Who And What Are Taylor Swift's Song ‘loml’ Lyrics About?

19 April 2024, 16:18

Taylor Swift's newest album 'The Tortured Poets Department' dropped on the 19th of April
Taylor Swift's newest album 'The Tortured Poets Department' dropped on the 19th of April. Picture: Getty
Capital FM

By Capital FM

Taylor Swift’s new album 'The Tortured Poets Department' has dropped and fans are trying to figure out what the song ‘loml’ stands for. What does it mean? Who are the lyrics about? Here’s what we know.

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Taylor Swift’s new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ dropped on the 19th of April with songs like 'Fortnight', 'So Long, London' and 'imgonnagetyouback' and Swifties are doing what they do best – overanalysing every single song to figure out what they could be about.

The twelfth song on the track list of Taylor’s eleventh studio album is named ‘loml’, which is a common online abbreviation to stand for ‘love of my life.’

However, has anything Taylor done been that simple? She’s notorious for having layer upon layer of meaning and symbolism in her lyrics. Her songwriting experience has turned her into one of the greatest poets of our generation.

Here’s what we think Taylor’s song ‘loml’ is about.

Taylor Swift is releasing her new album on 19th April
Taylor Swift is releasing her new album on 19th April. Picture: Getty

Who is Taylor Swift’s ‘loml’ about?

First impressions and the general consensus online seemed to have all led back to the theory that Taylor’s song ‘loml’ is about Joe Alwyn.

The pair were notoriously private together, but Joe was also Taylor’s longest public relationship with the couple dating for over six years.

The track could be a breakup song that paid homage to the time they spent together and how it all ended. It was quickly rumoured the entire album revolves around their relationship, down to the album title.

‘So Long, London,’ a song on the new album, feels like proof ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is about the London-born ex Joe, considering Taylor’s 2019 song ‘London Boy’ is all about how they’d spend their days in Camden Market, Highgate, Brixton and Shoreditch.

Fans believe Taylor’s song ‘loml’ will be about ex-Joe Alwyn
Fans believe Taylor’s song ‘loml’ will be about ex-Joe Alwyn. Picture: Getty

Joe revealed in 2022 that he was in a group chat called The Tortured Man Club that he shared with actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott.

One fan left a very interesting theory in the comment section of a TikTok in regards to ‘loml’ being about Joe.

The fan wrote, “Maybe it’s about like how he started off by texting her with full words like, ‘love of my life’ and fades to just an abbreviated loml because he couldn’t be bothered to say it completely.”

Taylor and Joe never publicly discussed one another after the breakup, but it appeared to be mutual to a point. Could their love have just faded as it does sometimes in long-term relationships and that’s what ‘loml’ is about?

One fan left a theory in the comment section of a TikTok
One fan left a theory in the comment section of a TikTok. Picture: TikTok: @shelley

Another theory is that ‘loml’ is somehow connected to Harry Styles. It’s a bit of a stretch, however, Taylor and Harry dated between 2012 to 2013 and Harry released a song called ‘Love of My Life’ in 2022 in his album ‘Harry’s House.’ Could Taylor’s track of the same but abbreviated name be a call and respond to that?

Finally, we have to consider the possibility that ‘loml’ could be referring to Tay’s current boyfriend Travis Kelce.

The pair have been loved up since 2023 and according to a source speaking to US Weekly, “Taylor has already written songs about Travis… She’s written at least two songs. They have to do with their love story and falling in love with him.”

According to a source Taylor has already written songs about Travis
According to a source Taylor has already written songs about Travis. Picture: Getty

The only reason we think ‘loml’ may not be about Travis is that the source went on to say that her songs about him are private at the moment.

“She likely won’t share them with anyone. They’re very special,” the source told the magazine. “Songs are like poetry to her. Just like most people journal, Taylor writes lyrics. Her relationship with Travis has inspired her.”

Although given she sings 'loss of my life' at the end of the song, and she and Travis are very much still together, this rules that theory out.

What is Taylor Swift’s ‘loml’ about?

'loml' is all about losing the 'love of your life', something Taylor says she was told by an ex multiple times. She sings: 'Holy ghost, you told me I'm the love of your life / You said I'm the love of your life / About a million times.'

She touches on the gaping hole left behind by the end of their relationship: 'I felt a hole like this, never before and ever since.' But she could be referring to long-time love and now-ex Joe, or Matty Healy who she dated for a short time after.

The couple had a brief fling in 2014, which could just be what Taylor's referring to when she sings: 'Who's gonna stop us from waltzing back into rekindled flames / If we know the steps anyway / We embroidered the memories of the time I was away / Stitching, "We were just kids, babe" / I said, "I don't mind, it takes time."

However, it could also be about Joe given they're thought to have split and reunited a few times before finally calling it quits last year.

Taylor ends the song with: 'You're the loss of my love', a line that's left fans in tears on the floor weeping.

'The Tortured Poets Department' is Taylor Swift's 11th studio album
'The Tortured Poets Department' is Taylor Swift's 11th studio album. Picture: Getty

What are the lyrics to 'loml'?

Who's gonna stop us from waltzing back into rekindled flames
If we know the steps anyway
We embroidered the memories of the time I was away
Stitching, "We were just kids, babe"
I said, "I don't mind, it takes time"
I thought I was better safe than starry-eyed
I felt a glow like this, never before and never since

If you know it in one glimpse, it's legendary
You and I go from one kiss to getting married
Still alivе, killing time at the cemеtery
Never quite buried

And your suit and tie, in the nick of time
You low-down boy, you stand-up guy
Holy ghost, you told me I'm the love of your life
You said I'm the love of your life
About a million times

Who's gonna tell me the truth when you blew in with the winds of fate
And told me I reformed you
When your impressionist paintings of heaven turned out to be fakes
Well, you took me to hell too
And all at once, the ink bleeds
A con man sells a fool a "get love quick" scheme
I felt a hole like this, never before and ever since

If you know it in one glimpse, it's legendary
What we thought was for all time was momentary
Still alive, killing time at the cemetery
Never quite buried

You cinephile in black and white
All those plot twists and dynamite
Mr. Steal-Your-Girl, then make her cry
Said I'm the love of your life

You shit-talked me under the table
Talking rings and talking cradles
I wish I could unrecall
How we almost had it all
Dancing phantoms on the terrace
Are they second-hand embarrassed
That I can't get out of bed
'Cause something counterfeit's dead
It was legendary
It was momentary
It was unnecessary
Should've let it stay buried

You're the loss of my life
Oh, what a valiant roar
What a bland goodbye
The coward claimed he was a lion
I'm combing through the braids of lies
I'll never leave, never mind
Our field of dreams engulfed in fire
Your arson's match, your somber eyes
And I'll still see until I die

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