Highlights

• Taylor Swift's 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department," delivers scathing lyrics aimed at fans who criticized her personal life choices.
• Songs like "But Daddy I Love Him" and "Guilty as Sin?" address fan reactions to Taylor's relationships, hinting at being judged and misunderstood.
• "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" showcases Taylor's powerful message to Swifties, urging for less judgment and more understanding in the spotlight.

Every Taylor Swift album drop is epic, but The Tortured Poets Department was particularly so because fans just knew Taylor would drop details of her life post-Joe Alwyn in her music — not to mention the epic disaster that was Matty Healy. As per usual, Taylor didn't disappoint, and fans flocked to social media to obsess over each song as the tracks on the main album (ending with Track 16) went live on release day. But just as quickly as they started listening, fans realized this album has a particular... vibe... and it was like a slap in the face.

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Fortunately for Taylor, her "unhinged" eleventh studio album absolutely slaps, according to fans. But so many songs were filled with barbs aimed at self-proclaimed fans who also dragged Taylor for her choices and judged things they didn't understand. At least, that's how it felt as fans listened to the album for the first time. Here's why Taylor Swift's 11th album is absolutely unhinged, and why fans deserve a tongue lashing.

Taylor's Lyrics On The Tortured Poets Department Cut Deep

Taylor seemed to speak directly to fans during various songs on TTPD, but it was deserved. Amid tracks that fans think are about Matty Healy and Easter eggs referring to Joe Alwyn cheating, Taylor gave fans a tongue lashing that... they actually kind of love, but also earned.

"But Daddy I Love Him" — We the fans are "Daddy"

Skipping right to the crux of Taylor's commentary, track six "But Daddy I Love Him" was full of scolding from Taylor. Fans assumed that the song was about Taylor's relationship with Matty Healy, but instead of the song addressing her actual father or friends and family, the lyrics seemed to address fans' criticisms.

I'll tell you something right now

I'd rather burn my whole life down

Than listen to one more second of all this b****ing and moaning

I'll tell you something about my good name

It's mine alone to disgrace

I don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing

— "But Daddy I Love Him"

A sampling of the lyrics had fans on Reddit shocked-Pikachu-face in the comments. This was also one of the first tracks that had fans exclaiming that Taylor was "unhinged," with one comment flatly stating, "I hate that it’s about Matty but I love how unhinged it is."

The lyrics "I'm having his baby... no I'm not, but you should see your faces" also felt like a DIRECT accusation against fans who freaked out when Taylor seemed to confirm she was dating Matty Healy, and it was SUPER SERIOUS.

One fan summed up, "This song isn't about Matty, it's about how suffocating it is to live a life where people judge everything you do and disguise it as 'wanting the best for her.' The example of Matty is just the poetic vehicle to carry this point!"

"Guilty as Sin?" — Taylor hated hiding Matty from fans

Fans' thoughts were mixed on "Guilty As Sin?" but most seemed to think it was about Matty Healy, again because of Taylor's comments to her audience. She took a page out of the Bible with "roll the stone away" and "they're gonna crucify me anyway," which fans correlated directly with her Matty Healy relationship.

What if I roll the stone away?

They're gonna crucify me anyway

What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy?

If long suffering propriety is what they want from me

They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly

I choose you and me, religiously

— "Guilty as Sin?"

This is another metaphor for Taylor worrying about what fans would say, and sticking to "propriety" for our sake. Of course, many fans also thought that "Guilty as Sin?"

"I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" — Starting the Eras tour post-Joe

One fan wrote of "Guilty as Sin?" "OK, I’m getting concerned almost every song she’s talking about [self harm] thoughts," a vibe that continued through other songs as they became, as some fans suggested, progressively "unhinged."

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By the time we got to "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart," many fans suddenly had the same realization: Taylor was SAD when she started the Eras tour, and she hid it so well.

She essentially says this in the song, but at the same time, she also seems to be dragging fans for the expectation that she would be perfectly fine after ending a six-year relationship that, TTPD seems to suggest, involved Taylor being cheated on.

'Cause I'm a real tough kid

I can handle my shit

They said, "Babe, you gotta fake it till you make it" And I did

Lights, camera, b***, smile

In stilettos for miles

— "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart"

Not that Taylor exactly had a choice, since she ostensibly booked the Eras tour before Joe (we assume) broke her heart. And of course, fans didn't even know until after the first few shows, when we noticed Joe was absent.

Swifties might worship Taylor, but many admit they are also guilty of thinking negatively about her, specifically because of her relationship with Matty, but knowing she was suffering more than she let on has many rethinking their stance.

You know you're good when you can even do it with a broken heart

You know you're good

Good

'Cause I'm miserable (Haha)

And nobody even knows

Try and come for my job

— "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart"

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"Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" — Swifties are addicted to Taylor because she manipulates them

"Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" was another banger that fans loved, but at the same time, it cut deep.

“Put narcotics into all of my songs

And that’s why you’re still singing along”

— "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?"

One fan noted that the line "CAME LIKE A SLAP TO THE FACE," while another said it "literally made my jaw drop." Others applauded the "female rage," while some said the song made them cry for everything Taylor has been through.

But if Taylor's message to Swifties really is do better and stop judging, that might be a far-fetched wish as she continues living her life in the massive spotlight she's earned.

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