Jake Gyllenhaal seems to be the subject of a bonus song on Taylor Swift’s new album.
The singer, 34, who is facing backlash for dropping 15 more tracks just after the release of The Tortured Poets Department, seems to be revisiting the aftermath of several of her relationships on the new collection, including her 2010 romance with the then 29-year-old Road House star, when she was only 20.
The Manuscript is the track fans believe refers to the ill-fated coupling with Gyllenhaal being referred to as ‘the professor’ in the lyrics.
She reflects on a past romance as she sings: ‘Now and then she rereads the manuscript / Of the entire torrid affair /He said that if the sex was half as good as the conversation was / Soon they’d be pushin’ strollers / But soon it was over.’
In a nod to 2012’s All Too Well (10 Minute Version) and its music video directly, Taylor continues: ‘The Professor said to write what you know / Lookin’ backwards might be the only way to move forward / Then the actors / Were hitting their marks.’
Taylor Swift, 34, seems to be referencing several past relationships on her new album The Tortured Poets Department, which was released Friday. Fans have remarked they believe a bonus track is about her 2010 relationship with ex Jake Gyllenhaal, 43
She concludes the song referring to a lesson learned: ‘And the tears fell / In synchronicity with the score / And at last / She knew what the agony had been for.’
After hearing the track, fans were quick to head to social media with their theories.
‘Is the manuscript about Jake Gyllenhaal?? Like the older lover aspect & the fact that it ties into the end of the ATW10 video where she writes the book?? Like is this the manuscript?!’ queried an excited fan.
‘A brand new Jake Gyllenhaal song in 2024…..calling all too well the manuscript.. reliving it when they filmed the short film… saying the story isn’t hers bc its her fans now. oh my god,’ opined one listener.
In a posting on Instagram early Friday morning, Swift described The Tortured Poets Department as ‘An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time – one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure.’
She went on to say, ‘This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up.’
‘There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted.’
Swift now appears happily coupled with NFL star Travis Kelce, 34.
The Manuscript is the track fans believe refers to Gyllenhaal. ‘Now and then she rereads the manuscript / Of the entire torrid affair /He said that if the sex was half as good as the conversation was / Soon they’d be pushin’ strollers / But soon it was over’ (Pictured in Austin, TX in March)
Swift now appears happily coupled with NFL star Travis Kelce, 34 (Pictured in Thermal, CA April 13)
Swift called TTPD ‘An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time…’ adding, ‘This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up’
The new album has been an instant success. Billboard reported that within the first 12 hours of the release of The Tortured Poets Department it was Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day.
The release pushed Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter out of the top spot three weeks after its release.
TTPD is the Grammy winner’s first studio album since 2022’s Midnights.
The first video from the album, Fortnight, featuring Post Malone, was scheduled to be released Friday at 8pm EDT/ 5pm PDT.
