:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/travis-kelce-taylor-swift-100423-2-db6eb28d1f9b452c9671094910a6eced.jpg)
Art imitating life, or life imitating art?
On Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department, the pop superstar, 34, sings about an undeniable love on the penultimate track “The Alchemy” — and some of the lyrics on the ballad are raising eyebrows.
Throughout the song, Swift — who’s currently in a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — includes football and sports references.
“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,” she sings.
JC Olivera/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty
However, it’s unclear who Swift is singing about, as she goes on to reference a lover from her past. “‘Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me/ Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy.”
Later in the song, the Grammy winner makes another sports reference. “These blokes warm the benches/ We’ve been on a winning streak,” Swift sings, noticeably including a commonly used word in the U.K.
Some fans speculated the following line could be referencing her ex Matty Healy, who has been open previously about his struggles with heroin use. “He jokes that it’s heroin but this time with an ‘e,'” she sings.
Then on the bridge, Swift sings, “Where the trophy? He just comes, running over me.”
Beth Garrabrant
Since announcing her newest album at the Grammys in February, Swift — who split from actor Joe Alwyn last year following six years together and went on to briefly date Healy — has been teasing that heartbreak would be a major theme.
The superstar has been dating Kelce since the athlete revealed on his podcast that he tried (and failed) to meet Swift last year after attending her Eras Tour concert.
“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 told Time in a December cover story.
Read PEOPLE”s review of The Tortured Poets Department and dive deeper into the album’s deeply personal lyrics, call-outs and more.
Carol Dennis is an entertainment aficionado with an eye for all things pop culture. She dives into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, from movie premieres to music festivals. Carol’s passion for storytelling extends beyond her reporting, as she’s an aspiring screenwriter in her free time.
