Jeff Lang’s Mom Reacts to Taylor Swift’s Tribute to Late Son

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Taylor Swift still feels enchanted by Jeff Lang.

Since Taylor Swift released her new album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, fans have been trying to figure out who the song “Ruin the Friendship” is about. The song details her regret over not telling a childhood friend how she felt before he died.

Now, Susan Lang—mother to Jeff—says she believes the song is about her late son.

She told *The Tennessean* in an interview on October 10th that they were very close friends, which is unusual nowadays. They often spent time together at her home and were always playfully teasing each other.

Susan shared how moved she was by Taylor’s apparent dedication of a song to Jeff, who tragically passed away at 21 on November 2, 2010. This happened just days after Taylor released her album, *Speak Now*, according to *The Express Tribune*.

She still remembers him after all these years,” she said. “I’m glad she’s keeping his memory alive.”

Oh my gosh, this song absolutely *destroys* me! It’s about Taylor wishing she’d just gone for it and kissed this guy back in high school, you know? And then, get this, she finds out through her best friend, Abigail Anderson, that he actually *died*. Like, can you even imagine?! It’s just… heartbreaking. It makes me replay every ‘what if’ in my own life. Seriously, it’s a masterpiece.

The song continues, ‘It wasn’t ideal, but your girlfriend was out of town – I still should have kissed you.’ It then reflects on lost connection: ‘After school, I lost touch with you. Abigail told me the sad news. It’s goodbye, and we’ll never understand the reason.’

The 35-year-old goes on to allude to attending the subject’s funeral.

She admits it wasn’t ideal, but she recalls thinking, ‘I still should have kissed you,’ even while speaking at the grave.

Taylor has publicly acknowledged her relationship with Jeff before. For example, shortly after his funeral, she paid tribute to him while accepting the Songwriter of the Year award at the 2010 BMI Country Awards.

This week has been incredibly tough, emotionally. I recently sang at the funeral of a really close friend – someone I’ve known since we were kids. He was only 21, and honestly, he was my first audience; I always ran my new songs by him first. I want to give a special thanks to Jeff Lang, because he meant the world to me.

Keep reading for more about Taylor’s new album The Life of a Showgirl…

The first song on Taylor Swift’s album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, alludes to Ophelia, a character from William Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, and her unfortunate story.

The song suggests Taylor could have been overwhelmed by sadness if her significant other hadn’t helped her through it.

“I heard you calling / On the megaphone,” Taylor sings. “You wanna see me all alone.”

The song seems to reference a moment when Travis Kelce playfully called out Taylor Swift on his podcast, *New Heights*, for not being able to meet up with him during her Eras Tour – the event that sparked their relationship.

“I swore loyalty to me, myself and I,” the lyrics continue. “Right before you lit my sky up.”

Just before she met Travis, Taylor had recently ended things with Matty Healy and had described herself as an “independent girl” in July 2023.

But after Travis went to her concert in Kansas City that same month, sparks began to fly.

Taylor’s fiancĂ© is now participating in her tradition of hiding clues, or “Easter eggs,” for fans. Back in July, he hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” in an Instagram post, jokingly saying they’d been having adventures and keeping things real during their time off.

How does this relate to Taylor’s song? The lyrics say, “You pulled me from a difficult time and rescued my heart, but be honest with me.”

In the second song on the album, Taylor pays tribute to the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, referencing places the actress loved, including the Plaza AthĂ©nĂ©e in Paris and Musso & Frank’s in Los Angeles.

Taylor’s lyrics also compare her to Elizabeth Taylor. Similar to how Taylor experiences media attention now, Elizabeth was frequently in the news for both her relationships and her glamorous style.

But, as Taylor notes in her song, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.”

In the cheerful song “Opalite,” which Travis previously shared was his favorite from the *Showgirl* soundtrack, Taylor Swift alludes to the story of their relationship.

Taylor has experienced a lot of heartbreak in the past, but her relationship with Travis feels peaceful and serene, like a calm, shimmering opal.

She explained on Capital radio that she’d noted down ‘opalite’ after discovering it’s not a natural opal, but made by humans. Since Travis’s birthstone is opal, she’d always been drawn to the stone and remembered that detail.

She explained the gemstone’s meaning, saying, “I saw it as a metaphor – just like the opal is created by people, happiness can be too.”

