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In the lexicon of Taylor Swift’s Americana discography, two cardinal tropes emerge: the good girl and the football player. With relationships a prominent motif within the musician’s body of work, it was only a matter of time until this dynamic manifested itself in her real life.
This year has seen Swift explore different archetypes of high school dating with the singer ending things with her ‘theatre kid’ long-time boyfriend, Joe Alywn and rebound ‘bad boy’, Matty Healy.
Yet, it’s her recent tryst with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, that has piqued the interest of netizens.
With Swift’s lyrics some of the most metaphoric and Easter Egg-laden ever released, fans of #Swelce (or #Traylor, depending on what side of the internet you’re on), have taken it upon themselves to deep dive into Swift’s back catalogue to discern for themselves if the Midnights singer’s rhetoric has hinted at the burgeoning “Love Story”.
Inspired by the song “Invisible Strings” from Swift’s eighth studio album Folklore—a song written about the mythical threads that tie soulmates together—fans on TikTok and Twitter have uncovered some clues that seemingly prove that Swift has been manifesting her relationship with Kelce for decades.
From numerological breakdowns to comprehensive analysis of song lyrics, there’s compelling evidence to suggest that the fates have been hard at work to bring Kelce and Swift together and make their paths diverge in some twisted arrowhead.
Of course, these signs should be read at face value and are merely meant for entertainment. So, for the cynics amongst us who don’t believe in astrology or find internet theories enjoyable, we suggest clicking on another one of our stories.
(Perhaps this one HERE chronicling all of Taylor Swift’s ex-lovers, if we’ve sparked your curiosity).
Ahead, we’ve broken down your definitive guide to every single one of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s ‘Invisible Strings’ proving the pair are more intertwined than it seems.
1. Song Lyrics
Those who can attest to the power of manifestation understand the gravitas of writing things into fruition. It could seem that Swift has innocuously used the law of attraction to bring forth her relationship with Kelce by scattering a handful of romantic intentions through her body of work.
Below, the most compelling lyrics proving that Swift has made her relationship with the football player tangible through her music.
“Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)”
Off of her self-titled debut album Taylor Swift, “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)” features the lyrics: “I’ll be 87; You’ll be 89”.
Though the album was written in 2006—and was even released before Kelce was drafted to the NFL—fans have pointed out the numerological significance of these lyrics.
As we’re all aware, Swift was born in 1989 (and coincidentally, so was Kelce), making her the subject of the ‘89’ despite referring to her lover as this number. The significance of ‘87’? That just so happens to be Kelce’s jersey number.
“…Ready For It?”
The first track of Swift’s 2017 album, Reputation, opens with the following lyrics: “Knew he was a killer, first time that I saw him”.
The invisible string isn’t perhaps glaringly obvious for non-NFL fans, however, the ‘killer’ reference could pertain to Kelce’s Instagram handle, @killatrav.
“Stay Stay Stay”
The song “Stay Stay Stay” from Swift’s 2012 album, Red, references her fictional athlete boyfriend whom she’s on the verge of breaking up with.
“That’s when you came in wearing a football helmet,” Swift sang almost a decade ago. Who would’ve known that this would be a reality almost nine years later?
“Fifteen”
Swift’s second studio album Fearless featured the single “Fifteen”. In the song, Swift reflects on her adolescence and high school experiences, lamenting that, “In your life, you’ll do things / Greater than dating the boy on the football team / But I didn’t know it at fifteen”.
Of course, Swift’s meteoric career is a testament that she’s achieved far greater things than dating the guy on the football team, but given her relationship with Kelce has made her the unofficial poster girl for the NFL, it’s clear that the sporting industry is reaping the benefits of Swift’s supernova status, too.
“You’re On Your Own, Kid”
In Swift’s song “You’re On Your Own, Kid”, she sings about making friendship bracelets and seizing the moment. The former part of the lyric has been adopted by Swifites, with fans of hers making and trading friendship bracelets on her Eras Tour.
Of course, Kelce first made his move with Swift after jokingly mentioning that he had hoped to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it after attending one of her shows in Missouri.
“Getaway Car”
One of Swift’s biggest singles is a song entitled “Getaway Car”. For those who have closely followed Swift and Kelce’s relationship, you’ll be aware that the pair left Arrowhead Stadium after Swift attended her first football game in a ‘Getaway Car’.
The couple drove away in Kelce’s 1970 Chevelle 408 Stroker convertible, with the athlete confirming to his fellow football player brother, Jason Kelce, on their “New Heights” podcast that they, “just slid off in the getaway car at the end”. It’s clear someone is learning the lore.
2. Numerology
87 + 13 = 100
Swift’s penchant for numerology has been well documented. Interestingly, when adding Kelce’s signature number ‘87’ with Swift’s favourite number, ‘13’, the sum equates to 100. Could this signal a 100% match?
31
Fans have pointed out that when Swift took up Kelce’s invitation to watch the Chiefs play in Kansas City, the team won by 31 points, which is an inversion of Swift’s trademark 13 motif.
3. Arrowhead
The arrowhead has become a particularly poignant symbol in Swift lore, but now its significance has deepened even further thanks to her relationship with Kelce.
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is where Kelce first “connected” with Swift, or should we say was in the same room with her (along with 76,000 others). This was the location where Kelce also wanted to give her the friendship bracelet with his number on it.
Yet, following their missed encounter, (a sliding doors moment we have no doubt will be referenced in Swift’s next album), Kelce publicly invited Swift to attend a Chief’s game at Arrowhead. An invitation we all know she accepted and catapulted their relationship into overdrive.
“I told her that I’ve seen her rock a stage in Arrowhead and she might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead,” Kelce said of Swift’s appearance at the game.
“Cornelia Street”
The song “Cornelia Street” from Swift’s Lover album is undeniably about her romance with Alwyn. (The song is after all a major canon event in their relationship). However, it does include a reference to an Arrowhead; an object now synonymous with her relationship with Kelce. “As if the street lights pointed in an arrowhead / Leading us home,” Swift sang in the first verse.
4. “The Archer”
With “The Archer” a song from Swift’s Lover album, the image of a bowman has become part of Swiftie culture, but it’s not a motif she’s alone in being affiliated with.
Travis Kelce Archer Move
After scoring a touchdown, Kecle gesticulates an ‘archer’ movement similar to the bow-pulling choreography Swift does while performing “The Archer” on stage.
Astrological Compatabilies
As zodiac aficionados would be aware, Swift’s astrological sign is Sagittarius, which is a constellation symbolised by an archer. Kelce is a Libra, which is the constellation of a scale. Libra’s are known to be interested in balance, fair play and justice. The latter just so happens to be referenced in Swift’s song “Karma”, where she sings “Sweet like justice, Karma is a queen”.
5. Majorie
“Majorie”
Majorie is a song off Evermore and penned in honour of Swift’s late-maternal grandmother Marjorie Finlay. Finlay passed away when Swift was 13, with the singer subsequently crediting her for inspiring her to follow a music career. “Marjorie” was featured in the song listing of the Eras Tour, and was performed on the night Kelce attended the concert at Arrowhead Stadium.
October 5th
Eerily, Kelce and Finlay both share the same birthday, which just so happens to be October 5th. In the song “Marjorie”, Swift sings: “I know better, but I still feel you all around.” Perhaps her relationship with Kelce is another way Swift subconsciously holds space for her late grandmother, considering their shared connection.
Not that we needed more proof that Swift is the “Mastermind” she claims she is, the musician has seemingly manifested this relationship from her “Wildest Dreams”. If only these “Invisible Strings” were as apparent in our own lives.
