It’s no secret that Taylor Swift has always had an affinity for the scene. This has been evident through her captivating performance over a decade ago of “That’s What You Get” alongside Paramore, her collaboration “Two Is Better Than One” with Boys Like Girls, and her confession that Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz is one of her favorite lyricists. Taylor may be for the girly pops, but she’s never shied away from winking at elder emos.
Read more: 9 Best Taylor Swift Covers From Alternative Stars
Now, as Swifties worldwide are, no pun intended, swiftly dissecting every line of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, they’ve caught onto another nod to the scene. In track 17, “The Black Dog,” which fans are speculating was written about her former situationship with The 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy, Swift subtly name-drops The Starting Line. The line, “In The Black Dog, when someone plays The Starting Line,” brings her right back into the fold of the scene. You can read the track’s full lyrics and listen to the song below.
“The Black Dog” Lyrics:
I am someone wh, until recent events
You shared your secrets with
And your location, you forgot to turn it off
And so I watch as you walk
Into some bar called The Black Dog
And pierce new holes in my heart
You forgot to turn it off
And it hits me
I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me
In The Black Dog, when someone plays “The Starting Line”
And you jump up, but she’s too young to know this song
That was intertwined in the magic fabric of our dreaming
Old habits die screaming
I move through the world with a heartbroken
My longing state unspoken
And I may never open up the way I did for you
And all of those best-laid plans
You said I needed a bravе man
Then proceeded to play him
Until I believed it, too
And it kills me
I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me
In the shower and remember how my rain-soaked body
Was shakin’, do you hate me?
Was it hazing for a cruel fraternity?
I pledged, and I still mean it
Old habits die screaming
Six weeks of breathing clean air
I still miss the smoke
Were you makin’ fun of me?
With some esoteric joke?
Now I wanna sell my house
And set fire to all my clothes
And hire a priest to come and exorcise my demons
Even if I die screaming
And I hope you hear it
And then I hope it’s shitty in The Black Dog
When someone plays “The Starting Line”
And you jump up, but she’s too young to know this song
That was intertwined in the tragic fabric of our dreaming
With tail between your legs, you’re leavin’
I still can’t believe it
‘Cause old habits die screaming
