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goodbyeyellowbrickcloset · 2 months ago

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Taylor Swift and the Yellow Brick Road: A Queer-Coded Journey - Masterpost

Introduction

The Wizard of Oz is my all-time favorite movie. It has shaped the way I see storytelling, art, and the power of symbolism. At its core, it's a story about self-discovery, chosen family, longing for home, and stepping into a magical but often deceptive world. Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate its deeper layers—particularly its historical ties to queerness and coded storytelling.

In recent years, Taylor Swift’s engagement with The Wizard of Oz has completely opened up a new perspective for me. Her references to Dorothy, the Yellow Brick Road, and queer-coded themes are not just random. They are braided into her storytelling, her visuals, and even her activism. When you lay it all out—the lyrics, the imagery, the performances, and the deeper cultural implications—it becomes impossible to ignore. This deep dive will also explore how the people around her—friends, collaborators, and industry figures—play into the story in their own way... and how all roads somehow lead back to Taylor.

So let’s follow the Yellow Brick Road. 🌈✨

The Queer Legacy of The Wizard of Oz

Before we talk about Taylor Swift, we need to talk about why The Wizard of Oz is one of the most queer-coded films in history.

1. “Friend of Dorothy” as Queer Code

🌈 Did You Know:

“Friend of Dorothy” became secret slang for LGBTQIA+ people in the 1940s-1960s. Because being openly gay was dangerous and illegal, queer people used coded language to identify each other safely.

Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, was loved by queer audiences because her story mirrored that of many LGBTQ+ individuals—leaving home, finding an accepting chosen family, and realizing that home (identity) was inside her all along.

2. Judy Garland’s Connection to Stonewall

🌈 Did You Know:

Judy Garland’s funeral on June 27, 1969, took place the day before the Stonewall Riots. Some historians believe her passing played a role in the emotions that fueled the rebellion.

Garland was one of the first mainstream Hollywood stars to be openly supportive of queer people.

3. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as a Queer Anthem

🌈 Did You Know:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow was written by Yip Harburg, a closeted gay man. The song is about dreaming of a world where you can live freely and openly.

For decades, it has been a symbol of longing for queer liberation.

Who’s Behind the Curtain? Taylor Swift’s Oz-Themed Symbolism

Taylor has been referencing The Wizard of Oz for over a decade. And when you map the out the references, they tell a bigger story.

1. “Mean” Dreaming of Leaving Kansas – Speak Now (2011)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Mean (Official Music Video)

One of the earliest visual nods to The Wizard of Oz appears in the Mean music video. While it may have been subconscious at the time, the imagery is striking:

📌 Key Visual Similarities:

The rustic, old-fashioned farmhouse setting in Mean resembles Dorothy’s Kansas home.

The wooden interiors, neutral tones, and rural landscape mirror the black-and-white opening of The Wizard of Oz.

Much like Dorothy, the protagonist dreams of something bigger, longing to escape a world where they feel out of place.

In The Wizard of Oz, Kansas represents a limiting world, one where Dorothy isn’t fully seen for who she is. Similarly, the Mean music video centers around characters who feel stuck, ridiculed, and misunderstood, before eventually stepping into their true potential.

If Oz represents self-discovery and queerness, then Kansas symbolizes rigid societal expectations.

Mean centers around struggling against judgment—a theme deeply resonant with LGBTQ+ experiences.

The journey from a restrictive, sepia-toned existence to a brighter, more authentic future mirrors Dorothy’s path in The Wizard of Oz.

The themes introduced in Mean—of feeling trapped in a world that doesn’t understand you, longing for something more, and finding your voice despite opposition—are revisited throughout Taylor’s discography + performances. Kansas in Mean mirrors Dorothy’s world before Oz—a place where she is underestimated, ridiculed, and told she can’t be more than she is.

📌 Other Key Visual in the Music Video:

In the locker room scene, the bullied boy (a key character in the video) is wearing lavender while being mocked by football players.

Lavender is one of the most significant colors in queer history.

🌈 Did You Know:

Lavender has been associated with queerness for over a century.

In the early 20th century, the phrase “lavender lads” was used as a coded way to refer to gay men.

During the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, LGBTQIA+ people were targeted and purged from government jobs.

In the 1970s, the Lavender Menace was a group of lesbian feminists fighting for inclusion in the women’s rights movement.

