Taylor Swift May Have Honored Late Friend in “Ruin the Friendship”

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Taylor Swift isn’t trying to hide her tears.

Before The Life of a Showgirl came out on Oct. 3, a lot of us were convinced the song “Ruin the Friendship” would reveal how Taylor feels about Blake Lively. But honestly, the song hit me hard because it actually goes *back* in time, to before Taylor even met the Gossip Girl star. Now, so many of us are thinking it might be a beautiful tribute to her late friend Jeff Lang.

The sixth track on the album revisits Taylor’s teenage years, where she reflects on not expressing her feelings-and missing a kiss-with a close friend. The song details how she and this person grew distant, and she later found out from her best friend Abigail Anderson that they had passed away after graduation.

She recalls, “After graduating, I lost touch with you. Abigail told me the sad news. Goodbye… / And we’ll never understand the reason. It wasn’t a request, she explains. / But I still traveled back home / With so many things I wanted to say. It wasn’t easy, not at all, / but I quietly said it at your resting place: ‘I should’ve kissed you anyway.’”

The 35-year-old even offered some sage wisdom to those who might be in a similar position.

The song goes on to say, “I always suggest taking the risk and potentially damaging the friendship / It’s better to deal with that than to live with regret,” and then, “Forever / I should have kissed you regardless / And I always advise responding to the question / It’s better to do that than to wonder ‘what if’ / For the rest of your life.”

Although Taylor didn’t say directly who the song is about, she’s talked before about losing a friend named Jeff, who died on November 2, 2010, when she was in her early twenties. In fact, the “Love Story” singer referenced Jeff while accepting an award at the 2010 BMI Country Music Awards.

“At the ceremony today, I shared that I had sung at the funeral of a very close friend,” she said. “He was only 21 years old, and I always used to play him my songs before anyone else. I want to express my gratitude to Jeff Lang.”

Many fans immediately recognized what seemed like a tribute, and one person shared on X, “Rest in peace Jeff Lang. Taylor Swift cares about you. Some people thought you two should have ended your friendship, but you were a good friend, and I’m sure you’d be happy for her and Travis.”

Someone else commented, “I definitely did not predict a song about Jeff Lang would happen in 2025! It’s true that grief and regret really do linger, don’t they?”

However, “Ruin the Friendship” isn’t the first time Jeff might have been referenced in Taylor’s music. Fans also think the song “Forever Winter”-a previously unreleased track from her 2012 album Red-is also about Jeff, as Taylor sings about a friend dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues.

During the chorus, she poured out her heart, singing, “All this time, I didn’t know you were struggling – I had no idea! I honestly think I’d completely fall apart if you weren’t here for me.” It really resonated with me, because she continued, “I feel like I was too young to realize things actually do get better.” And then, the most beautiful line – “I want to be your constant summer sun, but if you leave, it’ll be forever winter for me.”

During the song, the Grammy-winning artist sang, “I obsessively try to understand what he’s thinking / I’m constantly afraid he’ll choose to end things.”

Although Taylor hasn’t revealed what inspired that particular song, she did talk about “Ruin the Friendship.” During her introduction on Amazon Music, she explained the song looks back fondly on times when you were unsure about making a move.

She went on to explain, “It’s those times when fear or worry stopped you from exploring something you were genuinely interested in.” She gave the example of not confessing your feelings to someone, or not kissing them, because you were afraid of damaging the friendship.

But as the “Love Story” singer noted, “What really would have been so bad about that?” 

Particularly because it would save you from ever having to ask yourself, “What if I had just gone for it?” or “What might have been if I’d taken the chance?” It’s about avoiding a lifetime of regret and wondering about untapped potential.

For a full breakdown of all the tracks on The Life of a Showgirl, keep reading. 

The first song on Taylor Swift‘s The Life of a Showgirl alludes to Ophelia, a character in William Shakespeare‘s Hamlet, and her unfortunate story.

The lyrics suggest Taylor could have been overwhelmed by sadness if her significant other hadn’t rescued her.

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

The song’s words seem to reference Travis Kelce playfully teasing Taylor on his New Heights podcast. He mentioned she didn’t meet up with him after her Eras Tour concerts, and that’s actually how their relationship started.

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

Prior to meeting Travis, Taylor had recently ended her relationship with Matty Healy. She had playfully referred to herself as one of the “independent girlies” back in July 2023.

