The Albatross - Song Analysis

The Albatross is about Taylor and Travis’ relationship. Here’s why.

Ever since Taylor Swift’s new album came out, some fans, including me, have been speculating that there is a Travis Kelce related song, but not a love song. 

The Albatross is the nineteenth track in The Tortured Poets Department. It was originally one of the bonus tracks of the album, but Taylor released it as a surprise on the second secret album of TTPD, The Anthology.

I suspect that this song is about all of the criticism Taylor has gotten from NFL fans, about them “warning” Travis that Taylor is a bad idea:

Cautions issued, he stood

Shooting the messengers

They tried to warn him about her

I remember that during the football season, Travis received a lot of criticism over his relationship with Taylor. People said that she was a distraction, that he was no longer that good because of her:

Wise men once read fake news

And they believed it

Jackals raised their hackles

You couldn't conceive it

Taylor keeps going on and on about how people saw her as a threat, as bad news.

They had spread fake news and conspiracies about their relationship being a PR stunt, they protested that Taylor came to football games. They thought she was going to end Travis.

You were sleeping soundly

When they dragged you from your bed

And I tried to warn you about them

This specific lyric reminds me of something Travis said in an interview earlier this year. He had to move out of his house after they started dating because paps and fans would wait outside and shout his name. It seems like Taylor tried to warn Travis about what dating the world’s biggest pop star means, but he accepted the challenge.

The devil that you know

Looks now more like an angel 

I’m the life you chose 

And all this terrible danger

He chose her. Eventually, he accepted the terrible danger in her. He ignored the wise men, he chose Taylor. He chose the scrutiny, he chose the criticism, he chose the magnifying glass, he chose the person he loves.

I’ve said this before and I will say it a million more times: couple goals.