\n<\/p>\n
Class is officially in session for the Swifties, as studies of <\/span>Taylor Swift<\/a>‘s\u00a0<\/span>The Tortured Poets Department<\/em><\/a>\u00a0have kicked into high gear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Swift’s <\/span>11th studio album dropped<\/a> at 12 a.m. ET on Friday, April 19 — with a surprise <\/span>The Anthology<\/em> double album drop<\/a> following at 2 a.m. — with\u00a0fans immediately clamoring to <\/span>dissect the inspiration and meaning<\/a> behind Swift’s newest collection of songs. One track long expected to be a standout from the album, “So Long, London,” is among the hot topics of conversation online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The highly anticipated song serves as track five on the album, which is a historically meaningful position on her LPs.<\/span><\/p>\n Previous fifth tracks have included some of her most powerful musical offerings, including “You’re On Your Own, Kid” from <\/span>Midnights<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>and perhaps her most iconic breakup track to date, <\/span>Red<\/span><\/em>‘s “<\/span>All Too Well<\/a>.” Her complete collection of track fives includes a number of poignant songs: “Cold As You” from her self-titled debut, “White Horse” from <\/span>Fearless<\/span><\/em>, “<\/span>Dear John<\/a>” from <\/span>Speak Now<\/span><\/em>, “All You Had to Do Was Stay” from <\/span>1989<\/span><\/em>, “Delicate” from <\/span>Reputation<\/span><\/em>, “The Archer” from <\/span>Lover<\/span><\/em>, “My Tears Ricochet” from <\/span>Folklore<\/span><\/em>, and “Tolerate It” from <\/span>Evermore<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When Swift released her <\/span>The Tortured Poets Department<\/span><\/em> track list in February, Swifties were quick to zero in on the title “So Long, London” and its position in the lineup. Many wondered if it might be about her ex,\u00a0<\/span>Joe Alwyn<\/a>, who is British. The songstress previously alluded to their relationship and her affinity for the city in the bubbly pop anthem “London Boy” from 2019’s\u00a0<\/span>Lover<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was <\/span>in April 2023 that ET broke the news<\/a>\u00a0that Swift and her boyfriend of six years\u00a0had called it quits. At the time, a source said\u00a0the split was amicable and “was not dramatic.” ET was also told “the relationship had just run\u00a0its course.”<\/span><\/p>\n Then, in November, Swift’s close collaborator,\u00a0<\/span>Jack Antonoff<\/a>,\u00a0let slip a messy new detail. Offering\u00a0a digital breadcrumb for sleuthing Swifties,\u00a0<\/span>the producer revealed<\/a>\u00a0that he and Swift had written and recorded her song about a dying relationship,\u00a0<\/span>“You’re Losing Me<\/a>,” on Dec. 5, 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Though Swift herself rarely confirms who her songs are about, her <\/span>Tortured Poets<\/span><\/em> album title appeared to be a reference to an interview Alwyn gave to\u00a0<\/span>Variety<\/a><\/em>\u00a0in late 2022 when he revealed that he was in a group chat called “the Tortured Man Club.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n First Verse:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I saw in my mind ferry lights through the mist<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I kept calm and carried the weight of the rift<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Pulled hi in tighter each time he was drifting away<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n My spine split from carrying us up the hill<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Wet through my clothes, weary bones caught the chill<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I stopped trying to make him laugh, stopped trying to drill the safe<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Chorus:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Thinking how much sad did you think I had, did you think I had in me?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Oh, the tragedy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n You’ll find someone<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Second Verse:<\/span><\/p>\n I didn’t opt in to be your odd man out<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I founded the club she’s heard great things about<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I stopped CPR, after all it’s no use<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The spirit was gone, we would never come to<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Chorus:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n For so long, London<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Stitches undone<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Two graves, one gun<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n I’ll find someone<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Third Verse:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n And you say I abandoned the ship, but I was going down with it<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n My white knuckle dying grip holding tight to your quiet resentment<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And my friends said it isn’t right to be scared<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Every day-old love affair, every breath feels like rarest air<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n When you’re not sure if he wants to be there<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Bridge:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n So how much sad did you think I had, did you think I had in me?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n How much tragedy?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Just how low did you think I’d go ‘fore I’d self implode?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n ‘Fore I’d have to go be free?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n You swore that you loved me but where were the clues?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I died on the altar waiting for the proof<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And I’m just getting color back into my face<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I’m just mad as hell ’cause I loved this place for<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Outro:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Had\u00a0 good run<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n A moment of warm sun<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n But I’m not the one<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n So long, London<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Stitches undone<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Two graves, one gun<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n You’ll find someone<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Following her split from Alwyn, Swift briefly reconnected\u00a0<\/span>with The 1975’s Matty Healy<\/a>See the lyrics to “So Long, London,” below.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n