A Taylor Swift song on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology has sparked controversy by expressing her desire to reside in the 1830s "but without all the racists."
In the song "I Hate It Here," the singer-songwriter laments with her friends about their dissatisfaction with the present period.
'I Hate It Here' Lyrics Controversy
The song's lyrics state "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."
It didn't take long for Swifties to highlight that slavery remained lawful in the United States during the 1830s.
According to one former Twitter user, "There is no way Taylor Swift said she'd like to live in an era where Chattel Slavery was the law of the land and say 'but without the racists.' Like it was some casual microaggressions or something. Is this what we're doing??"
Another said, "Pretty astonishing to stipulate that she wants to live in the 1830s, 'except without the racists,' and not mention slavery, so slavery still exists but everyone's chill about it."
A third social media user said, "I know I can't stfu about 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?"
While palaces may have been prominent in Swift's narrative in the 1830s, a closer examination reveals other significant aspects. Remarkably, even three decades before the Civil War erupted, the practice of slavery persisted as a legal institution across the southern regions of America.
READ ALSO: Taylor Swift 'The Tortured Poets Department' Album Gets Poetic Prologue by Stevie Nicks
The Tortured Poets Department
Delving into the depths of her emotions, Swift bared her soul in her latest musical creation, The Tortured Poets Department. Among the heartfelt tracks, the "Cruel Summer" songstress explored the theme of dissatisfaction through the poignant lyrics of "I Hate It Here."
Unveiled as the 23rd masterpiece on The Tortured Poets Department, released on April 19, 2024, "I Hate It Here" echoes Swift's sentiments of alienation and longing for solace.
Through her melodic verses, she candidly expresses the solace she seeks in areas only she can mesmerize.
According to the chorus of the song, "I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind / People need a key to get to, the only one is mine /I read about it in a book when I was a precocious child / No mid-sized city hopes and small-town fears / I'm there most of the year 'cause I hate it here. I hate it here."
