Taylor Swift Fans Are ‘Convinced’ That Her New Song ‘The Albatross’ Is About Joe Alwyn Because Of This ‘6 Years’ Reference

Taylor Swift caused a stir at the Grammys earlier this month when she announced her forthcoming eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. This news sent her fans into a frenzy on social media, with many Swifties speculating whether the album title was inspired by her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The “Anti-Hero” singer, 34, and Conversations with Friends actor, 33, were romantically linked from 2017 to 2023. 

Swift added to the excitement during her recent Eras Tour concert in Sydney, Australia by revealing that an alternate cover and edition of the album, The Albatross, would be released in April. Fans were delighted to hear that this version includes a bonus track titled “The Albatross,” which has sparked even more speculation about Alwyn’s possible influence on the song’s title.

On February 23rd, Swift sat at her piano at the Accor Stadium and told her Australian audience: “Direct your attention to the main screen. This is an alternate cover for The Tortured Poets Department.”  The Grammy winner then showed a black-and-white photograph of herself with windswept hair, posing on a beach. In the shot Swift could be seen looking directly into the camera and donning a white, long-sleeved top.

She continued, dishing to concertgoers: “And so this edition is called The Albatross because there is an exclusive bonus song on this vinyl called ‘The Albatross’ and I can’t wait for you to hear it.” Soon after Swift announced this, many Swifties headed to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reasoning as to why many thought this was inspired by Alwyn, who Swift dated for nearly six years.

One fan recently tweeted: “the albatross is the name of a bird that can fly for 6 or more years without touching land. the same amount of time she was with that man. joe alwyn you’re over!” Another added: “the albatross being a clear reference to the time she was isolated with joe alwyn as these birds normally only land on dry land to build nests and most of the time they stay in the open sea far from the rest of the world.”

Someone else chimed in, writing: “The word albatross is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse” JOE ALWYN BE SCARED.” One other Swiftie noted, regarding her recent Sydney setlist: “She sang coney island after announcing the albatross. And what happened in coney island in 1903? A fire was started by one of the ALBATROSS hotel employees because of unrequited love at the west end of the Bowery.”