💡 The bullied boy wearing lavender in Mean could symbolize queer youth facing discrimination. The locker room setting mirrors real-life bullying that many LGBTQ+ people experience in school. I won't go into it here, but as some may know, Taylor references lavender several more times throughout her discography, most notably in the song Lavender Haze... and ohhh, does the sapphic lore run deep with that one.

2. Happy New Year! Blake as Dorothy & Taylor as Ariel—A Hidden Message? (2019)

Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Gigi Hadid dressed as childhood heroes to welcome the new year in 2019. Blake Lively dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Taylor Swift dressed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

📌 Key Visuals in the Photo:

Blake, as Dorothy, stands above Taylor on a staircase—Dorothy, historically, is a guide to self-discovery and finding home.

Taylor, as Ariel, looks upward—Ariel, like Dorothy, is a character who longs for something more, fights for change, and ultimately reclaims her power.

The placement and dynamic could symbolize Taylor’s journey toward reclaiming her voice and true self.

At first glance, this seems like a fun, nostalgic costume choice. But given Taylor’s history of layering symbolism into everything, this pairing leads to questions:

Was Blake’s Dorothy a nod to “Friend of Dorothy” symbolism and queerness?

Was Taylor’s Ariel a reference to being silenced and struggling to reclaim her voice?

💡 In the context of queerness, Ariel’s story mirrors that of the queer community who feel silenced or unable to express their true selves. Given the themes in The Wizard of Oz, and Dorothy’s role as a gay icon, Blake and Taylor’s pairing feels too thematically perfect to be a coincidence. Take a little detour with me, I feel this must be included here.

⭐Ariel’s Story as a Metaphor for Queer Identity & Taylor’s Journey

📺 Watch Here: Ariel Losing Her Voice – The Little Mermaid (1989)

📌Key Themes in The Little Mermaid

Ariel longs for a different life—she feels out of place in her world and dreams of living freely.

She sacrifices her voice in exchange for a chance to become her “true self.”

She spends much of the movie silenced, unable to communicate her thoughts and feelings.

Eventually, she fights to reclaim her voice and identity.

🌈 Did You Know:

The Little Mermaid was written by Hans Christian Andersen, who was widely believed to be queer and wrote the original story as an allegory for unrequited love and hidden identity.

Disney's The Little Mermaid was released in 1989.

Taylor Swift has frequently expressed frustration over losing control of her voice, whether in the music industry (the masters dispute) or in her personal life.

Ariel’s story could reflect Taylor’s own experiences of being silenced—either by the industry, by public perception, or by personal constraints related to queerness.

⭐Connecting Back to The Yellow Brick Road & Taylor’s Imagery

Ariel’s story in The Little Mermaid and Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz share striking parallels, both serving as allegories for self-discovery, longing, and transformation. Just as Dorothy leaves the dull, black-and-white world of Kansas in search of something greater, Ariel dreams of escaping the constraints of her underwater world, longing for a place where she can be her true self. Both heroines sacrifice a part of themselves to enter a new world—Dorothy is swept away by a tornado, while Ariel gives up her voice to walk on land. In these new realms, they face obstacles, meet guides and allies, and learn that the world they once idealized is not as simple as they thought. This theme of searching for belonging, navigating a new identity, and reclaiming personal power deeply resonates with queer narratives, making both stories enduring metaphors for LGBTQ+ self-acceptance and the journey toward authenticity.

📌 Key Lyric + Movie Quote:

“But daddy, I love him”

One of the most emotionally charged lines in The Little Mermaid comes when Ariel, desperate to be with Prince Eric, defiantly shouts this to her father.

This moment is pivotal—not just in the film, but in queer-coded readings of Ariel’s story. It represents a young woman asserting her independence, challenging authority, and risking everything for a love that is considered unacceptable.

So when Taylor Swift lifted this exact line for a song on The Tortured Poets Department in 2024, it immediately raised eyebrows.

📌 Parallel Themes:

Defying expectations – In The Little Mermaid, Ariel’s love is forbidden. In Taylor’s work, the phrase could represent a love that is misunderstood, denied, or rejected by those in power.

A plea for acceptance – Ariel isn’t just declaring love; she’s begging to be understood. Taylor using this phrase suggests a desperation to validate something others refuse to accept.

Queer Subtext – The phrase has long been used in queer narratives where love is met with opposition. Could Taylor’s use of it be a wink toward a love that’s hidden, complicated, or unapproved?

