Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay? Love or hate The Archer (Lover 2019), we all agree that we have no idea what this song is about. Such an obscure song calls for a proper, literary style close reading. Join us as we go line by line to understand what Taylor is trying to say with the obscure lyrics of this incredibly poetic song.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Tom Cruise movies


• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 


• Marvel’s Avengers: End Game


• Black Widow 


• The Odyssey, by Homer 


• Iron man


• Full House (1987)


• Michael Scott, The Office (2005)


• Peter Pan, by JM Barrie


• Nietzsche


• “Anti-hero,” Midnights (2022)


• Jane Eyre


• Into the Woods


• Selena


• Mean Girls the Musical 


• Barbie

Affiliate Codes: 

Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 

Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro

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Episode Highlights: 

• [01:43 ] Baseline: How we all feel about The Archer


• [03:17 ] Combat, I'm ready for combat: What’s it mean


• [11:28 ] I jump from the train, I ride off alone


• [21:42 ] Backtrack: Who left? Who should stay?


• [28:00 ] Unpacking the phrase “cut off my nose”


• [32:18 ] Invisible smoke & all of my heroes


• [40:24 ] I, They, You - who’s seeing through her?


• [48:50 ] Pulling together the bridge


• [56:26 ] Our final thoughts

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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.