But some fans believe Taylor subtly referenced Travis Kelce’s ex, Kayla Nicole, in her song. They think the lyrics suggest Kelce once felt used as a social media accessory.

I often see this dynamic play out – a disconnect where one person is fully present and the other is lost in their devices. It’s heartbreaking, really. It’s like the singer is observing someone struggling to understand why they feel so isolated, while the person they’re trying to connect with is completely absorbed in their phone, missing the genuine connection right in front of them. It highlights how easily we can be physically *with* someone but emotionally miles away.

Oh my god, this song
 it just *gets* me. It starts with this line about how everything people show you is just an act, a ‘pose,’ and then it’s like, aren’t we all just desperately trying to *make* love work, giving it absolutely everything? And then
 the part about leaving the table? It’s like realizing someone was just pretending, and it hits you so hard. But the *real* killer is that last line: ‘You’re starving ’til you’re not.’ It’s so simple, but it perfectly captures that feeling of being completely used up and then just
 discarded. It’s brutal, beautiful, and I can’t stop replaying it in my head.

Taylor, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the writers of “Showgirl.” However, the late George Michael is also credited on the song “Father Figure” because it samples a portion of his 1987 song with the same title.

Taylor Swift’s team showed their support by posting on Instagram on October 2nd, thanking her for including George in a memorable moment.

Many fans believe the first part of the song is told from the point of view of Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, who sold Taylor Swift’s original recordings to Scooter Braun. The song then shifts to Taylor’s perspective as she takes back ownership of her music.

Taylor herself admitted that the song was “written in character.”

I was so captivated when I heard her on BBC Radio 1 talk about her latest work! She explained that it was a really enjoyable piece to create, and what struck me most was how she flipped the traditional idea of a father figure to explore themes of power – who has it, how it works, and how those dynamics can be completely turned on their head. It’s a really clever approach!

Okay, let’s talk about boundaries and what’s considered appropriate content. Recently, a performer included a rather explicit and frankly shocking line in her act – a boast about physical attributes connected to a deal-with-the-devil theme. As someone who advises on public image and maintaining a respectful brand, I have to say this is a risky move. While pushing boundaries can be effective, this particular instance feels unnecessarily provocative and could alienate a large segment of her audience. It’s a reminder that shock value isn’t always the same as good art, and there’s a difference between being edgy and being offensive. Ultimately, it’s her choice, but from a lifestyle and branding perspective, it’s a potentially damaging one.

We’re now at the fifth track on Taylor Swift’s album, *Showgirl*, and this is usually where she places her most emotionally raw and sad songs.

In her song “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor Swift reflects on the ups and downs of life, emphasizing her unwavering loyalty to her family. Her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, welcomed her before later having her brother, Austin.

You know, what I love about this song is how fiercely loyal it is. It’s saying, ‘I’m not about being mean or overly aggressive, and I promise I’ll always be there for you.’ It’s a real commitment – a promise not to abandon anyone, especially after dealing with so many fake people and those who try to manipulate things. It’s a vow to stay true, and that’s incredibly powerful to me.

The sixth track on the album *Showgirl* is about looking back on a missed romantic opportunity with regret. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia, recalling a prom night where the singer remembers seeing someone special. The lyrics describe a moment – “Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist
And see
You looking at me” – and the realization it wasn’t a signal for something more. Despite that, the singer wishes they had taken a chance, as the song played during a moment with 50 Cent’s music in the background: “Should’ve kissed you anyway.”

Taylor Swift references her close friend Abigail Anderson—who inspired the song “Fifteen”—in poignant lyrics about loss, singing, “When I left school, I lost track of you / Abigail called me with the bad news / Goodbye, and we’ll never know why.”

Many fans believe the heartbreaking song is about Taylor Swift’s late friend, Jeff Lang, who passed away in 2010. He was also thought to be the inspiration behind her earlier song, “Forever Winter.”

In the song, released in 2021 as part of the *Red* album’s vault tracks, she sings about being unaware of someone’s struggles and how much their absence would affect her. She expresses feeling lost without them, admitting she was too young to realize things could improve. She promises to be a constant source of happiness, but fears a permanent sadness if they leave.

Despite its title, “Actually Romantic” isn’t really a love song. Instead, it’s Taylor Swift’s lyrical response to someone who has talked about her extensively.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: she recently high-fived her ex, and then her current partner admitted to being happy he disappeared. Her partner even wrote a song about how much they dislike seeing her, which she finds strangely endearing, even though others might take offense.

