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Taylor Swift 'Lover' lyrics: Everyone the popstar references, from Joe Alwyn to Calvin Harris

Jose Perez / SplashNews.com
Jose Perez / SplashNews.com

Taylor Swift is famous for referencing her real life in her music, whether it’s specific mentions of exes (we’ll never forget that scarf), or calling out her enemies (we’re looking at you, Kim and Kanye). While ‘Lover’ is much more about her relationship with actor Joe Alwyn than the people who have wronged her along the way, she still references past loves and former friends.

Insider has rounded up all of the lyrical references Swift makes in 'Lover.'

I Forgot That You Existed

In ‘I Forgot That You Existed,’ it seems like Swift might have called out her ex-boyfriend, DJ Calvin Harris. The couple dated for over a year and famously posed atop a swan float before breaking up in 2015. Post-breakup, Harris often spoke out about their relationship while Swift kept mum.

Lyrics that include, “Lived in the shade you were throwing 'til all of my sunshine was gone,” led people on Twitter to believe the song was aimed at her ex.

Taylor Swift and Kanye West at 2009 VMAs (Getty Images)
Taylor Swift and Kanye West at 2009 VMAs (Getty Images)

Others, however, thought the “shade” was commentary about her ongoing feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian-West.

Cornelia Street

Many Swift fans think the song ‘Cornelia Street’ is about her reported friendship fall out with model Karlie Kloss. The pair were pals for years and then weren’t seen together anymore, with Swift not attending the model’s wedding to Joshua Kushner.

Swift at one point lived on Cornelia Street and was spotted spending time with Kloss there.

Lyrics include, “I hope I never lose you, and I hope it never ends, I’d never walk Cornelia Street again,” referring to the West Village street where Swift and Kloss were often photographed.

Other fans think the song references Alwyn, although there are far more obvious tracks about her current boyfriend.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn (Blitz Pictures/Shutterstock)
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn (Blitz Pictures/Shutterstock)

Lover

On the current single, Swift sings, “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want them all,” which references Alwyn, as they’ve been together since 2016. It’s also a throwback to her song ‘New Year’s Day,’ which was at one point rumored to be about Harry Styles.

On ‘New Year’s Day’ she sings, “I want your midnights but I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.” The lyrics tie the songs together and show both are probably about Alwyn.

London Boy

‘London Boy’ is another song that pays homage to Alwyn, acting as a love letter to both the city and her boyfriend. She sings, "So I guess the rumors are true, you know I love a London boy," before signing about spending time at different places, including Camden Market, Hampstead Heath, Hackney and Bond Street.

Some fans also think the song refers to her previous relationships with Harry Styles and Tom Hiddleston.

Soon You’ll Get Better

This song with the Dixie Chicks is to be about her mother’s battle with cancer. In March, Swift announced that her cancer had returned.

“That was really, really hard to write, and it was just a family decision whether to even put it on the album,” Swift said about the devastating song during a YouTube Live ahead of her album’s release. “We as a family decided to put this on the album, and it’s something I’m so proud of, but it’s just really hard. I can’t sing it. It’s hard to just emotionally deal with that song."