Continuing the tracklist of my version of Taylor Swift’s latest album…
Taylor Swift’s Asylum
Track #5: ‘loml’
Every Swiftie knows track five holds a special place on Taylor Swift’s albums, as it’s generally reserved for the most emotionally raw and devastating track.
The Tortured Poets Department has a decent track five in ‘So Long, London,’ a post mortem on Swift’s six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn. But it also has an infinitely better song about the same topic in ‘loml,’ and that one earns the coveted fifth position on Asylum.
This is a gut-wrenching song, with painfully evocative lyrics to match its musical elegance. The playful title is an ironic counterpoint to the emotional devastation of the final line. This is everything track five on a Taylor Swift album is supposed to be.
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 aglow like this
Never before and never since
[Chorus]
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
In your suit and tie, in the nick of time
You low-down boy, you stand-up guy
You 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
[Verse 2]
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
But I’ve felt a hole like this
Never before and ever since
[Chorus]
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
You said I’m the love of your life
[Bridge]
You shit-talked me under the table
Talkin’ rings and talkin’ cradles
I wish I could un-recall
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
[Chorus]
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 it until I die
You’re the loss of my life
Meet Me In Montauk 
As apparently most of the songs on this album were about Matty Healy, we were debating whether this one was also about him rather than Joe. Certainly the description of the relationship as “momentary” lends some credence to that interpretation. However, the depth of hurt and emotion, highlighted by the title and last line, seem to make clear that this was about Joe. Regardless, it’s a beautiful sad song.
How many relationships has she been in? Just curious
Well, she’s a 34 year old woman who hasn’t found the right one yet.
Well seems like she has someone right now 🤷🏻♀️
She was in a 5 year relationship with the actor Joe Alwyn. When it ended, she rekindled an old romance with the lead singer of 1975. That was a short-lived fling but led to a bunch of the songs on this album. Then she started dating Travis, and she wrote a few songs about that new relationship that made it on the album. This album, therefore, reflects on three relationships. Before she met Joe, she was in a few high profile romances in the first half of her 20’s.
Hope that helps!
Absolutely love this song, it really bowled me over the first listen and it’s better every time. I’m so glad we have a live performance of it now too (great timing with the blog post following Paris N1 :p).
I do have to give some love to “So Long, London” as well – I believe she had two heavy hitter track 5s in here with such an excellent mix of sadness and anger. But the lyrics in “loml” are a bit unparalleled.
Agree that both songs earn their #5 spots. Love them both.