Taylor Swift, one of the most influential artists of her generation, has undergone a remarkable transformation over her nearly two-decade career. From her debut as a teenage country music sensation to her current status as a global pop icon, Swift’s music has evolved in tandem with her personal and artistic growth. One of the most striking aspects of this evolution is the increasing presence of alcohol and drug references in her lyrics, a stark contrast to her early days as a clean-cut, church-going country girl. This shift, epitomized by her self-description as a “functioning alcoholic” in the lead single “Fortnight” from her 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department, has sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics alike. This article explores how Swift’s lyrical content has changed over time, the cultural and personal factors that may have influenced this shift, and the broader implications of her openness about substance use in her music.

The Early Years: A Wholesome Country Persona

When Taylor Swift burst onto the music scene in 2006 with her self-titled debut album, she was a 16-year-old prodigy with a wholesome image. Raised in Pennsylvania and later moving to Nashville, Swift’s early music was rooted in country traditions, with songs about young love, heartbreak, and small-town life. Her first four albums—Taylor Swift (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), and Red (2012)—contained no explicit references to alcohol or drugs, reflecting her clean-cut persona. Songs like “Tim McGraw” and “Love Story” painted her as a relatable, innocent teenager, appealing to a broad audience, including young fans and their parents. Even as she transitioned to pop with 1989 (2014), references to substances were minimal, with only a fleeting mention of alcohol in the song “Clean,” where she sings, “You’re still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore,” believed to be about her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles.

This absence of substance-related themes was unsurprising given Swift’s age and public image during this period. As a young artist under intense media scrutiny, she cultivated a persona that aligned with the family-friendly ethos of country music. Her early work focused on universal emotions—love, loss, and self-discovery—without delving into the grittier aspects of adulthood. However, as Swift matured and her life experiences expanded, her music began to reflect a more complex and nuanced perspective.

The Turning Point: Reputation and the Rise of Alcohol References

The release of Reputation in 2017 marked a significant shift in Swift’s lyrical content and public persona. At 27, Swift was no longer the wide-eyed teenager of her early career. Her move to London, high-profile relationships, and public feuds—most notably with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West—shaped the darker, edgier tone of Reputation. This album introduced a notable increase in alcohol references, with nine of its fifteen tracks mentioning drinking or specific alcoholic beverages. Songs like “…Ready for It?” reference an “Island breeze” cocktail, while “King of My Heart” describes “drinking beer out of plastic cups” on a rooftop. In “Dress,” Swift sings about “spilling wine in the bathtub” during a romantic, drunken moment, and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” vividly depicts a party with “everyone swimming in a champagne sea.”

This shift was emblematic of Swift’s evolution into a more mature artist, unafraid to embrace themes of nightlife, romance, and rebellion. The alcohol references in Reputation were not just casual mentions but often tied to emotional or narrative contexts, such as celebrating newfound love or coping with betrayal. For instance, in “Getaway Car,” Swift sings, “I knew it from the first Old Fashioned we were cursed,” using the whiskey cocktail as a metaphor for a doomed relationship. This marked a departure from her earlier, more restrained lyricism, suggesting a growing comfort with exploring adult themes.

The cultural context of Reputation also played a role. Swift’s move to London and her relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn exposed her to new social environments, including the city’s vibrant nightlife. Additionally, the album’s creation during a period of intense public scrutiny may have prompted Swift to lean into a more defiant, liberated persona, with alcohol serving as a symbol of letting loose. Fans and critics noted this change, with Glamour describing Swift as a “certified turn-up queen” who “loves drinking alcohol—like, a lot.”

A Boozier Era: Lover, Folklore, and Evermore

Swift’s subsequent albums continued to incorporate alcohol references, each with its own thematic twist. Lover (2019) featured five alcohol mentions, including the iconic line in “Cruel Summer”: “I’m drunk in the back of the car / And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar.” This lyric, believed to be about the early days of her relationship with Joe Alwyn, captures the raw emotion of a night out gone wrong, blending vulnerability with intoxication. Similarly, “Cornelia Street” references being “drunk on something stronger than the drinks in the bar,” a poetic nod to love’s intoxicating power.

The 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore further solidified Swift’s boozy lyrical streak, with Evermore being her “booziest” album, containing seven alcohol references. In “Champagne Problems,” Swift uses champagne as a metaphor for a failed engagement, while “August” likens a fleeting summer romance to “a bottle of wine.” These albums, written during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcased Swift’s storytelling prowess, blending fictional narratives with personal reflections. The alcohol references often served as metaphors for emotional states, from celebration to heartbreak, reflecting her growing lyrical sophistication.

