Literary and Pop Culture References in ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ by Taylor Swift (16songs/50+references)

A guide to Literary and Pop Culture References in ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ by Taylor Swift.

Images via Goodreads/Wikipedia/Taylor Swift

Do you really want to know where I was April 29th? – Well, just busy analyzing ttpd tracks and making this blog post which I need 13 million years to process. ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ by Taylor Swift is without any doubt very literary, poetic and bookish .It is definitely for the book girlies, literary nerds, poets, readers and writers.

Taylor swift is a reader and writer herself so it is not surprising to find so many good references that proves more how literary nerd and genius Taylor herself is. She’s not just a pop star – she’s a bona fide wordsmith. From classic literature to modern pop culture, this album is a treasure trove of references that’ll make any bookworm swoon.

From Frankenstein to King Midas, Dylan Thomas to Charlie Puth, Barbie’s Ken to Emily Dickinson, The Great Gatsby to Shakespeare’ Macbeth, The Little Mermaid to Romeo and Juliet, Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s wedding to the Bleachers, Florence & The Machine to Valley of Dolls, Where the Crawdads Sing to The Shining , Virginia Woolf to the iconic Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Pattie Smith’s Just Kids to The Wizard of Oz, Gracie Abrams “Good Riddance” to Pretty Little Liars, Travis Kelce to The Superbowl, Clara Bow to Stevie Nicks and finally Taylor Swift to the Eras Tour, I think there are 13 million literary and pop culture references Taylor used in her albums, the tortured poets department and The Tortured Poets Department :The Anthology.

And as someone who loves everything literature and pop culture and created a blog just for this I had a great time analyzing and finding all the references. Here are some of my favorites literature and pop culture track by track by track or on some of my favorite tracks. 

You can also check out the detailed video essay, here :

*Credits : I don’t own all the pictures used in this post or on my edits, so I always mention the source and credits as all the rights go to respective owners. But I only claim the editing so please contact me if you have any problem. Thank you.

1. “Fortnight” (featuring Post Malone) – Midas touch, Mary Shelley/Frankenstein Mourning dress, typewriter

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

‘But it won’t start up ’til I touch, touch, touch you’

There are no exact and confirmed literary or pop culture references in the lyrics like there are in the “Fortnight” (featuring Post Malone) music video but I think I found one after analyzing this lyric.. Taylor Swift loves to use the words ‘golden’ and ‘touch’ in her lyrics. Like “Love is golden” in Daylight to “Midas Touch” in Champagne problems and Gold Rush which indicates the King Midas in Greek Mythology reference.

King Midas is cursed and turns everything into gold when he touches it. So this could be a literary reference used in the first track. Here, she’s playing with the idea of a touch that transforms – but instead of turning things to gold, it’s igniting a relationship.

References in Music Video –

• Taylor was seen undergoing shock therapy and some experiments on “Fortnight” music video which echoes Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and its themes of reanimation and experimentation.It’s a story about Victor Frankenstein, a scientist driven by an intense curiosity about life and death. Victor’s obsession leads him to create a living being from dead body parts. However, when his experiment succeeds, he is horrified by the monstrous appearance of his creation and flees in terror. The scene also resembles the experiment scenes from Emma Stone’s Movie “Poor Things”.
• I’m definitely not the only one who thought of ‘The Dead Poets’ society when the “The Tortured Poets Department” album was announced. Swifties predicted there will be reference in the songs but getting two of the main characters for the video is insane. Even Ethan Hawke shared a message on this, “Obviously the title of the album is Tortured Poets Department, so I think it’s obviously a little tip of the cap to Dead Poets Society — other tortured poets — and she probably had this idea it would be interesting for us to be in the video.” At 2.40 of the Fortnite music video both Ethan Hawk and Josh Charles appear as two scientists, running tests on Taylor.
• A quick fun fact, they are both appearing as the characters of their film as Dr. Todd Anderson and Knox Overstreet. And the movie was released in 1989, which happens to be the year Taylor Swift was born.
• The white dress she wore for the was a easter egg for the album because she wore a similar dress to the vmas 2024 to announce the album.
• The black dress which is actually a Victorian mourning dress, a popular style during Queen Victoria’s reign after the monarch began wearing them following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861.
• “Us” Book – the book with us word written was a reference to Gracie Abrams track us featuring Taylor Swift off of her brand new album “The secret of us.
• And lastly the final scene of the video, where Taylor was seen sitting on telephone booth like a statue while the touch touch you, lyrics was playing so it could be literary reference to king Midas as previously mentioned and the also the bracelet she was wearing could be a reference to a most popular Eras Tour trend “Friendship Bracelets”.

