Taylor Swift references Travis Kelce in new album’s "The Alchemy”

Swifties are dissecting the new album's lyrics, hunting for past and present love clues.


Pop Culture & Art April 19, 2024
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the Superbowl. Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images.

Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," includes a standout ballad titled "The Alchemy," which has sparked plenty of chatter among fans.

At 34, the pop icon isn't shy about weaving football lingo into her lyrics, reflecting her current romance with Travis Kelce.

The song features lines like, "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." This blend of love and sports metaphors has left fans wondering if the song might be about her new beau—or someone from her past. She hints at an old flame with lyrics like, "'Cause the sign on your heart said it's still reserved for me/ Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy."


Swift keeps up the sports analogies throughout, including a cheeky nod to British slang with, "These blokes warm the benches/ We've been on a winning streak." Some speculate that one particular line might be a veiled reference to her ex, Matty Healy: "He jokes that it's heroin but this time with an 'e.'"

In the bridge, she sings wistfully, "Where the trophy? He just comes, running over me." Since dropping hints about the album's heartbreak theme at the Grammys, Swift has opened up about her life and loves. She started dating Kelce after a missed connection at her Eras Tour, revealed in a candid moment on his podcast.

"We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other," Swift shared in a Time magazine cover story last December.

Taylor Swift's new release has generated significant fan interest, with listeners meticulously dissecting the lyrics for potential references to her past and current relationships.

Ahead of Swift’s album release, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who has been dating Taylor Swift since 2023, was reported to have said that he isn't bothered by her use of past relationships for song inspiration.

Daily Mail reported a source as saying, "He understands this is who she is as an artist… He loves everything she's doing and supports her creative choices 100%."

 

 

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