The singer-songwriter has proved herself a modern-day Shagspeare with Wood, a paean to the penis. When it comes to shocking lyrics, though, it faces strong competition …
Shall I compare thee to a redwood tree? Thou art more sappy and more decadent. Rough winds do shake … OK, enough of that. I apologise for the cod Shakespeare but I just couldn’t help myself. Taylor Swift mania is at fever pitch and I have found myself swept up in the chatter about the lyrics from her new album, The Life of a Showgirl.
Swift has routinely been described as a lyrical genius, and not just by 11-year-olds. Sir Jonathan Bate, a Shakespeare scholar, once called her a “literary giant” and used her work as a teaching aid. On her latest album the billionaire liberally sprinkles in plenty of Shakespeare references, but what’s really got people talking are the (supposed) allusions to fiance Travis Kelce’s “magic wand”. If you’re not interested in a blow-by-blow account of the magic, I’d advise you to do a vanishing act because I’m about to quote from Swift’s song Wood.
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