Taylor Swift lyric draws backlash for reference to the 1830s. Here's what people are saying
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There's a lyric on Taylor Swift's newest album, "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," that is receiving some backlash online in the song titled "I Hate It Here."
Here's what to know.
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Why is Taylor Swift getting backlash against the song 'I Hate It Here'?
The album itself is a reflection on her fame and relationships from a more raw, depressing viewpoint. In "I Hate It Here," Swift sings about discontent and the way our recollections can be distorted by nostalgia — and how easy it can be to romanticize the past.
"My friends used to play a game where we would pick a decade we wished we could live in instead of this / I'd say the 1830s but without all the racists and getting married off for the highest bid," Swift sings in the track.
A lyric card began circulating online with the line, and several people were upset due to the historical context of the 1830s. The Civil War began in 1861, more than 30 years after the decade Swift references in the song. Slavery was still active in the United States during this time.
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Social media reacts to 'I Hate It Here'
Social media reactions online are mixed. Some listeners are upset by the ignorance of selecting an era when slavery was legal and including it in her song; others simply feel it was a bad take.
y’all..😭 there are so many wrong things about this pic.twitter.com/NW8hPDlDNP
— 𖤐 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘 𖤐 (@ghostijn) April 19, 2024
“I'd say the 1830s but without all the racists” now Taylor… pic.twitter.com/6ccZXmLgbr
— ta’mia 🌙 (@cinemiaelordi) April 19, 2024
I know I can’t stfu abt Taylor Swift but of all time periods WHY THE 1830s??? The most notable event from the time period is the trail of tears like I cannot wrap my head around it? Is this another one of her dumbass codes?
— sam? (@samhcarr0ll) April 19, 2024
Others see no issue with the lyrics in the context of the entire song. Some people feel that was the point of the song, to pick an era that was romanticized, but she also would have ended up hating.
It's an interesting commentary on how we sometimes idealize certain eras without fully considering the realities of living in them.
— Ash🚩 (@err_aticAF) April 19, 2024
idk why no one seems to be getting the 1830's lyric in i hate it here. it's a memory from when she was younger, the point is that she doesn't understand the social expectations and ruins the game for everyone with her overthinking/over qualifying when it's supposed to be light.
— taylor🪩 (@cowboylore) April 22, 2024
I Hate it Here is actually a very sad song so to see people jump on that 1830s line to insult her when all she’s saying is her mental health was so poor and she hated her reality so much she escaped to other worlds in her imagination really makes me angry
— The Tortured Doctors Department (@Miss_AshG) April 20, 2024
Watch and listen to the lyric video for 'I Hate it Here'
Jay Stahl from USA Today contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Taylor Swift's new album features controversial lyric about the 1830s
