![\"Feature](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Feature-Guide-to-Taylor-Swift-The-Tortured-Poet-Department-Bonus-Versions-2024-Grammys.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>A Guide to Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Bonus Versions<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tTaylor Swift is treating her fans to more than one version of her upcoming 11th studio album. Three editions of The Tortured Poets Department, the original and two bonus versions, will be released on Friday, April 19. In addition to the 16 songs from the standard edition, each album variation will feature one of three [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to the Swifties, \u201cThe Black Dog\u201d also could refer to Swift\u2019s heartbreak after the split. Keep scrolling for an explanation of all the theories:<\/p>\n
What Does \u2018The Black Dog\u2019 Mean?<\/b><\/h3>\n
The term \u201cblack dog\u201d was initially coined in the 1700s to describe \u201ca brief period in a person\u2019s life\u201d but has since expanded to cover the spectrum of depression and its symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many people, this metaphor describes a state of depression characterized by sadness or lack of will, including the loss of desire to partake in activities you once loved,\u201d a definition from BetterHelp<\/a>, a mental health service, reads. \u201cThis metaphor can be helpful for adults and children living with depression and those with loved ones experiencing symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\nPer BetterHelp, seeing an image of a \u201clarge, intrusive black dog\u201d can help patients easily identify their depressive behaviors. The feeling of a large canine tracking someone\u2019s every move can mimic the ominous feeling of a depressive episode.<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/What-Does-Taylor-Swifts-The-Black-Dog-Mean-Breaking-Down-All-of-the-Fan-Theories.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Ashok Kumar\/TAS24\/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\nIt\u2019s a Metaphor<\/b><\/h3>\n
In a department full of tortured poets, it seems like some metaphors should be expected. One Swiftie even pointed out a secondary metaphor of why a black dog would show up inside one\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis metaphor can represent the gradual overtaking of enjoyable activities you once loved, the person you once recognized in the mirror, or the life you once lived,\u201d a BetterHelp definition says, which the fan shared on X. \u201cThe metaphor represents how depression does not take breaks but may feel like a following shadow \u2014 a large, lumbering shadow as loyal as a canine. At its inception, though, the black dog was not as profound or scary of a metaphor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Every](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Every-Easter-Egg-Taylor-Swift-Left-Fans-for-The-Tortured-Poets-Department-3.jpg?crop=0px%2C25px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Every Easter Egg Taylor Swift Teased for \u2018The Tortured Poets Department\u2019<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tMarcelo Endelli\/TAS23\/Getty Images While Taylor Swift\u2019s The Tortured Poets Department came as a surprise to fans, the pop star seemingly left several Easter eggs hinting that her 11th studio album was on its way. Swift revealed her latest musical endeavor while accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album \u2014 her 13th career win \u2014 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Surprise Song Connection<\/b><\/h3>\n
After announcing \u201cThe Black Dog,\u201d Swift launched into a surprise song mash-up<\/a> of \u201cClean\u201d and \u201cEvermore.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201c[They are] two songs about healing from a sky that \u2018turned black like a perfect storm\u2019 and a \u2018gray November,\u2019\u201d an X user pointed out. \u201cThis album is about heartbreak, but also about healing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She Saw So Many Signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
In ancient English folklore, a black dog has represented an omen of death. Given that Alwyn hails from England and she has a TTPD <\/i>song titled \u201cSo Long, London,\u201d it is speculated that this metaphor further points to the demise<\/a> of her relationship with Alwyn. (Swift also has an album named Folklore<\/i>, which Alwyn helped write songs for in 2020.)<\/p>\n\u201cIn this case, she saw the signs that this relationship was going to end and she put up a screaming resistance,\u201d a social media user wrote on X.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
A \u2018Tortured Poets\u2019 Connection<\/b><\/h3>\n
One of Swift\u2019s other TTPD <\/i>songs is called \u201cClara Bow,\u201d after the late Hollywood icon<\/a>. Bow, for her part, owned a black dog.<\/p>\n\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/4-What-Does-Taylor-Swifts-The-Black-Dog-Mean-Breaking-Down-All-of-the-Fan-Theories.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Clara Bow<\/span> John Springer Collection\/CORBIS\/Corbis via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cNot only did Clara Bow have a black dog she wrote a three-page eulogy for him when he died and that\u2019s the most Taylor-coded thing ever,\u201d an X user quipped.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Per BetterHelp, seeing an image of a \u201clarge, intrusive black dog\u201d can help patients easily identify their depressive behaviors. The feeling of a large canine tracking someone\u2019s every move can mimic the ominous feeling of a depressive episode.<\/p>\n
\n In a department full of tortured poets, it seems like some metaphors should be expected. One Swiftie even pointed out a secondary metaphor of why a black dog would show up inside one\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cThis metaphor can represent the gradual overtaking of enjoyable activities you once loved, the person you once recognized in the mirror, or the life you once lived,\u201d a BetterHelp definition says, which the fan shared on X. \u201cThe metaphor represents how depression does not take breaks but may feel like a following shadow \u2014 a large, lumbering shadow as loyal as a canine. At its inception, though, the black dog was not as profound or scary of a metaphor.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMarcelo Endelli\/TAS23\/Getty Images While Taylor Swift\u2019s The Tortured Poets Department came as a surprise to fans, the pop star seemingly left several Easter eggs hinting that her 11th studio album was on its way. Swift revealed her latest musical endeavor while accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album \u2014 her 13th career win \u2014 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After announcing \u201cThe Black Dog,\u201d Swift launched into a surprise song mash-up<\/a> of \u201cClean\u201d and \u201cEvermore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c[They are] two songs about healing from a sky that \u2018turned black like a perfect storm\u2019 and a \u2018gray November,\u2019\u201d an X user pointed out. \u201cThis album is about heartbreak, but also about healing.\u201d<\/p>\n In ancient English folklore, a black dog has represented an omen of death. Given that Alwyn hails from England and she has a TTPD <\/i>song titled \u201cSo Long, London,\u201d it is speculated that this metaphor further points to the demise<\/a> of her relationship with Alwyn. (Swift also has an album named Folklore<\/i>, which Alwyn helped write songs for in 2020.)<\/p>\n \u201cIn this case, she saw the signs that this relationship was going to end and she put up a screaming resistance,\u201d a social media user wrote on X.<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n One of Swift\u2019s other TTPD <\/i>songs is called \u201cClara Bow,\u201d after the late Hollywood icon<\/a>. Bow, for her part, owned a black dog.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only did Clara Bow have a black dog she wrote a three-page eulogy for him when he died and that\u2019s the most Taylor-coded thing ever,\u201d an X user quipped.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>It\u2019s a Metaphor<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Every Easter Egg Taylor Swift Teased for \u2018The Tortured Poets Department\u2019<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Surprise Song Connection<\/b><\/h3>\n
She Saw So Many Signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
Thank You!<\/h3>\n
A \u2018Tortured Poets\u2019 Connection<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/div>
\n Clara Bow<\/span> John Springer Collection\/CORBIS\/Corbis via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n