2. “The Tortured Poets Department” – Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith, Chelsea Hotel, Charlie Puth, Lucy Dacus and Jack Antanoff

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

– “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith
This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots”

The title track The Tortured Poets Department has so many good pop culture references. Starting with great and well known poets Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith. Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953) was a famous Welsh poet, mostly known for “Do not go gentle into that good night”, “And Death Shall Have No Dominion”.

Patti Smith is an American singer-songwriter and poet. Who was referenced twice on the whole album. She is mostly popular for her role in the punk rock movement of the 1970s. And Taylor focused on many 70s artists throughout her brand new albums.
Patti Smith also shared an Instagram post of herself reading Dylan Thomas’ memoir “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog” and thanking Taylor with the caption, , “This is saying I was moved to be mentioned in the company of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Thank you Taylor.”

Coincidentally or Taylor being the mastermind, there’s also a nod to the Chelsea Hotel, where both Thomas and Smith were known to stay and The memoir Just kids was also written in Chelsea hotel.

“We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist”

And also we have Charlie Puth reference, which started a war among swifties when the lyrics popped up on billboards promotions of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. Charlie Puth is an American singer-songwriter, who started his career on youtube at the age of 18 and later blew up for his songs “We Don’t Talk Anymore (feat. Selena Gomez)’ and “Attention” with over a billion views. And both happen to be written with and about Taylor Swift’s best friend Selena Gomez.

“But you told Lucy you’d k-ll yourself if I ever leave
And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen”

Lucy Dacus and Jack Antanoff are Taylor’s very close friends. Lucy is an American singer-songwriter and a band member of “Boygenius’ who were also part of opening acts on Taylor’s 2023 The Eras Tour.And Jack Antonoff is one of Taylor’s best and long term friends and album collaborators. Who was also referenced multiple times in this album.

Who else decodes you?

There is no confirmed reference but i consider this for Swifties as Taylor loves leaving easter eggs and riddles for Swifties to decode. And I feel like she think only the Swifties try to decode her.

3. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” – Ken, Emily Dickinson

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“Oh, here we go again
The voices in his head
Called the rain to end our days of wild”

This track seems to draw inspiration from Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘Wild Nights – Wild Nights!’. It is a passionate and evocative piece expressing intense longing and desire. Written in 1861, the poem uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey a deep sense of yearning for a romantic and liberating experience.

Taylor has referenced the great American poet Emily Dickinson in her songs before. Like ivy and the inspiration behind folklore’s sister album, evermore from Emily Dickinson’s poem One Sister have I in our house (“From out the wide night’s numbers. Sue – forevermore!”).

Also a fun fact they are related as TODAY exclusively reveals Taylor Swift is distant cousins with American poet Emily Dickinson.

“I felt more when we played pretend
Than with all the Kens”

This line brings in a reference to Ken from Barbie. In context of the song, the song emphasizes that the specific identities of these men are inconsequential, aligning with the overarching theme of the toy motif. If you’re familiar with Taylor’s previous work, you might remember Ken was also mentioned in ‘Hits Different’.”
“I used to switch out these Kens, I’d just ghost”

The summer 2023 was a barbie x eras tour coded summer so it was fun to see both of the references in this Album.

4. “Down Bad” – Beam me up, Cosmic Love

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“In ‘Down Bad,’ we find references to ‘Star Trek’ and Florence + The Machine , Superman and  many ufo and Space references. 

“Did you really beam me up”

• This is a reference to the phrase, “Beam me up, Scotty,” which is a catchphrase and misquotation that made its way into pop culture from the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Original Series. It means “the desire to be elsewhere”, or the desire to be out of an unwanted situation. Which is similar to the theme of this track. 

‘For a moment I knew cosmic love‘

• It’s a song by English indie rock band Florence and the Machine from their debut studio album ‘Lungs’ (2009) who also happens to be the collaborator of track 8 Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine). It also means a profound and eternal romantic bond between two individuals, marked by destiny and an intense, enduring love.

Starin’ at the sky, come back and pick me up

In the opening verse, Taylor’s mention of “staring at the sky” might be nodding to the imagery of an alien-like being beaming her up and conducting experiments on her.
Additionally, the phrase “come back and pick me up” could be a subtle callback to her earlier track “Superman” from the 2010 album Speak Now.

