“The Tortured Poets Department” is, allegedly, a reference to Swift’s six-year long relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn.

During a December 2022 conversation between Alwyn and fellow actor Paul Mescal, they mentioned being a part of a WhatsApp groupchat with Andrew Scott, called “The Tortured Men Club.” Around that same time was when Swift had written her track “You’re Losing Me,” which is about her breakup with Alwyn.

Jow Alwyn had talked about this reference via his representatives on the Daily Mail shortly after the album’s announcement, saying:

It’s undeniable that the name of her upcoming album is in reference to Joe’s WhatsApp group chat. Taylor knocked him for the name of this when they were together. She didn’t want people to think that it had anything to do with her, so when he spoke out about it, she was, of course, bothered.

The meaning of “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift is that Taylor’s disillusioned by one of her relationships. Clues in the lyrics suggest the song is about Matty Healy, lead singer of The 1975, who she had a brief fling with in mid-2023. In the end, it seems Taylor feels like the relationship was foolish from the start, and she ultimately came out of it in a better situation than him:

And who’s gonna know you like me?
(Who’s gonna know you?)
I laughed in your face and said
“You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith
This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots”

“The Tortured Poets Department” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week ending of May 4, 2024.