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Taylor Swift announced the new bonus tracks for The Tortured Poets Department, and we could *not* be more excited. Taylor is treating us to not one, not two, but four different bonus tracks—available on four separate album variants.

She announced the news during her Eras Tour performances in Australia and Singapore, and we've been busy digging into the theories behind these new tracks.

taylor sang coney island after announcing the albatross... and guess what happened in coney island in 1903??? a fire that was started by one of the ALBATROSS hotel employees because of unrequited love at the west end of? THE BOWERY!!!!!!!!!!

1903— 1+9+0+3=13 pic.twitter.com/XJGbXtNraM

— Taylor Throwbacks (@ThrowbackTaylor) February 23, 2024

The Albatross

The word "albatross" usually refers to "a psychological burden that feels like a curse." It also symbolizes a bird that spends its first six years soaring above the ocean before finally touching down on land.

Fans have theorized that the six years refer to Taylor and Joe Alwyn's relationship. Some Swifties think it references The Albatross Hotel in Coney Island that burned down in 1903 (especially because she announced this one after her "Coney Island" performance). An employee who was distraught over unrequited love started the blaze. The hotel was located at the west end of the Bowery, and guess what? Alwyn's secret name when he worked on songs with Swift was William Bowery.

THE BOLTER ?!??!!! pic.twitter.com/QxP0RpJiR2

— grace ⸆⸉ (@killlatay) February 16, 2024

The Bolter 

"The Bolter" could be a reference to the kind of partners who run away from confrontation and their emotions. According to Swifties, this track name is a reference to Joe Alwyn, because he allegedly struggled with Taylor's level of fame. Swifties we're quick to draw a connection between this track and a video that surfaced X of the two bolting away from the paparazzi a few years ago.

five stages of grief theory updated!

denial - the manuscript. side A of the tracklist. she's denying and justifying.

anger - the bolter. side B of the tracklist. she still justifying but realizing.

bargaining - the albatross. darker and grey. side C. she is blaming herself. pic.twitter.com/jdgczwkNZQ

— ami is a tortured poet (@amitoowell131) February 23, 2024

The Manuscript

Swifties have speculated that Taylor's new album will basically tell a story from start to finish, with the songs flowing smoothly from the tumultuous end of a relationship to final acceptance.  If Swifties are correct about the grief theory (ICYMI, some Swifties are speculating that the album variants represent the stages of grief), "The Manuscript" represents her denial era as she justifies the end of the relationship. It refers to the tagline "I love you, it's ruining my life."

the last variant —THE BLACK DOG
the black dog represents negative fears or beliefs that might be hiding away in the subconscious or a way of referring to feelings of depression.
the grief that comes after a relationship and when you are finally 'clean' #TSTTPD #TSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/2odnR47L3I

— ames (@etvrnalies) March 3, 2024

The Black Dog 

In Singapore, Taylor announced the last variant, "The Black Dog." The black dog is a metaphor referencing a time period of depression—as fans have connected the variant to Taylor's surprise song mashups. She followed this announcement by singing "Clean" and "Evermore," which are two songs that represent acceptance. This would conclude the last stages of grief.

Read for more Taylor content:
🪩 Taylor Swift just announced the tracklist for her new album The Tortured Poets Department
🪩 Taylor Swift announces new album The Tortured Poets Department
🪩 Which Taylor Swift track 5 are you?

Slider and top Image: @taylorswift 

by Fran Au | 3/6/2024