5. “So Long, London” – The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, The Chronicles of Narnia, Heath, I Kept Calm and Carried

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“I saw, in my mind, fairy lights through the mist.
I kept calm and carried the weight of the rift
Pulled him in tighter each time he was driftin’ away”

• This references The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s. It’s a classic novel set in the 1920s which follows the story of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, a woman from his past. The first line refers to the novel’s character Nick sees while Jay Gatsby is showing him the bright green light across the water that belongs to his ex-Daisy.

“So how much sad did you think I had
Did you think I had in me?
How much tragedy?”

This is a Shakespeare reference as the tragedy aspect refers to Macbeth. Which is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1607. It follows a brave Scottish nobleman who is driven by ambition and the prophecy of witches to commit regicide and seize the throne. As Macbeth becomes more like a tyrant and loses his mind, he and his wife, Lady Macbeth, struggle with feeling guilty, paranoid, and dealing with what happens because of what they did. And “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” could be the main reference based on the lyric.

“You Left Me At The House By The Heath”

is a reference to a beautiful area where Taylor used to live with Joe Alywn near Hampstead Heath in London. This has also been referenced on Taylor’s 2019 song “London Boy.”

6. “But Daddy I Love Him” – How the West Was Won, Love Story/Romeo Julliete, Hamlet Act 3 Scene 2, The Little Mermaid (1989), Jack and Margaret’s Wedding

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“In ‘But Daddy I Love Him,’ Taylor references ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with echoes of her classic ‘Love Story.’ Along with a superbowl reference. 

“I forget how the West was won”

• This Is a reference to how Travis Kelce helped lead the Kansas City Chiefs to their eighth straight AFC West division title in the 2023-24 NFL season. En route to the Chiefs’ 2024 Super Bowl Championship, Kelce broke the NFL’s all-time record for career postseason receptions. Which Taylor attended.
• Taylor also referred to the title of a classic 1963 film epic about American westward expansion.

Now I’m runnin’ with my dress unbuttoned
Screamin’, “But, Daddy, I love him”

• A reference to her 2009 classic “Love Story” Which was inspired by Romeo and Julliet. Taylor has referenced “Romeo and Juliet” in many of her songs already like Love story, Sad, Beautiful, Tragic.  “Romeo and Juliet” is a classic tragedy written by William Shakespeare, first performed around 1597. The play is set in Verona, Italy, and tells the story of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families.
• “But, Daddy, I love him” is a reference to Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The line ‘But Daddy, I love him’ mirrors Ariel’s plea in ‘The Little Mermaid,’ showcasing Taylor’s knack for weaving classic love stories into her lyrics.” 

 Also a fun fact, The Little Mermaid also came out in 1989 like The Dead Poet Society. 

7. “Fresh Out the Slammer” – Bleachers

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“Another summer takin’ cover, rolling thunder”

• This is a reference to “Dream of Mickey Mantle” by Bleachers (Gone Now, 2017) which Jack Antonoff wrote and produced for his band “Bleachers”. And as Taylors long time song producers and long time collaborators it’s not surprising to see a bleacher reference on this song along with multiple jack references in both albums.

“I know who my first call will be to”

This is not confirmed but this lyric could be referencing Dylan O’Brien, who was seen leaving Taylor Swift’s NYC apartment on April 12, 2023. Right before the Taylor Swift and Joe Alywn breakup news was out.

8. “Florida!!!” (featuring Florence and the Machine) – Aaron Dessner, Emma Stone, Valley of the Dolls

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“Florida!!!” transports us to a world of hurricanes and draws inspiration from Jacqueline Susann’s “Valley of the Dolls.” Delve into the symbolism of Florida as Taylor navigates themes of fame and excess, accompanied by Florence Welch’s haunting vocals. 

‘The hurricane with my name when it came
I got drunk and I dared it to wash me away’

• This is a reference to Florence’s own song “Landscape” and a hurricane named the same as her “Hurricane Florence’. Some of the other lyrics of this song also have references from Florence’s own songs like “Landscape”, “Hurricane Drunk”, “Mother”, “Remain Nameless”.

‘At least the dolls are beautiful, fu-k me up, Florida’

• This could be a reference to Jacqueline Susann’s 1996 novel, Valley of the Dolls, where the characters refer to pills as “dolls.” Since this whole song is about Florida being a “hell of a drug,” is it really too much of a stretch to think “dolls” means “pills” here too
• There is no exact reference of Emma Stone other than my friend line but she is in the writing credit with Taylor and Florence. 