I'll do a whole analysis on Taylor's storytelling inspiration from The Little Mermaid. When I do, I will link it here.

3. ME! Out Now - April 26th, 2019

Taylor Swift's ME! music video is rich with vibrant visuals and hidden references, some of which mimic scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Taylor announced the song and music video in social media posts that stated: ME! out now... This happened on April 26th. This day is significant because it has been nationally known as Lesbian Visibility Day since 2008.

📌 Key Visual Similarities:

Skipping Toward the Rainbow: In one scene, Swift and Brendon Urie skip hand-in-hand toward a magical rainbow and towering green building, reminiscent of Dorothy and her companions heading toward the Emerald City. In this scene, they're surrounded by people in pink suits lining their path strongly resembling the poppy field from The Wizard of Oz—the final obstacle Dorothy and her friends must pass before reaching the Emerald City.

Emerald City Imagery: At the beginning of the music video, as Taylor storms out of her home and begins approaching the outside world, the interior space she passes through is similarly detailed to that of the interior of Emerald City. Once she makes it outside, the video's colorful, fantastical setting continues to evoke the land of Oz, with its bright hues and whimsical architecture.

📌 Symbolism of Glinda & Taylor’s Role in ME!:

In The Wizard of Oz, Glinda serves as Dorothy’s guide, helping her navigate Oz and ultimately leading her to self-discovery.

In ME!, Taylor plays a similarly uplifting and empowering role—celebrating individuality and self-love, much like Glinda encourages Dorothy to embrace her own inner strength.

Glinda is loved by many and known for her charm, grace, and wisdom. Taylor’s larger-than-life presence in ME! echoes that same enchanting, benevolent energy.

🌈 Queer Interpretation & “Good Witch” Symbolism:

Glinda is often associated with queerness and camp culture—her over-the-top glamor and theatricality have made her a beloved figure in LGBTQIA+ media.

Taylor’s use of pastel colors, dreamy fantasy elements, and exaggerated femininity in ME! aligns with camp aesthetics, queerness, and a deliberate embrace of joyful theatricality.

Could this be Taylor symbolically placing herself in the “Good Witch” role—a figure of guidance, encouragement, and transformation?

📌 Key Visual:

In the ME! video, Brendon Urie wears a white floral suit with a large heart pinned to his chest, reminiscent of the heart-shaped clock that the Wizard gives the Tin Man at the end of the film.

In The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man believes he lacks a heart, but the Wizard tells him that he had one all along—he just needed a symbol to prove it to himself.

The ME! video is all about self-love, individuality, and reclaiming joy—similar to how the Tin Man realizes he was never truly heartless.

Brendon Urie’s heart could represent emotional validation, much like how the Tin Man receives proof of his capacity for love.

💡The scene could also symbolize Taylor Swift’s own journey of reclaiming love—whether for herself, her art, or even her personal identity.

This scene from the ME! music video, featuring people dressed in black tumbling through the air while clutching broken umbrellas, strongly evokes the imagery of the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.

📌 Key Similarities:

Dark, Winged Figures Falling from the Sky – In The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West sends out her winged monkey army to terrorize Dorothy and her companions, swooping in from the sky. In ME!, the airborne figures dressed in black mimic that chaotic, unsettling motion.

Umbrellas as Symbolic “Wings” – The tattered black umbrellas resemble the leathery, bat-like wings of the flying monkeys, further cementing the visual connection.

💡Taylor’s rainbow-filled Lover era could be a deliberate nod to Somewhere Over the Rainbow—especially since it never explicitly referenced queerness while being deeply associated with it. I'll elaborate soon.

4. Evermore Cover: The Braided Narrative (2020)

Perhaps the most overlooked queer-coded reference comes from Evermore.

📌 Key Visual:

Braiding in poetry has been used as a technique to reflect intersecting identities, hidden truths, and fluid perspectives, making it especially relevant in queer poetry and literature.

The braided structure allows for hidden narratives, nonlinear storytelling, and parallel experiences—elements that resonate deeply with Taylor’s songwriting, especially in Evermore.

If the braid on the Evermore cover is intentional, it could symbolize interwoven themes of identity, hidden meanings, and layered storytelling—just as queer-coded poetry often does. It could also reference a famous hairstyle from a famous icon... I'll let you guess who that may be.

