The Tortured Poets Department

The Tortured Poets Department

Update: 2025-07-03
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Description

There would not be TTPD without its tongue-in-cheek title track! In today’s episode, Laura and Sara unpack the lyrics of “The Tortured Poets Department” and analyze how the song lays the groundwork for listeners to understand the gravity of Taylor’s “cyclone” relationship with her fellow tortured poet. Taylor’s self-awareness and sense of humor shines in this one! Who else is gonna TROLL you like Taylor?! P.S…. Stay tuned at the end of this episode, because the ladies are sharing a snippet of their newest Patreon episode unpacking the lyrics of “Maroon”!

Chapters

(00:00 ) Intro & What’s On Our Plates

(09:07 ) Taylor Updates

(16:53 ) TTPD Introduction

(22:00 ) Our Initial Impressions

(25:02 ) The Folklore Of TTPD

(34:10 ) Verse 1: Matty's Old Interviews On Typewriters, Taylor's Sense Of Humor, Familiarity

(41:36 ) Chorus 1: Dylan Thomas & Patti Smith, "Just Kids" References To Youth & Nostalgia

(46:48 ) Verse 2: "Chocolate" & Charlie Puth, Tattooed Golden Retriever, Similar Dread, Cyclone As Chaos, Were Taylor & Matty Coding Each Other Into Their Songs

(58:45 ) Chorus 2: Trolling, Tongue in Cheek Playfulness

(01:02:03 ) The Diabolical Bridge: Unpacking The Role Of Mutual Friends, "Mutual Manic Phase," Wedding Rings & How This Song Lays The Groundwork For The Rest of TTPD

(01:13:21 ) Chorus 3 & Outro, Production Notes & Noting The Lack Of Poetic Lyricism

(01:19:21 ) This Song As A Recipe & Our Ratings

(01:23:38 ) Signing Off & Patreon Snippet

SUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!

Links Referenced

Taylor Swift’s Ex Matty Healy Talks His Love of Typewriters in Resurfaced Clip After 'Tortured Poets' Release

Taylor Swift’s Ex Matty Healy Praised Charlie Puth in Resurfaced Tweet From 2018

Lucy Dacus Confirms Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Lyric Is About Her: ‘She Texted Me and Asked for My Approval’

Twix Bar Recipe

Please make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:

email blankplatepod@gmail.com

leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831

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You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:

• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram

Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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The Tortured Poets Department

The Tortured Poets Department

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