Lore & Lyrics

Lore & Lyrics began, quite simply, with a concert.

When my daughter was going through a difficult time, I bought tickets to see her favourite artist. I didn’t yet realise how rare that would be - or how much it would come to mean. In the months leading up to the Eras Tour, I began listening more closely, hoping to recognise a few songs, to feel part of the experience.

Instead, I found myself completely absorbed.

Discovering the writing

What began as preparation quickly became something else. The writing drew me in - its precision, its patterns, the way meaning seems to sit just beneath the surface. When The Tortured Poets Department was released, that connection deepened. The lyricism felt familiar in a way I hadn’t expected.

I have always loved language - studying Latin, English, and French literature - but I hadn’t realised how much I missed that way of reading until I came across The Swiftie & The Scholar.

Listening to the podcast felt like recognition: a space where the writing was taken seriously, where ideas were followed, connections traced, and meaning allowed to unfold.

From listening to tracing

Alongside that love of language, I had also studied mathematics - two ways of thinking that rarely meet, but together shape how I see the world.

The podcast opened up a way of reading. This archive is an attempt to trace those patterns.

Each song is broken down into motifs, themes, literary devices, and references - so that patterns can be traced not only within individual songs, but across the work as a whole. Images return, ideas evolve, and connections begin to take shape over time.

Lore & Lyrics was created to make those connections visible.

The Swiftie & The Scholar

This project is built on and inspired by The Swiftie & The Scholar - the podcast hosted by Angela McDowall and Dr. Jerry Coates.

Together, they explore the lyrics, lore, and literary craft of Taylor Swift’s songwriting, bringing close attention and insight to each song.

Listen on YouTube →