Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department isn’t the Only Time She Has Referred to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Taylor Swift knows how to take the world by storm. If her recent wins at the coveted Grammy awards weren’t enough, she took to Instagram to announce her upcoming album of songs titled The Tortured Poets Department. Poetic and lyrical, Swift’s songs will definitely tug at fans’ heartstrings while she supposedly sings about her split from Joe Alwyn. The couple were together for six years before breaking up last year in April.
Myriad of References in Taylor Swift’s Songs
Global icon and pop singer Taylor Swift veils her feelings and raging opinions in her songs that become massive hits. Her band of fans and admirers called Swifties have a gala time discovering easter eggs and hidden meanings to her song lyrics. Similarly, we have found a carefully placed reference in one of the tracks in her latest album. The song titled Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? seems to be related to the play titled Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee.
track 10 "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" may be a reference to the famous play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
it examines the marriage of a middle-aged couple whose relationship is falling apart in terrible and even abusive ways https://t.co/7lqcKqhfre
— hannah | eras hangover era (@sippingaugust) February 6, 2024
The film adaptation of the play starred actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in central roles. Interestingly, Burton and Taylor have also previously been featured in Swift’s song …Ready for It? from the Reputation album. The lyrics read, “And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor. Every lover known in comparison is a failure.” Swift’s album Reputation was also reportedly about her relationship with Joe Alwyn. The songs outlined their falling in love while The Tortured Poets Department will hint at the conditions of their split.
The play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? revolves around a couple’s turbulent relationship, to say the least. The story unfolds as we get to experience the intricacies of Martha and George’s complex relationship which is often bitter and frustrating. The title of Swift’s song and the play can be intertwined with this shared thread of sadness and anger in relationships.
On top of that, Burton and Taylor also shared a whirlwind romance in real life after falling in love on the sets of Cleopatra. The couple got together and broke up multiple times before finally tying the knot and then getting divorced. They spent 14 years trying to figure out what they meant to each other all the while featuring in 11 movies. Burton and Taylor shared a chemistry, unlike any other couple on screen. Full of scandals and controversies, their relationship was far from ordinary.
Also Read: Taylor Swift May Have Just Taken Shots at Joe Alwyn with The Tortured Poets Department
What will Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? Be About?
Swift’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department features 16 songs with a bonus track titled The Manuscript. Divided into four sides, Swift has managed to adopt the vibe of vintage records as seen in the album art as well. One of the songs, as previously discussed, is titled Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? According to fans on Reddit and X, the song will feature the ugly parts of her relationship with Alwyn much like the play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? which also talks about the bitterness in relationships. Buzzfeed News collated fan theories that hint at the meanings behind the songs in Swift’s latest album.
Moreover, many people have pointed out that the play also represents the delusion many people suffer from in relationships they refuse to break out of. In the play, Martha and George rely on creating intricate illusions that keep them from discovering the horrible truth of their association. Lines between reality and illusion often blur and leave people in their own bubbles. The song might just focus on these aspects and suggest how Swift fell out of love with Alwyn since she used Burton and Taylor’s relationship to express falling in love with him as well.
