Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce began their romance before The Tortured Poets Department dropped in April 2024, making it the first album that featured songs inspired by their love.
While the majority of Swift’s 11th studio album is about past loves like Matty Healy and Joe Alwyn, one song, titled “The Alchemy” seemingly refers to her new love with Kelce.
Using clever wordplay, Swift uses football references in her lyrics to give a shout-out to her boyfriend, who is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. “So when I touchdown, call the amateurs and cut them from the team / Ditch the clowns, get the crown / Baby I’m the one to beat,” she sings, “Because the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me / Honestly, who are we to fight The Alchemy?”
The pop star also appears to reference her moment on the field with Kelce after he won Super Bowl LVIII in February. “Shirts off and your friends lift you up over their heads / Beer sticking to the floor / Cheers chanting ‘cause they said there was no chance trying to be the greatest in the league, where’s the trophy?”
In the second batch of surprise songs dropped hours later, Swift seemingly references Kelce (a lover of comedies and video games) again on the track “So High School,” where she compares falling for the athlete to being 16 again.
“I’m watching American Pie with you on a Saturday night / Your friends are around so be quiet / I’m trying to stifle my sighs,” she croons on the upbeat track. ‘Cause I feel so high school every time I look at you / But look at you.”
Additionally, the lyric video for “So High School” is entirely in Swift’s thematic black and white color scheme, save for one line, where she sings, “Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights.” Eagle-eyed Swifties noticed that the letters TK and TS were highlighted in pink, leading fans to speculate that these are Swift and Kelce’s initials.
Michael Owens/Getty Images; Sarah Morris/FilmMagic Travis Kelce has no issue with being girlfriend Taylor Swift’s muse. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34, seemingly inspired two tracks on Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, but he wasn’t surprised by the subtle shout-outs. “He heard everything before it was released. He is so proud […]
“So High School” also features the lyric, “You knew what you wanted and, boy, you got her,” which fans think references the start of Swift’s romance with Kelce, wherein he sought her out at a concert using a friendship bracelet.
Swift appears to reference a viral video of Kelce being asked to play “Kiss, Marry, Kill” with her, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry back in 2016. “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 sings. (For the record, he opted to “kiss” Swift at the time, “kill” Grande and “marry” Swift’s once-rival Perry.)
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Swift continues with the teenage metaphors (and football references) in the bridge, singing, “Truth, dare, spin bottles / You know how to ball, I’m no Aristotle / Brand new, full throttle / Teach me while your boys play Grand Theft Auto.” She refers to his dad, Ed, when she sings: “I feel like laughing in the middle of practice / To that impression you did of your dad again / I’m hearing voices like a madman.”
Swift and Kelce began dating in summer 2023 after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed he wanted to give the singer his number via a friendship bracelet at her Eras Tour. Though he was unsuccessful at the time, the pair eventually connected. Swift ultimately began attending Kelce’s football games and cheered on the athlete all the way to Super Bowl LVIII.
Taylor Swift became a bonafide sports fan after she started dating NFL star Travis Kelce in summer 2023. “Football is awesome, it turns out,” Swift quipped to TIME in her December 2023 Person of the Year profile. “I’ve been missing out my whole life.” Rooting for Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, […]
Swift announced her 11th studio album in February 2024 after she took home her 13th Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Although Kelce was unable to attend the ceremony due to prepping for the Super Bowl, he later revealed that he got a sneak peek at the upcoming album and was seriously impressed.
“I have heard some of it. It is unbelievable,” Kelce said during a press event at the time. “I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops.”
Kelce, who proposed in August 2025, was also privy to a sneak peek of Swift’s upcoming 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, which comes out in October 2025. Fans, however, have to wait until its release to see if Kelce inspired any of the new tracks.