The Tortured Poets Department: A New Frontier with Drug References

The release of The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) in April 2024 marked a bold new chapter in Swift’s lyrical evolution. The album’s lead single, “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, opens with the striking line: “I was a functioning alcoholic / ‘Til nobody noticed my new aesthetic.” This lyric, which sparked widespread debate, was the first time Swift explicitly labeled herself (or her narrative persona) as an “alcoholic,” albeit in a potentially metaphorical sense. The song also includes a reference to a “miracle move-on drug” with “temporary” effects, hinting at substance use as a coping mechanism for heartbreak.

TTPD contains multiple references to drugs and alcohol, a significant departure from her earlier work. In “Florida!!!,” a collaboration with Florence and the Machine, Swift and Florence Welch sing, “Florida is one hell of a drug,” while also mentioning “barricaded in the bathroom with a bottle of wine” and “all my friends smell like weed or little babies.” The song “The Tortured Poets Department” references a partner whose “smoke cloud billows out his mouth” and whose “dopamine races through his brain,” potentially alluding to drug use. In “Clara Bow,” Swift sings, “Cross your thoughtless heart / Only liquor anoints you,” and mentions “half moonshine, a full eclipse,” further weaving alcohol into her narrative.

These references are notable not only for their frequency but also for their emotional weight. Unlike the celebratory or romantic alcohol mentions in Reputation and Lover, TTPD’s references often carry a darker tone, linked to themes of heartbreak, betrayal, and mental health struggles. For instance, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” includes the line, “You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me,” suggesting a tumultuous emotional landscape where substances may serve as an escape.

Cultural and Personal Influences

Several factors likely contributed to Swift’s increased incorporation of alcohol and drug references. First, her personal growth and life experiences—moving to urban hubs like New York and London, navigating high-profile relationships, and embracing a more public social life—exposed her to environments where drinking was more prevalent. Her relationship with Travis Kelce, known for his “devil-may-care” lifestyle, has also been cited as an influence, with Swift often seen with a drink in hand at events like the Super Bowl and Coachella.

Second, Swift’s lyrical shift reflects broader trends in pop music, where themes of partying and substance use have become more common. As she transitioned from country to pop, Swift may have felt freer to explore these themes, aligning her music with the genre’s edgier aesthetic. Her collaboration with producers like Jack Antonoff, who has worked with artists like Lana Del Rey known for moody, substance-heavy lyrics, may have further encouraged this direction.

Finally, Swift’s willingness to address darker themes may stem from a desire to connect with fans on a deeper level. By referencing alcohol and drugs, she acknowledges the complexities of adulthood, including coping mechanisms for heartbreak and stress. Her openness in “Fortnight” about being a “functioning alcoholic” has resonated with some fans, with one recovering alcoholic on Reddit noting that the lyric made them feel “seen” and prompted introspection about their own relationship with alcohol.

Public Reaction and Speculation

The “functioning alcoholic” lyric in “Fortnight” sparked significant debate, with fans and critics questioning whether Swift was speaking literally or metaphorically. Some pointed to her public behavior—such as chugging a beer at the Super Bowl or appearing inebriated at the 2023 and 2024 Grammys—as evidence of a possible issue, while others argued that her lyrics are often fictional or exaggerated for artistic effect. Swift herself has addressed her drinking habits, noting in a 2023 Time interview that she stopped drinking to prepare for the physically demanding Eras Tour, stating, “Doing that show with a hangover, I don’t want to know that world.” This suggests a controlled approach to alcohol, though her public appearances with drinks in hand have fueled speculation.

Addiction experts have also weighed in, noting that “functioning alcoholic” is not a medical term but describes someone who maintains daily responsibilities despite problematic drinking. Dr. Lewis Nelson, a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, emphasized that alcohol use disorder involves craving, loss of control, and withdrawal symptoms, regardless of whether someone appears “functional.” Swift’s lyric may thus serve as a commentary on societal perceptions of drinking rather than a literal confession.

Implications and Legacy

Swift’s increasing references to alcohol and drugs reflect her evolution as an artist unafraid to tackle complex themes. While her early work endeared her to fans as a relatable, wholesome figure, her later music showcases a more mature, multifaceted persona. By incorporating substances into her lyrics, Swift not only mirrors her personal growth but also taps into universal experiences of coping, celebration, and struggle. Her openness has sparked important conversations about alcohol use, with some fans crediting her lyrics for encouraging self-reflection.

As Swift continues to redefine her artistry, her willingness to explore these themes suggests a commitment to authenticity and vulnerability. Whether she’s singing about love, heartbreak, or the occasional drink, Swift’s music remains a powerful lens into the human experience, proving that even a former clean-cut country girl can embrace the messiness of adulthood.