Remember when Harry Styles hit the brakes too soon? Taylor Swift definitely still does — at least, that’s the leading theory surrounding one of Swift’s new 1989 (Taylor’s Version) “From the Vault” tracks, which is basically a sequel to “Out of the Woods.”
Fans almost immediately connected “Is It Over Now?,” the last of Swift’s five new 1989 vault tracks, to the “Anti-Hero” singer’s decade-old breakup from Styles upon its release Friday (Oct. 27). The two stars dated briefly in 2012 and split in early 2013, back when the “As It Was” singer was still a member of One Direction.
The new track is full of references to “Haylor” lore; in fact, the very first lyric in the song sounds like a nod to the pair’s infamous paper airplane necklaces, which were also referenced in “Out of the Woods,” another song widely believed to be about Styles. “Once the flight had flown,” Swift begins on “Is It Over Now?”
Possibly the most compelling piece of evidence tying “Over Now?” to Styles, however, is the whole second verse: “Whеn you lost control/ Red blood, white snow/ Blue dress on a boat/ Your new girl is my clone.”
Lost control? Red blood and snow? Sounds like a callback to the snowmobile accident Swift divulged in her 2014 Rolling Stone cover story, an incident fans have long speculated involved Styles (he was seen with a bandage on his chin around the time it happened). And that “blue dress on a boat” detail? It has to be related to that iconic paparazzi photo of Swift looking sad as she allegedly sailed away from her 2013 Carribbean vacation with Styles, rumors flying that the two had broken up on the trip — right?
And then there’s that “your new girl is my clone” business … sounds pretty similar to Styles’ own “From the Dining Table” lyrics: “Woke up the girl who looked just like you/ I almost said your name.”
Swift has just two more “Taylor’s Version” re-records on the docket now that 1989 has dropped. Having released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021, along with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) earlier this year, all that’s left are her 2006 self-titled debut and 2017’s Reputation, the last album she made while with Big Machine Records.
The pop superstar is this year’s leading Billboard Music Awards finalist. You can watch the BBMAs on Nov. 19 on Billboard and the BBMA’s social media channels, as well as here.
See the best fan theories about Taylor, Harry and “Is It Over Now?” below:
