With every new Taylor Swift album comes theories about who potential muses could be, and her new bonus track “The Albatross,” which is featured on a vinyl variant of The Tortured Poets Department, is no exception.
Swift announced the bonus track, which will be released on April 19, on the first night of her Eras Tour in Sydney, Australia. Given that this is the first full-length album we are getting from Swift following her public breakup from Joe Alwyn, fans are looking for clues as to the songs song might be connected to the actor and have already come up with a few theories.
Swift and Alwyn were together from 2017 to May 2023 and even collaborated on a few songs on Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights, such as “Exile,” “Champagne Problems” and “Sweet Nothing.”
Ever since Swift announced The Tortured Poets Department on Feb. 4, fans have been convinced the album will be primarily about her breakup with Alwyn. Many have even said that the album title is a reference to the group chat the actor had with Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott called “The Tortured Man Club.” Immediately after Swift announced “The Albatross,” fans began speculating what the title could be about and are convinced it has to do with Alwyn.
An albatross has several different meanings and fans have found a connection for how each one could point to Alwyn — thanks to Merriam-Webster. An albatross is defined as a bird that spends the first six or more years of their life without ever touching land. Fans were quick to point out that Swift and Alwyn were together for six years.
Another fact about the albatross is that it may appear “socially monogamous” in the aviation world, meaning they while they remain committed to one partner, they do get around when no one is watching. This has led fans to believe that while Swift and Alwyn seemed happy, he may have been cheating or had other partners while they were together.
In addition to the albatross being a bird, albatross is also British slang that describes someone who causes “you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do.” This fact alone has fans convinced the song is *definitely* about Alwyn.
Another metaphorical definition of an albatross is that it’s bad luck or a “psychological burden that feels like a curse.” This meaning is derived from English poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” which is about how shooting an albatross bird brings the sailor the punishment of having to wear the albatross around his neck to symbolize his burden and regret.
We won’t know who or what “The Albatross” is about until April 19 when TTPD drops, but signs definitely point to it being about Alwyn. Until then, I will be waiting to see if Swift announces any more bonus tracks while Swifties continue putting their detective skills to good use.