InvestigatingWho Is Taylor Swift’s Album ‘Folklore’ About? A Complete Breakdown Of Each Song And Lyrics

‘The 1’

Opening strong with this track, Taylor not only updated fans on how she’s doing — “Good, I’m on some new s**t” — but she also seemingly reflected on a past relationship throughout the entire track.

“But we were something, don’t you think so? / Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool / And if my wishes came true / It would’ve been you,” the lyric read. “In my defense, I have none / For never leaving well enough alone / But it would’ve been fun / If you would’ve been the one.”

‘Cardigan’

Her first single off the album, the music video for this song was released alongside the entire album. One fan theory suggests that this entire track was an ode to her love story with Joe Alwyn.

“When I felt like I was an old cardigan / Under someone’s bed / You put me on and said I was your favorite,” are lyrics that could seemingly refer back to the track “Delicate” from the Reputation album, where Taylor sings about how, at the time, her reputation had never been worse.

Other Swifites think this is the first song in The Teenage Love Triangle, which Taylor referred to during the YouTube live chat.

“There’s a collection of three songs I refer to as The Teenage Love Triangle. These three songs explore a love triangle from all three people’s perspectives at different times in their lives,” she said.

Of course, Taylor has yet to confirm either of these theories.

‘The Last Great American Dynasty’

In this track, Taylor gave fans a complete history lesson of Rebekah Harkness — a composer, dancer and philanthropist who previously owned Taylor’s Rhode Island house.

“Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever / Flew in all her B***h Pack friends from the city / Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names,” she sang. “Fifty years is a long time / Holiday House sat quietly on that beach / Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits / And then it was bought by me.”

‘Exile’ Featuring Bon Iver

Her only duet on the album, Taylor sang alongside Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon for a song that’s seemingly about two exes who saw each other following a breakup.

“I think I’ve seen this film before / And I didn’t like the ending / I’m not your problem anymore / So who am I offending now?” the lyrics read. “You were my crown, now I’m in exile, seein’ you out / I think I’ve seen this film before / So I’m leaving out the side door.”

‘My Tears Ricochet’

While talking about this track during a YouTube live chat, Taylor revealed that it’s the first song she wrote for the album. One fan theory suggested that it represents the death of the “Old Taylor.” As fans, know she seemingly “killed” her old self on Reputation and now, the fan wrote, “We see her mourning herself and the life she built only to realize she grew past the sun.”

Taylor has yet to confirm or publicly acknowledge this theory.

‘Mirrorball’

Fans have suggested that this entire song is a metaphor for Taylor being like a disco ball.

“I want you to know / I’m a mirrorball / I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight / I’ll get you out on the floor / Shimmering beautiful / And when I break, it’s in a million pieces,” the lyrics read.

Although she has not confirmed this, theories suggested that she reflects the people dancing around her but shatters when they leave — like at the end of a relationship.

‘Seven’

After looking at the lyrics, this song seemed to be an ode to Taylor’s childhood or a friend from her youth. The songstress makes reference to Pennsylvania — where she’s originally from — along with dolls, being pirates and hiding in closets.

“Sweet tea in the summer / Cross your heart, won’t tell no other / And though I can’t recall your face / I still got love for you Your braids like a pattern,” the lyrics read. “Love you to the Moon and to Saturn / Passed down like folk songs / The love lasts so long.”

‘August’

Remember the Teenage Love Triangle? Well, fans think this song is the second in the trilogy. Where it seemed to be all about a summer romance, fans think it tells the story of a relationship that wasn’t meant to be, especially with the lyrics ” you were never mine” and “canceled plans just in case you’d call.”

‘This Is Me Trying’

“I didn’t know if you’d care if I came back / I have a lot of regrets about that / Pulled the car off the road to the lookout,” the song lyrics read. “Could’ve followed my fears all the way down / And maybe I don’t quite know what to say / But I’m here in your doorway.”

From the sound of it, this track follows the story of someone apologizing in a relationship after previously leaving.

‘Illicit Affairs’

This steamy song tells the story of, as the title said, an illicit affair.

“What started in beautiful rooms / Ends with meetings in parking lots / And that’s the thing about illicit affairs,” the lyrics read. “And clandestine meetings and longing stares / It’s born from just one single glance / But it dies and it dies and it dies / A million little times.”

‘Invisible String’

OK, so this song seemed to be an ode to the fact that Taylor is still connected to her exes through music. Fans are even convinced that she revealed that she sent a baby gift to ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas and his pregnant wife Sophie Turner during the song.

“Cold was the steel of my axe to grind / For the boys who broke my heart / Now I send their babies presents,” she sang.

‘Mad Woman’

According to her Instagram post, this track is all about a “misfit widow getting gleeful revenge on the town that cast her out.”

‘Epiphany’

Briefly, before she released the album, Taylor shared some of the stories that inspired these songs. As for “Epiphany,” fans think it’s the track about her grandfather’s experience in the war in 1942.

‘Betty’

Although it’s yet to be confirmed, fans think this song wraps up Taylor’s Teenage Love Triangle. Throughout the three tracks, she named James, Betty and Inez (which coincidentally might be referring to the names of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds‘ children), and “Betty” is seemingly from James’ point of view and is a reflection on the possible affair listeners heard about in her previous song “August.”

We are in serious need of some confirmation about this theory!

‘Peace’

In this track, Taylor seemingly self-reflected on her life and those close to her.

“Your integrity makes me seem small / You paint dreamscapes on the wall / I talk s**t with my friends, it’s like I’m wasting your honor,” she wrote. “And you know that I’d swing with you for the fences / Sit with you in the trenches / Give you my wild, give you a child / Give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other.”

‘Hoax’

Finally, Taylor rounds out the record with a the melancholy tale of a toxic relationship. Some people on Twitter are seriously speculating that it means her and Joe broke up. But Taylor has not publicly acknowledged their relationship.

“Your faithless love’s the only hoax I believe in / Don’t want no other shade of blue but you / No other sadness in the world would do,” the lyrics read. “You know I left a part of me back in New York / You knew the hero died so what’s the movie for? / You knew it still hurts underneath my scars / From when they pulled me apart / You knew the password so I let you in the door / You knew you won so what’s the point of keeping score?”