After living a very public love life, with famous beaus from Taylor Lautner to Calvin Harris, it might come as a surprise that Taylor Swift has quietly been dating the British Joe Alwyn for upwards of a year. What even fewer people know is that this semester, in order to solidify her relationship with Alwyn, Swift has broken off a slew of troublesome flings on our very campus within the past several months.

The song:

“This Love (is kept hot by fossil fuels)”

The dump-ee:

Chancellor Mark Wrighton

Key lyrics:

“Skies grew darker, currents swept you out again”

What it means: The album’s most fire song brings the heat. Last April, Chancellor Mark Wrighton stated that Washington University would not divest its endowment from fossil fuel companies. On its website, Fossil Fuel WashU writes that fossil fuels are the leading cause of global climate change, and the University must divest as soon as possible. In her song, Swift discusses the devastating effects of climate change.

“This love is good, this love is bad”

What it means: In the past few weeks, however, Wrighton expressed interest in a transparency committee on the endowment. Now, Fossil Free members are focusing on achieving this goal, and have collaborated with Washington University for Undergraduate Socio-Economic Diversity. Swift just doesn’t know how to feel. Hopeful? Discouraged? Good? Bad? She just doesn’t know anymore.

The song:

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

The unlikely guy:

Office of Residential Life

Key lyrics:

“I used to think that we were forever ever, ever”

What it means: In a heart wrenching tune which conveys the devastation of not receiving a time slot for housing, Swift relives this haunting moment, experienced by many rising juniors this year. When she chose to attend Wash. U., the amazing housing was an initial attraction. She thought she would stay in ResLife housing forever.

“Baby, I miss you and I swear I’m gonna change, trust me.”

What it means: Taylor and her friends had to split up into multiples of three in order to find housing in the Lofts. But in the second round of housing, they weren’t assigned a time slot yet again, and ResLife sent out an email which contained this line, which she then integrated directly into her piece.

“We are never ever, ever getting back together”

What it means: Swift and her friends finally abandoned ResLife for Zillow. The song turns upbeat and the vocals combine beautifully with a warm acoustic guitar as Swift and her besties find the perfect apartment. Now, with regards to ResLife…

The song:

“(You) Did Something Bad”

The one that got away:

Phi Delta Theta

Key lyrics:

“They say I did something bad”

What it means: The most beautiful, haunting melody on this entire track covers the heartbreaking suspension of Phi Delt and the moment they realized they may have potentially, I don’t know, done something a little bad? Shocking news to them, though.

“And I’d do it over and over and over again if I could.”

What it means: Swift was a student here when Phi Delt was temporarily suspended over hazing allegations in September 2017, when they were placed on a year-long deferred suspension in December 2017, when they violated their suspension this February, and finally when a firearm was discovered in their house Feb. 20. This cyclic pattern inspired the rhythmic waves present on this track.

The song:

“(Snot) Drops on my Guitar”

The victim:

WashFlu

Key lyrics:

“He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar.”

What it means: In the album’s most vulnerable piece, Swift recalls the moment she visited Student Health Services and was told they were out of flu vaccines for the year. When the physician informed her of this, she was so upset she had absolutely no other choice than to use her guitar as a tissue to cry upon.

“Can he tell that I can’t breathe? And there he goes so perfectly. The kind of flawless I wish I could be.”

What it means: After contracting the virus, Swift details the week she spent in her bed on the South 40 with the WashFlu. Like most students, she felt extremely envious of the rare student who walked by perfectly healthy while her nose remained perfectly clogged. She describes this jealousy and hatred in vivid detail in this track. The passionate lyrics transform you back to that early semester, feverish haze.