As I said in this byline,
“and there will be a fourth and maybe a fifth!,” so here is the fifth post. Long game.
I was going through my archive, retroactively tagging all my Taylor album reviews, and through rereading my TTPD one, I realized I have some edits I want to make. So, I will be going through the track list, updating my thoughts and favorite lyrics (bc some have changed—I’m willing to admit I’m wrong sometimes). Or maybe not many have. I don’t know yet because I’m still writing the intro. But I kind of just want an excuse to talk about this album again. After all, this is my third favorite Taylor album so you must indulge me a little bit.
Also, let’s all say congrats to Chrissy for getting engaged*! Perhaps I’m a bit presumptuous since I’m writing this on Wednesday, April 16, but hopefully she said yes. Also I’m not sure if I told her yet but we’re going to see Pride and Prejudice in theatres tonight so yay for that too! Yay Chrissy! Yay Pride and Prejudice! Yay!
*Popping in here to say, and I’m 100% sure she’d appreciate this disclaimer, a woman is not defined by whether or not she is engaged, and while a congratulations is completely in order, an “engaged” or “married” woman is not all that she is or ever will be.
Fortnight
I take back what I said before. It’s a good opening track.
Favorite lyric: I love you, it’s ruining my life
The Tortured Poets Department
It took me a couple months but when I was driving home for the weekend from school back in like September, it finally clicked. I think this is her biggest “cry for help” song.
Favorite lyric: but I’ve seen this episode and still loved the show
My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
This song is still just fine to me. It’s still the production that I don’t love.
Favorite lyric: told me I’m better off, but I’m not
Down Bad
It’s grown on me since the album release but I’m still not that jazzed about it.
Favorite lyric: for a moment I was heaven struck
So Long, London
Still slaps. The way she weaves in “keep calm and carry on” is so funny and millennial core. MY songwriter of the year. Also…both Taylor and Ariana have now written about Hampstead Heath (Kiana, it’s coming).
Favorite lyric: and I’m just getting color back into my face, I’m just mad as hell ‘cause I loved this place
But Daddy I Love Him
I still like her and I still stand by everything I said last year. And I can’t not do the hand choreo at the bridge.
Favorite lyric: time, doesn’t it give some perspective
Fresh Out the Slammer
Probs the biggest grower for me. This song is insane.
Favorite lyric: all those nights you kept me going, swirled you into all of my poems
Florida!!!
Still the turning point on the album for me. Literally everything after this (except minus ICFH and ICDIWABH) are in the top echelon of her discography. This song is just so good and I’m sorry to everyone who just don’t get it.
Favorite lyric: love left me like this and I don’t want to exist, so take me to Florida
Guilty as Sin?
There are no words for how much I love this. I’m going to need a moment. Is there some sort of through-line between GAS? and my favorite colonizers? Mm perhaps, but I’m a retired psych major so I won’t be dissecting any further. Something something douchebag to sincerity ratio.
I haven’t done a full Taylor ranking in quite some time since 2022 but off the top of my head:
Enchanted
State of Grace
Guilty as Sin?
Call It What You Want
august
Favorite lyric: 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
Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
Yeah still good.
Favorite lyric: you caged me and then you called me crazy, I am what I am ‘cause you trained me
I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
If I had to give TTPD one skip, it’d be this one.
Favorite lyric: he had a halo of the highest grade, he just hadn’t met me yet
loml
Ughhhhhhhhh.
Favorite lyric: I felt aglow like this, never before and never since
I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
Really good running song.
Favorite lyric: I’m so depressed I act like it’s my birthday, everyday
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
When I was a young boy my father took me into the city—
Favorite lyric: you kicked out the stage lights but you’re still performing
The Alchemy
There are two camps: people who think “The Alchemy” is better, and tasteless losers. Long live football and crinkly eyes.
Favorite lyric: where’s the trophy, he just comes running over to me
Clara Bow
Wraps this album up into a nice little bow, if you will.
All of her closing songs since…say…1989 (maybe minus reputation and Lover. And Midnights) have the theme of hopeful finality, if that makes sense, and I really like it. You have “I think I am finally clean” and “don’t want no other shade of blue but you” and “I had a feeling so peculiar that this pain wouldn’t be for evermore” and “the future’s bright, dazzling.” Where it’s like yeah this is the end but there will be more. And those closing songs end up recontextualizing their respective records to be quite melancholic. And I guess it makes sense reputation, Lover, and even Midnights have more definitive endings because those were her “happy years.” Idk I’m just yapping. The point is I really like “Clara Bow.”
Favorite lyric: beauty is a beast that roars, down on all fours, demanding more
The Black Dog
I need to know how many friends she tracks on Find Friends. The “Sad Beautiful Tragic” callback is sooooo underrated.
Favorite lyric: but she’s too young to know this song, that was intertwined in the tragic fabric of our dreaming, because tail between your legs you’re leaving
imgonnagetyouback
I still remember when Mal was like she didn’t like this song and Lauren was like “not even ‘pick your poison babe, I’m poison either way’” and Mal was like no. And that was that. This production makes the song more than anything, imo.
Favorite lyric: even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leavin here with you
The Albatross
If TTPD was going to have another skip, part II, it’d be this one. It’s not that it’s bad at all, but it’s probably the least memorable on the Anthology for me.
Favorite lyric: I’m the life you chose, and all this terrible danger
Chloe, et al.
This song is too smart for me but one day I’ll parse through it. She’s obsessed with internet starlets. Also Chloe will never die.
Favorite lyric: could it be enough to just float in your orbit? can we watch our phantoms like watching wild horses?
How Did It End?
If I had to rework this entire project into one single track list, I would make “How Did It End?” the opener. Lots of people talk about how fun “oh here we go again” would be as the opening line to the album, but imagine instead: “we hereby conduct this postmortem.”
Favorite lyric: one gasp and then, “how did it end?”
So High School
Girl, whatever. “The Alchemy” is right there.
Favorite lyric: ‘cause I feel so high school when every time I look at you but look at you
I Hate It Here
My favorite on the Anthology.
Favorite lyric: I’m lonely but I’m good, I’m bitter but I swear I’m fine, I’ll save all my romanticism for my inner life and I’ll get lost on purpose, this place made me feel worthless
thanK you aIMee
All I’m saying is. The reputation vault better actually be fire.
Favorite lyric: I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool, I built a legacy that you can’t undo
I Look in People’s Windows
It’s cute but I still forget about it sometimes.
Favorite lyric: I look in people’s windows like I’m some deranged weirdo
The Prophecy
Favorite lyric: and I look unstable, gathered with a coven around a sorceress’ table
Cassandra
Let’s just all remember she wore her Cassandra bag with her Jessie loafers.
Favorite lyric: when it’s “burn the bitch” they’re shrieking, when the truth comes out they’re quiet
Peter
This song is perfect with an all-timer bridge.
Favorite lyric: ‘cause love’s never lost when perspective is earned
The Bolter
Thematically, similar-ish to “The Albatross” but much better. Interesting that she kept both.
Favorite lyric: splendidly selfish, charmingly helpless, excellent fun till you get to know her
Robin
I do skip this.
Favorite lyric: way to go tiger, higher and higher
The Manuscript
Jake Gyllenhaal forever. Just a devastating song.
Favorite lyric: in the age of him, she wished she was 30, and made coffee every morning in a French press
Here is the last ranking I did last year (April 24, 2024):
And the anthology:
And here are the updated rankings today (April 16, 2025):
And the anthology:
Yay TTPD! Sorry people didn’t understand you but I did. I did.
