Taylor Swift has released her long-awaited eleventh album, The Tortured Poets Department. The American singer has had a long association with London, writing about it several times in previous albums – so with a new song titled So Long, London, we’re here to explain the background of the emotional and pain-filled ballad.
Before we even get to the song itself, it’s important to lay the groundwork for Taylor’s love of London. She has dated several British men over the past 15 years, including Tom Hiddleston and Harry Styles, but it was with actor Joe Alwyn that she seemed to have found her eternal love.
The couple began dating in 2016, with their first public sighting in November at a Kings of Leon concert. Taylor released her album “Lover” three years later, and several clues about London and Joe were released.
London Boy takes listeners on a tour of the city, mentioning Highgate, Camden Market, Brixton and Shoreditch. Taylor became so enamored with the city that she even moved to London to live with Joe.
But last year, a spokesperson for Taylor confirmed that the pop star had broken up with Joe after six years. She performed her sold-out Eras Tour in America at the time, with shows on April 13 and 14 in Tampa, Florida.
The breakup was reportedly amicable, without drama, ET reported. But for millions of listeners today (April 19, 2024), we get to hear how Taylor really felt about the break-up – and also about leaving London.
So Long, London begins with mentions of “ferry lights through the fog”, being carried “up the hill” and hints of rain. The hill is Hampstead Heath, as the second verse makes clear: “You left me at the house by the Heath.”
Taylor says she “left everything she knew” to move to London, but later reveals she regrets the decision: “And I’m pissed that you let me give you all that youth for free”. In the second chorus, Taylor’s anger turns more to resignation, then acceptance that she needed to escape the suffocation of the relationship—and that meant leaving London, too.
She ends the song by singing, “I’m just mad as hell for loving this place for /So long, London.” Taylor has loved London for many years, but perhaps, after her relationship with Joe, her memories of the city are tainted now.
The song ends with the outro: “So long, London / Had a good run / A moment of warm sun / But I’m not the one”. Is this the end of Taylor’s love affair with London?
Taylor Swift will perform her Era’s Tour at Wembley Stadium in London in June and August. You can read more about how to secure tickets here. You can buy The Tortured Poets Department on Amazon and at HMV.
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