🌈 Did You Know:

Evermore was announced on the birthday of Emily Dickinson, a well known poet. Many scholars believe Emily Dickinson is queer and had a lifelong love affair with her childhood friend Susan Gilbert.

💡Evermore is one of Taylor’s most coded albums, with “Dorothea” being one of its bigger Easter eggs.

⭐Dorothea - Evermore (2020)

📺 Listen Here: Taylor Swift – Dorothea (Lyric Video)

Dorothea = Dorothy Gale—the parallel is undeniable.

The song describes a girl who left a small town for Hollywood, but the narrator still longs for her.

Many fans (or at least I) believe Dorothea represents Karlie Kloss, with the song reflecting a lost romantic relationship.

“It’s never too late to come back to my side.”

📌 Key Themes:

Dorothy leaves Kansas to follow the Yellow Brick Road, longing for adventure but ultimately realizing there’s no place like home.

Dorothea is about someone who leaves a small town, finds success, but is still deeply loved and missed by the narrator.

This theme of longing for someone who has moved on, feeling left behind, and struggling with what that means is a deeply queer-coded trope—one that Taylor often returns to.

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I'd like to also mention, the It's Nice To Have A Friend / Dorothea mash-up that Taylor swift did on The Eras Tour in Edinburgh on June 9th, 2024. Guess who's birthday is June 10th? Dorothy Gale herself, Judy Garland. The implications of this. 🤯

📌Why Tupelo? The Yellow Brick Road, and The Ones Who Leave

I've always wondered about the significance of Tupelo, Mississippi, in this song. So, I started digging into possible connections between the narrator, the muse, and Tupelo, and—unsurprisingly—it led me to Sir Elton John. This won't be the last time I mention him, certainly not in the broader context of understanding Gaylor. There are plenty of reasons for that. But for now, humor me: assume that the ties between Taylor and Elton run deep, and follow me as I decode Tupelo in Dorothea.

I referenced this Reddit Post while deep diving Tupelo.

🌈 Did You Know:

Elton John has a song called Porch Swing in Tupelo. The song explores themes of leaving home, returning, and nostalgia—mirroring the journey Dorothy takes in The Wizard of Oz.

📺 Listen Here: Elton John - Porch Swing in Tupelo (2004)

As Porch Swing in Tupelo paints a lovely picture, Gaylor's have made a connection to an unreleased song from Taylor in 2003.

💡 Bridging This to Taylor's song, Me & Britney

📺 Listen Here: Taylor Swift - Me and Britney

While Dorothea and Porch Swing in Tupelo focus on someone who left, longing, and nostalgia, Taylor’s unreleased song Me & Britney adds another angle to this theme.

In Me & Britney, Taylor sings:

Britney made it to Memphis, and that’s where she wanted to be.

Memphis (home of Graceland) is where Elvis went after leaving Tupelo—and his story is often framed as one of fame, longing, and isolation. Sort've a side note, but definitely ties Taylor's old music to Dorothea and aligns with the same trope. Stay with me...

💡Dorothy, Elvis, and the subject of Dorothea all followed a road that led them away from home—but was it really what they wanted?

📌 Key Lyric in Me & Britney That Feels Queer:

I was just jealous of the boy that she fell in love with.

This aligns with a classic queer storytelling trope—where attraction is framed as “jealousy” over a male love interest rather than outright romantic feelings.

💡 Final Thought:

If Dorothy realizes that Oz wasn’t what she thought it would be…

If Elvis became trapped in the fame he once sought…

If Taylor keeps returning to themes of people leaving, longing, and hidden feelings…

🌈 Could the Yellow Brick Road be a metaphor for realizing that what you were searching for was already inside you—whether that’s home, identity, or love?

5. Elton John & The Yellow Brick Road as a Queer Metaphor

🌈 Did You Know:

Elton John—one of the most famous openly gay musicians—has drawn inspiration from themes of The Wizard of Oz throughout his career.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is often interpreted as his rejection of the expectations placed on him, including those of the heterosexual, traditional lifestyle.

The song describes escaping an artificial world—one where he was expected to play a role rather than be himself.

📌 Key Lyrics:

“You know you can’t hold me forever / I didn’t sign up with you.”

“So goodbye yellow brick road / Where the dogs of society howl.”

💡 How This Relates to Taylor Swift:

If Elton saw the Yellow Brick Road as a false promise, could Taylor also be questioning the path she’s been on?

