Every detail and Easter egg you may have missed on Taylor Swift's new album 'Folklore'

Callie AhlgrimJul 31, 2020, 04:24 IST

Taylor Swift released "Folklore" on July 24, 2020.Taylor Swift/Republic Records

Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album "Folklore" on Friday.
The album is rich with beautiful lyrics and subtle details that tie different songs and stories together.
"One thing I did purposely on this album was put the Easter eggs in the lyrics," Swift wrote in a comment on YouTube. "I created character arcs and recurring themes that map out who is singing about who."
For example, "Betty" has lyrical callbacks to "Cardigan" and "August," creating a narrative that Swift refers to as "the Teenage Love Triangle."
Below you'll find a track-by-track breakdown of "Folklore," including the callbacks and Easter eggs you may have missed.

Taylor Swift's newest album "Folklore," which dropped on Friday after just one day's notice, may contain the most beautifully written and lyrically dense music of her career.

Swift herself described the album as "a photo album full of imagery, and all the stories behind that imagery."

"One thing I did purposely on this album was put the Easter eggs in the lyrics," Swift wrote in a comment on YouTube. "I created character arcs and recurring themes that map out who is singing about who."

Any Swift fan knows that she loves to hide winks, callbacks, and thematic parallels in her songs and videos. Swift hones this tradition with "Folklore," weaving narratives and writing from different perspectives to create a multi-faceted listening experience.

Many of the lyrical details on "Folklore" also refer back to Swift's previous albums, as well as real-life facts about her life.

Insider created a guide to the callbacks and Easter eggs you may have missed.

Keep reading to see our track-by-track breakdown.

"The 1" is written from a friend's perspective.

Aaron Dessner, left, performs with The National in 2019 and Swift, right, performs at the 2019 MTV VMAs. Brian Rasic/WireImage / John Shearer/Getty Images

"Cardigan" foreshadows the fraught love story of James and Betty.

Taylor Swift released her music video for "Cardigan" on July 24, 2020. Taylor Swift/YouTube

"The Last Great American Dynasty" tells the story of Rebekah Harkness, who once lived in Swift's Rhode Island mansion.

Rebekah Harkness and her Harkness Ballet in 1966. Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

"Exile," featuring Bon Iver, is designed to feel like a conversation between ill-fated lovers.

Left to right: Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon; Taylor Swift; and Harry Styles. Gus Stewart/Redferns / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images / Karwai Tang/WireImage

"My Tears Ricochet" is the only song on the album that Swift wrote by herself.

"My Tears Ricochet" was the first song Taylor Swift wrote for "Folklore." @taylorswift/Instagram

On "Mirrorball," Swift compares herself to a reflective disco ball.

Left to right: Swift performs during the "Red" tour in 2014, during the "1989" tour in 2015, and during a charity event for the Academy Of Country Music in 2007. Dave Hogan/TAS / Don Arnold/WireImage / Ethan Miller/Getty Images