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

Even Taylor’s fiancé is participating in her tradition of hiding clues, or “Easter eggs,” for fans. Back in July, he playfully hinted at lyrics from “The Fate of Ophelia” on Instagram. He posted pictures with Taylor, captioning them, “Had some adventures this offseason,” and adding, “Kept it [100].”

How does this relate to Taylor’s song? It’s reflected in the lyrics: “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it one hundred.”

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

In the song, Taylor also compares herself to the Cleopatra actress. Similar to Taylor now, Elizabeth frequently appeared in the news because of everything-from her relationships to her stunning clothes.

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

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

Having experienced a lot of heartbreak in past relationships, Taylor now seems to have found peace and tranquility with Travis – her current relationship feels like a calm, shimmering opal.

She shared on Capital radio that she’d written down the word opalite because she discovered it’s not a natural opal, but one created by humans. She explained that Travis’ birthstone is opal, and she’s always been drawn to it, always loving the stone.

Oh my gosh, when they explained the meaning of that synthetic glass gemstone, I nearly lost it! Basically, they said it was such a brilliant metaphor – the fact that it’s an opal created by humans, and that happiness can be created by us, too! It just… it all clicked, you know? It’s like, we aren’t just waiting for happiness to *happen* to us; we can make it happen ourselves! I’ve been thinking about it non-stop ever since.

However, there’s a bit of drama surrounding the song, as Taylor’s fans believe she subtly referenced Kayla Nicole, Travis Kelce’s former partner. They think the lyrics suggest Kelce once felt used as a social media accessory in her pictures.

She sings, as if addressing him, “You just didn’t get it / You felt so isolated.” Then, contrasting this, she continues, “You were genuinely invested / But she was preoccupied with her phone.”

The song continues with the lines, “You were just pretending / And don’t we all try to find and give love everything we have? / You eventually walked away / And it’s a surprisingly basic idea / You’re unhappy until you’re satisfied.”

Taylor, Max Martin and Shellback are officially listed as the songwriters for Showgirl. However, the late George Michael is also credited on the song “Father Figure” because it features a sample from his 1987 song of the same title, giving him posthumous writing credit.

Taylor Swift received support from George’s team, who expressed their gratitude on Instagram on October 2nd, writing, “Thank you @taylorswift for including George in such a special moment.”

Many fans believe the first part of the song is told from the point of view of Scott Borchetta from Big Machine Records, who originally sold Taylor’s recordings to Scooter Braun. They think 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.”

“That was a fun one to write,” she shared on BBC 1 Radio. “It explores a really unique approach to the concept of a father figure – using it as a way to discuss power, how power structures work, and how those dynamics can be reversed.”

Additionally, she’s “quite pleased” with a particular explicit line referencing bargaining with the devil, stating “my pnis is larger.”

We’re now at track five on Showgirl, and Taylor Swift often uses this position on her albums to showcase her most emotionally raw and sad songs.

In “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor, whom Andrea Swift and Scott Swift welcomed as their first child before also having Austin Swift, shares a song about experiencing both the good and bad times in life, while always remaining loyal to her family.

As the song states, “Cause I’m not someone who’s mean or cruel / And this isn’t wild or reckless / And I promise I’ll always be there for you,” continuing with, “I’ll never exclude you / There are so many disloyal people / People who seem nice but aren’t trustworthy / But I’ll always keep my promise.”

The sixth track on Showgirl recounts a story of wishing things had gone differently in a relationship that never really started. The song is full of longing and memories, with lines like, “Have fun, it’s prom / Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist / Over his shoulder I catch a glimpse / And see…You looking at me / And it was not an invitation / But as the 50 Cent song played / Should’ve kissed you anyway.”

Taylor Swift mentions her close friend Abigail Anderson (who is known for being in the song “Fifteen”) in these sad lines about dealing with loss: “When I left school, I lost touch with you / Abigail called me with the sad news / Goodbye, and we’ll never understand why.”

Many listeners believe the heartbreaking song was inspired by her late school friend Jeff Lang, who passed away in 2010. He’s also thought to be the inspiration behind her earlier song, “Forever Winter.”

In the Red era song, released in 2021 from the vault, she sings, “I didn’t realize / You were struggling / I would completely fall apart / If you weren’t here.” She continues with, “I was too young to understand things would improve / I’ll always be your source of happiness / But if you leave, it’ll be a never-ending sadness.”

“Actually Romantic” isn’t really a romance story, not exactly. Instead, it’s a reaction to someone-who the song says has talked a lot *about* Taylor.