⭐Taylor Swift’s Own Yellow Brick Road: The Fame vs. Reality Conflict

📌 Key Songs That Reflect This Theme:

“The Lucky One” (Red, 2012) – A song about the dark side of fame, where the narrator envies someone who escapes it.

“Nothing New” (Red: Taylor’s Version, 2021) – A reflection on the fleeting nature of fame, mirroring the “illusion of Oz.”

“The Archer” (Lover, 2019) – Explores feelings of isolation and longing for something real beyond the performance of celebrity.

💡 The Yellow Brick Road Parallel:

Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz follows the road to what she believes will be her dream, only to find out it was all smoke and mirrors.

Elton John realized the world he was chasing wasn’t real.

Taylor has repeatedly questioned whether the life she built is truly what she wanted.

Further connections between Elton John and Taylor include the release of Elton's documentary: Elton John: It's Never Too Late on Friday December 13, 2024. Taylor Swift's birthday? December 13th. Again, there is more to say about these two, but it's going to require its own post.

6. The Most Fabulous Closets in Oz: Harry, Taylor & The Magic of Bearding

I referenced this Reddit Post for this section.

In 2021, Harry Styles dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz for his Harryween concert at Madison Square Garden, fully embracing the camp aesthetic of Oz with ruby slippers, blue gingham dress, red tights, and a Toto-filled basket. This moment was more than just a fun Halloween costume—it was a bold embrace of gender fluidity and queer-coded imagery, further aligning him with the broader queer themes of The Wizard of Oz.

📺 Watch Here: Harry Styles - Over the Rainbow - Harryween Night One

📌 How This Relates to Queerness:

Harry’s choice to dress as Dorothy plays into his broader exploration of gender nonconformity and theatrical self-expression.

The act of a male pop star dressing as one of cinema’s most famous female protagonists challenges traditional gender norms, something Harry has done consistently throughout his career.

This moment fits into a larger trend of Oz being reclaimed by queer artists as a symbol of self-discovery and belonging.

⭐The Taylor Swift Connection: A Relationship That Was More Than It Seemed? A Public Relationship with Career-Boosting Benefits

So what's the connection between Harry and Taylor you may ask? Maybe you weren't around for the pap walks and easter eggs these two gave us. Have no fear, I'm here to outline that, from a Gaylor's perspective of course.

Harry and Taylor’s highly publicized relationship in 2012-2013 came at a crucial time for both of their careers.

Taylor was transitioning from country to full-fledged pop, and aligning herself with Harry—who was breaking out as a global pop phenomenon with One Direction—helped solidify her move into a new genre.

Meanwhile, Harry was preparing for an eventual solo career and a public relationship with Taylor further cemented his status beyond being “just” a boyband member.

Their short-lived but highly visible relationship seemed almost perfectly orchestrated for media attention, which has led many fans to speculate that their pairing was a mutually beneficial bearding arrangement.

💡 The Bearding Theory:

Both Harry and Taylor have been rumored to be closeted, and many believe their relationship was staged to divert speculation away from their personal lives.

This would not be the first time high-profile celebrities have engaged in strategic PR relationships to control public perception.

If this was a double bearding scenario, it would mean both Harry and Taylor were using each other as a cover while pursuing their own private lives off-camera.

🌈 Queer Implication in the Wizard of Oz Narrative:

If Harry and Taylor’s relationship was about public image rather than personal romance, it fits into the Oz allegory perfectly.

The Wizard of Oz is about facades, illusion, and realizing the person behind the curtain isn’t what they seem.

Is Taylor revealing these hidden truths through her constant Oz references? One things for sure, these two have been creatively aligned from a distance for over a decade. Neither have gotten on a stage to profess their sexuality, but with a *sometimes* obsessive interest in the stories they tell, its hard not to see parallels in the queer undertones that have littered their work for years.

💡Take this for example: Harry Styles and Taylor Swift both have a song called Daylight. I will reference Taylor's song in the next section and will provide a deep dive into the parallels of Harry and Taylor's song in a different post. But for the sake of Oz, I must note - the chorus of Harry's song Daylight says:

If I was a bluebird, I would fly to you

Which feels pretty parallel to the lyric from Somewhere Over the Rainbow,

Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh, why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh why can't I?

No? Sure, okay... moving on.

