Taylor Swift’s collaboration with Florence and the Machine on her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” shines brightly among its extensive tracklist of 30 songs in the Anthology version.
Entitled “Florida!!!,” the duet between Swift and Florence Welch is a standout anthemic rock track characterized by a powerful, drums-heavy chorus, adding an intriguing layer of production to an otherwise laid-back and simply-composed album.
But what exactly is “Florida!!!” about?
During an audio commentary for iHeartRadio following the release of her 11th studio album, Swift shared insights into the song’s inspiration. She revealed that the Southern state of Florida was frequently referenced in the television show Dateline as a place where people sought refuge to escape the law and start afresh with new identities. Swift explained that during moments of heartbreak, there’s often a desire to shed one’s past entirely, yearning for a new name, a new life, and anonymity.
This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the essence of the song, in which Swift and Welch sing about fleeing from a hometown filled with gossip, the repercussions of their actions, and a past they’re desperate to leave behind. They express their determination to move on from past relationships, even entertaining thoughts of their exes disappearing into the Florida swamps. Additionally, the song features a playful nod to Swift’s 2020 track “No Body, No Crime,” where Welch references a “cheating husband” who mysteriously vanishes.
In the bridge of “Florida!!!,” Swift and Welch sing, “I need to forget, so take me to Florida / I’ve got some regrets, I’ll bury them in Florida,” emphasizing the desire to escape and bury their regrets in the Sunshine State. Interestingly, fans noted that Florida was also the location of Swift’s first concert on the Eras Tour following the news of her breakup with Joe Alwyn. While the song itself is primarily fictionalized, the theme of seeking solace in Florida resonates with this real-life moment in Swift’s personal journey.