Taylor sings, “I high-fived my ex, and then you said you were glad he stopped contacting me.” She continues, “You wrote me a song about how it bothers you to see me, saying it makes you sick. / Some people might be offended by that, / but it’s actually kind of sweet.”

Okay, so Taylor *never* confirms who her songs are about, but honestly, everyone is convinced this one is about Charli XCX! I mean, Charli opened for Taylor on the Reputation Tour, which was iconic, and she’s also friends with Matty, Taylor’s ex, *and* his fiancée Gabbriette Bechtel. It all just *fits*, you know? I’ve been deep-diving into everything, and the connections are just too much to ignore! It’s obviously Charli!

When Charli-whose husband is George Daniel, a member of the band The 1975-released her album brat in June 2024, people wondered if her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a diss track aimed at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor appeared to dismiss those rumors by publicly expressing her appreciation for Charli’s music.

Taylor shared with New York magazine on August 26th that she’s been incredibly impressed with Charli’s musical talent ever since hearing ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. She described Charli’s songwriting as both dreamlike and original, noting that she consistently takes songs in unexpected directions. Taylor expressed her admiration for Charli’s dedication and was pleased to see her hard work being recognized.

Could this be another hint about Charli? The Spotify cover image features Taylor holding 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. “It’s really emotional,” she said. “It honestly reflects where I am in my life right now. It just felt like, ‘Okay, we’re finished now.'”

Taylor says that hoping for love by wishing on a star “never did me any good.” However, now that she’s with Travis, she feels so secure that she doesn’t even need to knock on wood for good luck.

Girls, I don’t need to catch the bouquet,” she sings in the lyrics, “to know difficult times are coming.

She proved to be correct. Taylor and Travis shared the news of their engagement in August 2025, following a two-year relationship.

The song-filled with suggestive lyrics-also references New Heights, the show Taylor says is where she and Travis first connected.

On track 10, Taylor is mentoring someone who has faced public backlash – a situation she understands well, having gone through it herself.

She told me, “Come with me, because people will flee when they see us.” She then added, “Something ominous is approaching / Luckily, my friends cancelled / I prefer them mysterious, dressed in Gucci and surrounded by controversy.”

People have guessed the song might be about her sometimes debated friendships with Brittany Mahomes or Blake Lively.

The singer explained that this feeling comes from her ability to understand others, stemming from her own very public struggles. This is probably a reference to the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West conflict that happened in 2016.

After going through public scrutiny and being involved in several high-profile, controversial situations throughout my career – times when it felt like everyone had an opinion – it’s changed how I navigate life,” she explained to Amazon Music. “Having those experiences makes me approach things a little differently.”

Taylor went on to say, “It’s interesting to consider that when others face challenges, you often expect them to grow and improve. If they manage to overcome difficulties, and if they’re resilient enough, they can really learn a lot from the experience.”

“Cancelled!” is really about showing that I don’t automatically dismiss people just because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions based on how they behave towards me and their overall actions in my life.

“Honey” truly lives up to its name! On the 11th song of the album, Taylor shares that Travis has completely changed the meaning of certain words for her. She explains that instead of recalling painful memories when she hears terms like “honey” and “sweetheart”, she now immediately thinks of Travis.

Taylor softly sings, “Let me chase away all your sadness / When you call me ‘honey’.” She continues with, “Think warm summer drinks and rosy sunsets / You’re welcome to call me ‘honey’ if you’d like / Because I’m exactly what you’re looking for.”

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 connects with “Elizabeth Taylor,” offering a peek into the life of a showgirl. Although it appears dazzling, everything comes at a cost, and an experienced performer needs to make that clear to a rising star.

The song’s words create a vivid image: “She confessed she’d give anything – even her soul – to experience a truly wonderful life, one that’s completely her own.” / However, the lyrics continue, stating, “That’s not the reality for showgirls. They’re simply discarded and forgotten.”

Finally, having experienced the world of a showgirl, the performers come together for a closing bow, saying, “That’s our show / We love you so much, goodnight!”

I’ve been following this artist for ages, and I just heard about her new song. She explained to Magic radio that it’s about finally meeting someone you really look up to, and it’s not what you expect. Instead of being inspiring, they actually *warn* you against trying to be like them! She said they just wanted to be honest about how incredibly tough this industry is. But, and this is the part I love, you still go for it anyway. It’s such a relatable song, really.

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2025-10-04 00:19