CELEBRITY
Fans immediately began speculating about the lyric’s meaning.
As millions looked to the sky on April 8 for a total solar eclipse that spanned much of the Eastern United States, pop star Taylor Swift revealed new eclipse-themed lyrics from her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
On Swift’s Instagram story there was a video of an old-fashioned typewriter typing out the following stanzas:
“Crowd goes wild at her fingertips
Half moonshine,
Full eclipse.”
Fans immediately began speculating about the lyric’s meaning. Some guessed the words are from the upcoming song, “Clara Bow,” which is included in her track list.
Clara Bow was an actor who rose to prominence during the silent film era of the 1920s. As a celebrity, her life became tabloid fodder and she became known for being photographed while drinking and dancing.
Among the reasons fans wrote that they believed it was from “Clara Bow” included Bow’s usage of “moon manicures.” One fan also wrote on X that a total solar eclipse happened in 1925, which was a big year for Bow.
Another fan believed Bow and Swift’s lives drew parallels.
“these are clara bow lyrics i feel… drawing parallels between her own life and the life of a notable actress who was also deeply troubled ohhh,” the X user wrote.
these are clara bow lyrics i feel… drawing parallels between her own life and the life of a notable actress who was also deeply troubled ohhh https://t.co/ei3cKehAnp
— ♱ (@horrorlor) April 8, 2024
Another person also noted that there is a photo of Bow on a Moon Motor Car from a promotional photo shoot.
“Moonshine was popularized during prohibition, the same time that scandals started surrounding Clara Bow’s career. She left the public eye in 1933, the same year prohibition ended. Aka a full eclipse from the public eye fueled by moonshine?” yet another user commented on X, connecting the actor with the lyrics.
Moonshine was popularized during prohibition, the same time that scandals started surrounding Clara Bow's career. She left the public eye in 1933, the same year prohibition ended. Aka a full eclipse from the public eye fueled by moonshine? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xZcDiY5Q9C
— ✨️Paige✨️ (@bejeweledpaige) April 8, 2024
Others guessed it was from “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” or “I Can Do I With a Broken Heart.”
Many more fans and observers noted that Swift had used the rare solar event to promote her album.
“Taylor said let me give the girls a caption to use on their eclipse photos,” @folkIegends quipped.
It’s also not the first time Swift has made an announcement on the day of a solar eclipse. During the 2017 event, she deleted all of her posts on her social media platforms and shared a cryptic 10-second video of a reptilian tail on social media.
It turned out to be a promotion for her then-upcoming album, “Reputation,” which debuted on Nov. 10, 2017.