7. Optimistic Voices Line by Line, Taylor’s Lyricism, & the Journey to Daylight

📺 Watch Here: The Wizard of Oz – “Optimistic Voices” & The Snow Scene

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – “Out of the Woods” (Official Music Video)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – “Daylight” (Live From Paris)

There's a lot to unpack here. Let’s start with lyrics and move into imagery.

⭐Escaping the Darkness: Out of the Woods & The Journey to the Light

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, you're out of the night, Step into the sun, step into the light.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

I've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night (Now I'm wide awake) And now I see daylight (I see daylight), I only see daylight (ah)

At its core, Out of the Woods is a song about living in a state of constant anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. While it has been widely interpreted as a song about a fragile, doomed relationship, when viewed through a queer lens, the song’s themes take on an even deeper meaning:

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

The fear of being found out.

The struggle of navigating a love that feels fragile and threatened.

The desperation to hold onto something that the world does not want to survive.

💡 Optimistic Voices tells the moment of reaching safety—it is the sound of emerging from a place of struggle into clarity. Out of the Woods, on the other hand, is still trapped in uncertainty, asking the question: Are we safe yet? Are we in the clear?

⭐ Where Daylight Fits in the Journey:

If Out of the Woods is about struggling to escape the fear, then Daylight is about finally arriving at a place of clarity and acceptance.

The lyric “I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night” mirrors the journey of stepping out of the woods into the sunlight—into truth.

⭐ Stepping Into the Light: Visibility & Queer Self-Discovery

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

Step into the sun, step into the light.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color.

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

You gotta step into the daylight and let it go Just let it go, let it go

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

The contrast between "black and white" and "screaming color" reflects the experience of queerness in a heteronormative world.

The “black and white” world is society’s rigid, traditional expectations.

“Screaming color” is queerness—vibrant, alive, but existing in stark contrast to what’s expected.

⭐ Daylight completes this arc:

In Out of the Woods, the sun is rising but it’s still a question of safety.

In Daylight, Taylor is fully in the sun, embracing its warmth and clarity.

It’s not just about stepping into the light—it’s about choosing to stay there.

📌 Much like the journey from Kansas to Oz, the transition from Out of the Woods → Daylight is about leaving behind a world of confusion and entering a new, golden reality.

🌈 Did You Know?

The Emerald City has often been compared to the idea of a queer utopia—a place where people who have been marginalized in the “real world” can be free. (I may have already told you this 100 times, haha)

Daylight being "golden" aligns with the Yellow Brick Road leading to Emerald City—a literal path toward truth, clarity, and belonging.

⭐ Holding On Through the Journey: The Final Push Toward Safety

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

Hold onto your breath, hold onto your heart, hold onto your hope, March up to that gate and bid it open.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

Remember when we couldn't take the heat? I walked out, I said 'I'm setting you free.'

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

My love was as cruel as the cities I lived in Everyone looked worse in the light.

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

Optimistic Voices is about reaching the final destination—the Emerald City—after a long, uncertain journey.

Out of the Woods describes a love that is filled with tension, fear, and the possibility of collapse at any moment.

Daylight is the final realization—that love doesn’t have to be cruel, it doesn’t have to exist in the dark, and when you step into the sun, you see things for what they truly are.

⭐ Final Thought:

Out of the Woods asks if the journey is over yet.

Daylight declares that it is.

Optimistic Voices sings the moment when you finally step into the light and let it all go.

Maybe Daylight is that moment of realization—that the fear, the hiding, the uncertainty—it was never love. Love was golden. Love was daylight. At least that was her hope for the Lover era. I will deep dive this when I write about the failed coming out of 2019.

9. Out of the Woods and the Snow That Awakens Dorothy: A Symbolic Parallel

Now let's explore how the striking visual connection between The Wizard of Oz and Taylor Swift’s Out of the Woods lies in the use of snow as a transformative and awakening force. In both stories, snow serves as an intervention—clearing a path forward and signaling a moment of clarity.

📌 Key Scene:

As Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion approach the Emerald City, they become trapped in a poppy field—a symbol of illusion, intoxication, and losing one’s way.

They begin falling into a deep sleep, overwhelmed by the enchanted flowers that prevent them from reaching their goal.

Glinda, the Good Witch, intervenes, sending a magical snowfall to neutralize the poppies’ effect and wake them up.

The moment marks a turning point—Dorothy and her friends can finally see the Emerald City clearly and continue their journey.