9. “Guilty as Sin?” – Carolina, Rebecca, The Blue Nile, The Downtown Lights, Stephen King, The Awakening

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

With “Guilty as Sin?” Taylor delves into the complexities of guilt and redemption, drawing parallels to literary works like “Where the Crawdads Sing” and musical influences like The Blue Nile. Which explores the emotional depth of Taylor’s lyrics as she navigates themes of identity and self-discovery.

“How can I be guilty as sin?”

  The title of this song could be a reference to ‘Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens’ as the title was found in the song taylor wrote for the movie’s soundtrack in 2023, “Carolina”. *Where the Crawdads Sing* is about Kya Clark, a girl who grows up alone in the North Carolina marshlands after being abandoned by her family. 

As she becomes a skilled naturalist, her isolated life changes when she connects with two local guys. But things go south when one of them, Chase Andrews, is found dead, and Kya is accused of murder. 

The story blends Kya’s personal growth with the unfolding mystery, revealing secrets about the crime and her own hidden past. A lot of the emotional themes of the book and movie are similar to this song. So it could be an inspiration or extended version of ‘Carolina by Taylor Swift’ too.

“Drownin’ in the Blue Nile
He sent me “Downtown Lights”

• “The Downtown Lights” is a song by Scottish band The Blue Nile, from their album “Hats” in 1988. Which also happens to be a year before Taylor’s birthday in 1989. This is also Matty Healy’s favorite band, who’s the muse of this song and some of the song on this album.

“This cage was once just fine”

This verse bears resemblance to the themes of The Awakening by Kate Chopin. It is set in the late 19th century in Louisiana and follows Edna Pontellier, a young woman who begins to question her traditional roles as a wife and mother. As she experiences a personal awakening, she confronts societal norms and her own desires, leading to a dramatic and tragic conclusion.

Eventually, When her affair ends in the book, she doesn’t want to go back to her old life, just like Taylor Swift sings about in the line “This cage was once just fine.” The character in the book swims into the sea and drowns, which is similar to Swift’s lyrics about throwing her life away, Throwin’ my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks

We also have another literary reference, that too about Stephan King!

I’m slippin’, fallin’ back into the hedge maze, Oh, what a way to die‘

The lyric might be a reference to  Stephen King’s “The Shining, where the maze serves as a symbol of Jack Torrance’s inescapable doom. Alternatively, it could reference the Greek myth of the Minotaur, where a labyrinth is constructed to confine the beast, making it simpler for the hero to defeat him. Notably, King’s maze concept may have been inspired by this ancient myth.

10. “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” – Virginia Woolf, Haunted Gallows, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

Moving on to “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” Taylor channels the spirit of Virginia Woolf, exploring themes of truth and vulnerability, combining elements of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s tumultuous relationship with Taylor’s own narrative.”

‘So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street’

• This might be a reference to the film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which is named after the poet Virginia Woolf, follows an older couple (played by Burton and Taylor) who avoid facing the truth about their relationship. 

They’re forced to confront it when a younger couple visits them for dinner. In the movie, the phrase “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is used to tease someone about being scared of being open and honest, which is what Woolf’s poetry is famous for.

• This movie starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. who Taylor has referenced before in Ready for It. He can be my jailor / Burton to this Taylor”.And one of Taylor’s favorite books is Furious Love by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, you’ll find more in Taylor Swift Book Recs – Taylor Swift Favorite Books (2023)

11. “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” – ‘I can fix him’

Images via Taylor Swift and Wikipedia

‘I can fix him, no, really I can (no, really I can)’

• The title could be pop culture reference mostly used in books, media, films and as reactions to certain things but it is mostly a common trope in storytelling where a character, often female, believes she can “fix” or change a troubled or flawed male character through love or nurturing. This trope often appears in romantic relationships where one partner sees the other as damaged or broken and takes it upon themselves to heal them.

12. “Loml” – Just Kids, Mr. Steal Your Girl, The Wizard of Oz

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

“We were just kids, babe”

• Just Kids is the name of Patti Smith’s memoir. Which she shared in an instagram post recently thanking taylor. Patti Smith was mentioned in track 2 “”The Tortured Poet’s Department”.

Mr. Steal Your Girl, then make her cry – 

“Mr. Steal Your Girl” is a phrase for a guy who tries to get girls who are already with someone else. He might end up making those girls sad. It became well known after Trey Songz sang about it in his song “Mr. Steal Your Girl” in 2014.

