Another day, another Taylor Swift bonus track for us to spiral over. This time, the musician announced a brand new addition to The Tortured Poets Department (which everyone's already decided is about her ex Joe Alwyn) while performing in Sydney on Friday night. The name? Dun, dun, dun..."The Albatross." I'll give you a moment to process.
And naturally, fans think the song is about—you guessed it!—Joe. Mostly thanks to the fact that an albatross is defined by good ol' Merriam-Webster as "something that causes persistent deep concern or anxiety" and "something that greatly hinders accomplishment."
And on top of all this ^^ is a buncha ~lore~ about how an albatross can fly for years without touching land:
Taylor announced the news by telling her audience, "Direct your attention to the main screen. This is an alternate cover for The Tortured Poets Department. And so this edition is called The Albatross because there is an exclusive bonus song on this vinyl called 'The Albatross' and I can't wait for you to hear it."
'Kay, but back to Joe real quick (sorry, Joe). Fans also think the musician's other bonus track "The Bolter" is about the actor thanks to a viral video of him running (or, if you prefer, ~bolting~) out of a building and into a car with Tay while they were dating:
On top of that, there's the fact that Tortured Poets is a pretty clear reference to his infamous group chat and the fact that the release date COULDN'T be more Joe-coded. Actually, lemme just:
Your Essential Guide to 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Taylor Swift Announces New Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Taylor Swift Reveals Bonus Track Title and New Album Cover for 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Taylor Swift Reveals Exact Timeline of When She Wrote 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Joe Alwyn Posts on Instagram for the First Time in Months Amid ‘Tortured Poets’ Speculation
All the Clues and Easter Eggs About Taylor Swift’s New Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Fans Think 'Tortured Poets' Is a Sister Album to 'Midnights' Thanks to Taylor Swift's Visual Easter Eggs
Swifties Spiral Over Potential Joe Alwyn Refs in the Tracklist for 'The Tortured Poets Department!'
Taylor Swift’s April 19 Album Release Date Makes So Much Sense Based on What Happened With Joe Alwyn That Day
