Every Marriage Reference on Taylor Swift's ‘The Tortured Poets Department'

Taylor Swiftoften sings about taking the next step in relationships, and she didn't shy away from the topic of marriage on her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department.

After TTPD dropped on April 19, 2024, eagle-eyed fans - or Swifties - were quick to point out lyrical parallels about wedding rings. On Swift's 2019 album Lover, she sang about marrying her beau with "paper rings," whereas on TTPD she crooned about "imaginary rings" in "Fresh Out the Slammer."

In the song, Swift seemingly detailed how she reconnected with Matty Healy after her split from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn. But fans have theorized that other tunes from TTPD are about Alwyn and their six-year relationship - which ended before a trip down the aisle. The album also had two tracks, The Alchemy and So High School, about the start of Swift's romance with Travis Kelce ahead of the July 2026 nuptials.

Aside from lyrical references, Swifties also noticed that the pop star donned a white gown - which could have been a wedding dress - in her "Fortnight" music video with Post Malone.

Scroll down for every time Swift alluded to marriage on TTPD:

‘Fresh Out the Slammer'

Swift seemingly detailed the end of her relationship with Alwyn, singing, "At the park where we used to sit on children's swings / Wearing imaginary rings."

‘loml'

Swift alluded to feelings of betrayal over her relationship with Alwyn coming to a close.

"If you know it in one glimpse, it's legendary / You and I go from one kiss to getting married," she sang in the chorus, while in the second verse she added, "You s–t-talked me under the table / Talkin' rings and talkin' cradles."

‘imgonnagetyouback'

Swift considered trying to win her lover back, or being angry with the situation, singing, "Whether I'm gonna be your wife or / Gonna smash up your bike, I haven't decided yet."

‘How Did It End?'

Swift made a reference to the nursery rhyme "K-I-S-S-I-N-G": "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage." She sang, "Leaving me bereft and reeling / My beloved ghost and me / Sitting in a tree / D-Y-I-N-G."

‘So High School'

In one of Swift's tracks about Kelce, she made a reference to a viral video of the NFL player being asked to play "Marry, Kiss, Kill," with her, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry in 2016. (At the time, Kelce choose to "kiss" Swift, "kill" Grande and "marry" Perry.)

"Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me (Kill me) / It's just a game, but really (Really) / I'm bettin' on all three for us two (All three)," she crooned.

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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 2:52 PM.