Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, hasSwifties worldwide buzzing, and a major point of speculation is whether there’s a Song About Travis Kelce hidden within its poetic verses. Released on April 19th, the album (and its surprise double feature, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology) is already being dissected by fans eager to uncover the lyrical Easter eggs, particularly those that might hint at her relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
It’s no secret that Swift often draws inspiration from her personal life, and this album appears to be no different. While exploring themes of heartbreak and navigating life in the public eye, listeners are finding compelling clues suggesting Kelce has indeed inspired some of her songwriting. From football metaphors to allusions to their very public romance, let’s dive into the tracks believed to be about Travis Kelce on The Tortured Poets Department.
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Football References and “High School” Love: Hints in the Lyrics
Swift hasn’t been shy about showcasing her support for Kelce, attending numerous Kansas City Chiefs games and becoming a fixture in the NFL world. Fans have noticed that this new chapter in her life seems to be woven into the fabric of The Tortured Poets Department. One recurring theme is the incorporation of football language, leading many to believe these aren’t just coincidences but deliberate nods to her football star boyfriend.
Adding fuel to the fire, Swift herself acknowledges the “high school” nature of their widely adored romance. This playful self-awareness resonates with fans who have drawn parallels between their relationship and the teen romance depicted in her Fearless era hit, “You Belong With Me.” This meta-commentary, combined with lyrical breadcrumbs, points towards Kelce being a significant muse for this album.
Of course, The Tortured Poets Department is a complex tapestry of emotions and experiences. Swift is known for exploring various facets of her life in her music, and this album also delves into past relationships, notably with Joe Alwyn, her boyfriend of six years, and Matty Healy, with whom she had a brief connection in 2023. These relationships undoubtedly contribute to the album’s themes of heartbreak and reflection.
Swift has described the songwriting process for this album as a “lifeline,” a way to navigate through periods of heartbreak, disappointment, and the constant glare of the spotlight. Understanding this context is crucial when interpreting the lyrics and deciphering which songs might be about Travis Kelce, and which are focused on other chapters of her life.
Let’s examine the songs that have sparked the most conversation and are heavily speculated to contain references to Travis Kelce.
“The Alchemy”: A Winning Streak of Love?
“The Alchemy,” track 15 on the album, is arguably the most discussed song when it comes to Travis Kelce. The title itself, “The Alchemy,” suggests transformation and turning something ordinary into gold, perhaps mirroring how Swift views her relationship with Kelce as something special and transformative after past heartbreaks.
The song is laden with football references, making the connection to Kelce almost undeniable. Lyrics about making a “comeback” after emotional setbacks and leaving “blokes warm the benches” are interpreted as allusions to moving on from her British ex-boyfriends, Alwyn and Healy, and embracing a new, winning relationship with Kelce. The line “We’ve been on a winning streak” further reinforces this sporting metaphor.
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The bridge of “The Alchemy” contains even more explicit imagery that seems to depict Kelce’s Super Bowl victory and their celebratory reunion on the field. The lines, “Shirts off, and your friends lift you up, over their heads / Beer 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,” paint a vivid picture of the Super Bowl celebrations. The detail about “shirts off,” being lifted by friends, and the question “Where’s the trophy?” culminating in “He just comes, running over to me” strongly suggests the iconic moment when Kelce found Swift on the field after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. This section of the song feels like a direct lyrical snapshot of that very public and romantic moment.
“Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”: A Bully in School?
In The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, the bonus double album, another potential Kelce reference emerges in “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.” While fan theories lean towards this song being primarily about the aftermath of her relationship with Matty Healy, a specific lyric stands out in relation to Kelce: “And you saw my bones out with somebody new / Who seemed like he would’ve bullied you in school.”
This lyric, describing a new partner who “seemed like he would’ve bullied you in school,” is intriguing when considering Travis Kelce’s athletic build and confident persona. It creates a contrast with previous partners and could be interpreted as a playful jab or observation about Kelce’s more traditionally “masculine” image compared to others Swift has been linked to. While subtle, this line adds another layer to the speculation about songs about Travis Kelce on the album.
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“So High School”: Living a Teenage Dream
“So High School,” track 22, perhaps offers the most straightforward and heartwarming glimpse into Swift’s feelings about her relationship with Kelce. The title itself, “So High School,” perfectly encapsulates the youthful, giddy energy that many perceive in their romance. The song evokes a sense of nostalgia and innocent excitement, reminiscent of her earlier music from the Fearless era.
The lyrics of “So High School” directly reference football and even playfully allude to an old interview where Kelce was asked to choose between marrying, kissing, or killing Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry. Swift sings, “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),” directly referencing Kelce’s resurfaced clip where he said he would kiss Swift. This playful incorporation of a real-life moment into the song further strengthens the connection to Travis Kelce.
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Decoding Swift’s Poetry: Travis Kelce’s Musical Debut?
While Taylor Swift hasn’t explicitly confirmed that these songs are definitively about Travis Kelce, the lyrical evidence and fan interpretations strongly suggest his influence on The Tortured Poets Department. The football metaphors, references to their public romance, and playful allusions to Kelce’s personality paint a compelling picture.
Whether these songs are explicitly “about” Travis Kelce or simply “inspired by” the feelings and experiences of their relationship is open to interpretation, which is part of the beauty of Taylor Swift’s songwriting. The Tortured Poets Department offers a fascinating glimpse into Swift’s personal life and artistic process, and for fans of both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, the possibility of these songs being about their romance adds an extra layer of intrigue and enjoyment to the album. As fans continue to dissect the lyrics, the conversation around whether there’s a song about Travis Kelce will undoubtedly continue to evolve, solidifying these tracks as potential anthems of their very public and captivating love story.
