look at you, but look at you
You already know, babe
Truth, dare, spin bottles
You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
Brand new, full throttle
Teach me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto
It’s true, swear, scouts honor
You knew what you wanted, and, boy, you got her
Brand new, full throttle
You already know, babe
That would be a no. Swift and Kelce are still clearly very much together.
If while listening to “The Tortured Poets Department” listeners hear lyrics about a past relationship or a breakup, that would be about English actor Joe Alwyn, who Swift dated for six years, or Matt Healy, who was rumored to be in a brief relationship with Swift before Kelce.
Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News.