“The coward claimed he was a lion”

• The cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz.

In The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion is one of Dorothy’s friends on her trip to see the Wizard in the Emerald City. He joins Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman on their adventure. The Cowardly Lion wants the Wizard to give him courage because he is often afraid. However, as they travel, he shows that real bravery comes from inside himself, not from the Wizard.

13. “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” – Eras Tour

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

With “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” Taylor reflects on her record-breaking “Eras Tour,” capturing the resilience and passion that define her journey. 

The lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night………….
I was hittin’ my marks –

The Eras Tour is a concert tour by Taylor Swift, celebrating her career’s various musical phases or “eras.” Each part of the show represents different albums and styles she’s explored over the years. The tour includes performances of hits from across her discography, featuring elaborate stage setups and a range of outfits to match the themes of her different albums. It’s a way for fans to experience the evolution of her music and artistry live.

The lyrics, “The lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night,” are a vivid picture of her dazzling performances during the tour, which has been a huge success, following her split with Joe Alwyn.

It’s a powerful reminder of Taylor’s resilience and dedication to her craft, even amidst personal challenges.

The Eras Tour began on March 17, 2023 in Arizona, United States, and is expected to end on December 8, 2024. in Vancouver, consisting of 149 shows that span five continents. Taylor has released a concert film in the middle of the era’s tour on October 13, 2023, which is currently available to stream on Disney+.

There are no confirmed sources but an Eras Tour Documentary is also in the works as fans shared clips of them filming. 

14. “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” – Good Riddance, Pretty Little Liars

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

Moving forward, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” pays homage to Gracie Abrams and explores themes of closure and introspection.

And you’ll confess why you did it and I’ll say, “Good riddance”

• This could be a reference to Gracie Abrams debut studio album “Good riddance” (February 24, 2023) co written and produced by Aaron Dessner who has been Taylor Swift’s collaborator since folklore. It also has a song featuring Taylor swift, Gracie Abrams – us. (feat. Taylor Swift). And Taylor also left an easter egg on the Fortnight Music Video. There’s also a hint of “Pretty Little Liars” in the line “Were you writin’ a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?”—a nod to Ezra’s secret manuscript in the show.‘Were you writin’ a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?’ -( “Pretty Little Liars spoiler) In Season 4, Episode 21 “Free Fall” Aria finds out Ezra’s secret. She found the manuscript of Ezra’s book. She ends up in the infamous confrontation with Ezra on the Ski Lift. so this could be a reference to that.

15. The Alchemy – Travis Kelce, Super Bowl and Eras Tour

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

So when I touch down
Call the amateurs and cut ’em from the team
Where’s the trophy? He just comes runnin’ over to me

If this song was released after the olympics, there wouldn’t be any doubt its written about the sweden athlete. Because Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set a new world record in pole vaulting and as soon as he set his feet on the ground he ran to his girlfriend Desire Inglander, in the stands, where he gave her a heartfelt, emotional kiss not caring about the medal.

But we still have Taylor and Travis’ story. This track might be referring to Travis Kelce and his iconic moment during the Super Bowl. The lyrics about Kelce running to Taylor after a game mirror a real-life moment when he celebrated with her. Plus, “Making a comeback to where I belong” resonates with Taylor’s triumphant return to performing on her Eras Tour.

But I’m making a comeback to where I belong – This is a reference to the Eras Tour. Because Taylor made her comeback after 5 years via this iconic tour.

16. Clara Bow – Clara Bow, Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

Finally, the last track of the album, Clara Bow.

The title refers to Clara Bow, who was an American actress who rose to fame during the silent film era of the 1920s. She was also known as the ultimate “It Girl”. But she had a tough time because of how stressful and demanding her career was while struggling with mental health issues.

And sadly, her story serves as a warning about how the entertainment business can be really tough on young women who are both talented and attractive. And this could be how Taylor sees herself in her and referenced in this song along with Stevie Nicks and herself.

And that’s a wrap on all the Literary and Pop Culture References in Taylor Swifts ‘The Tortured Poets Department!. I hope you enjoyed this exploration of literary and pop culture references as much as I enjoyed making it. You can pin this if you want –

Images via Taylor Swift, Wikipedia and Goodreads

And, I will be back with part 2 as there I have to decode the 2 am album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. Which has more literary and pop culture references. So keep an eye on the blog! <3