Taylor Swift usually keeps the inspiration behind her songs private, but many fans think this one was about Charli XCX. Charli opened for Taylor on the Reputation Tour and is also friends with Taylor’s former boyfriend, Matty, and his partner, Gabbriette Bechtel.

After Charli released her album *brat* in June 2024—Charli is married to George Daniel, who plays in the band The 1975—some people thought her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a dig at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor publicly praised Charli’s work, seemingly ending the speculation.

Taylor shared that she’s been impressed with Charli’s musical talent ever since hearing ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. In an interview with *New York* magazine published on August 26th, Taylor praised Charli’s unique and creative songwriting, noting that she consistently takes songs in unexpected directions. Taylor expressed admiration for Charli’s dedication and success after more than ten years in the music industry.

Fans are speculating about another possible reference to Charli XCX. Taylor Swift’s Spotify cover art features an apple, which is the title of Charli’s popular 2024 song.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for comment on the speculation and has not heard back.

On the very top of Taylor’s wish list? A forever with Travis. That includes starting a family.

“I just want you,” she sings. “Have a couple kids / Got the whole block looking like you.”

The artist even admitted it’s one of her favorite tracks on the album. 

She explained to Magic radio that recording that particular song signaled the end of the album process. She described it as a deeply emotional track that honestly reflected her current life situation, leading to a feeling of completion.

Taylor says hoping for love never worked for her in the past. But now that she’s with Travis, she feels confident and doesn’t feel the need to rely on luck at all.

In the song, she sings that she doesn’t need to catch the wedding bouquet to realize a difficult time is coming.

She was correct: Taylor and Travis got engaged in August 2025, two years after they started dating.

The song features suggestive lyrics and also references *New Heights*, the podcast Taylor says brought her and Travis together.

As a huge Taylor fan, I see track 10 as her offering support to someone who’s gone through a public downfall – something she really understands herself, having faced similar criticism. It feels like she’s saying, ‘I get it, and I’m here for you.’

She warned, “Let’s leave now, because people will panic when they see us.” She then added, almost to herself, “It’s lucky my friends bailed – I prefer them mysterious and a little bit rebellious.”

People have guessed the song might be about Taylor Swift’s friendships with Brittany Mahomes or Blake Lively, which have sometimes been criticized.

The singer explained this comes from her ability to understand others, stemming from her own very public struggles, likely referencing the 2016 conflict between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

After facing intense public scrutiny and being involved in several high-profile controversies throughout my career, it feels like I navigate life with a different perspective now. Those experiences have definitely changed how I approach things.

Taylor added that seeing others face challenges makes you realize they’ll likely grow from the experience. If they can persevere, they’ll become stronger and learn valuable lessons along the way.

Ultimately, ‘Cancelled!’ is about my refusal to simply drop people because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions based on how they treat me and their behavior, not on what anyone else thinks.

As pleasant as the name suggests, honey is a central theme in the eleventh song. Taylor explains that Travis has given new meaning to words like ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart,’ replacing past negative associations with thoughts of him.

Taylor sings about feeling hopeful and loved, saying that being called ‘honey’ brightens everything up. She imagines warm summer days and suggests she’s the person her lover desires.

In fact, Travis did call Taylor “sweetie” during her debut appearance on New Heights in August.

For her final act, Taylor teamed up with friend Sabrina Carpenter.

The song “Elizabeth Taylor” offers a peek into the life of a showgirl, revealing that even in a seemingly glamorous world, there are sacrifices. An experienced performer shares this reality with a rising star.

The song’s words tell a story of longing: a woman wishes she could trade anything for a wonderful life of her own. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls – they’re often used and then discarded.

You know, after spending time really understanding the world of a showgirl – the dedication, the sparkle, everything – it all culminates in that final moment on stage. It’s this beautiful, heartfelt bow, and they always share a simple, sweet message with the audience: ‘That’s our show, we love you so much, goodnight!’ It’s a lovely way to end things, leaving everyone with a warm feeling.

The song is about encountering someone you admire, and they unexpectedly advise you *not* to pursue the same path, simply because they want to be truthful about the difficulties of the entertainment industry. Despite the warning, the song’s narrator still decides to follow their dreams.

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2025-10-15 20:20