🌈 Did You Know:

The poppy field has often been interpreted as a metaphor for external forces that sedate or mislead people, from addiction to societal expectations.

The snowfall, then, represents a cleansing moment—a realization that breaks through illusion.

⭐The Snow in Out of the Woods: A Moment of Survival & Awakening

📌 Key Visuals:

The Out of the Woods music video follows Taylor through various brutal landscapes—fire, water, mud, and snow—each symbolizing the emotional turmoil of a doomed relationship.

The snowstorm sequence comes toward the end of the video, as Taylor collapses in exhaustion.

As she pushes through the deep snow, she appears more alone than ever—but also closer to breaking free.

At the end of the journey, she reaches the ocean and finds herself, leading to the final message: “She lost him but found herself, and somehow that was everything.”

💡 Parallels to The Wizard of Oz:

Just as Dorothy’s group was lost in a dreamlike haze, Taylor, in the Out of the Woods video, struggles through disorienting landscapes, lost and overwhelmed.

Snow acts as both an obstacle and a catalyst—it is the final challenge Taylor faces before she reaches self-discovery.

Like Dorothy waking up in the poppy field, Taylor’s emergence from the snow signals that she has survived the journey and can now move forward.

Many fans have pointed out that Taylor’s music video looks eerily similar to The Wizard of Oz's journey through different landscapes—leading up to a final realization of self.

💡The journey through these trials mirrors the queer experience of fighting through shame, fear, and external pressures to finally find one’s authentic self.

7. "Karma" Music Video: A Nod to Dorothy (2023)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Karma (Official Music Video)

In May 2023, Taylor released the music video for "Karma," featuring Ice Spice. The video is rich with symbolic imagery, notably a segment where Taylor embodies a character reminiscent of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Dressed in a gingham-style outfit with braided hair, she skips down a yellow brick road, evoking the classic journey to Oz. This portrayal not only pays homage to the iconic film but also reinforces the queer themes associated with it.

The "Karma" music video is replete with Easter eggs and references, with fans noting the deliberate parallels to The Wizard of Oz, further emphasizing Taylor's engagement with queer-coded imagery.

💡 This could represent Taylor realizing that the world she built for herself isn’t real—just like how Dorothy learns that Oz is an illusion. To throw in some more imagery, the hour glass plays an important role in the life or death of Dorothy, In Karma, Taylor puts her "duel self" (oh boy, what a deep rabbit hole that concept is) inside of it. Further evoking connections to running out of time, anxiety, and the long journey of waiting.

8. Karlie Kloss as Dorothy: The Chessboard & “Mastermind” Connection

Karlie Kloss’s Halloween costume as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz may seem like a simple tribute, but the details of her social media post led to potential deeper meanings—especially in relation to Taylor Swift, “Mastermind,” and black-and-white chessboard imagery.

📌 Key Visual in the Post:

In Karlie’s Halloween Instagram photo, she’s dressed as Dorothy and positioned next to a chessboard.

This small detail immediately caught fans’ attention because chess and strategic planning are key themes in Taylor Swift’s song “Mastermind.”

Karlie’s decision to post a chessboard next to herself while dressed as Dorothy is too deliberate to be ignored.

Fans speculate that this could be a nod to her connection with Taylor—whether as an inside joke, a strategic message, or an acknowledgment of their intertwined histories. As of 2025, this post has been removed from her grid. Kinda fishy if you ask me...

📌Chess as a Metaphor in “Mastermind”

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Mastermind (Lyric Video)

In Midnights, Taylor Swift’s song “Mastermind” is all about strategically orchestrating relationships and events, using chess as a metaphor.

Key Lyric:“What if I told you none of it was accidental? / And the first night that you saw me / Nothing was gonna stop me.”

The song describes a calculated, almost fated connection between two people, a theme that many have associated with Taylor’s relationships—both personal and professional.

📌Black-and-White Imagery: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show & Eras Tour

📌 Key Visuals:

At the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Taylor Swift performed while Karlie Kloss walked the runway, and the two famously held hands on stage.

The stage floor was a black-and-white checkerboard, setting the scene for the chessboard imagery seen in Karlie’s Halloween post 10 years later, lol. I know, sounds crazy but stay with me.

In The Eras Tour, Taylor replicates the black-and-white stage design, reinforcing the symbolism of duality, strategic moves, and interconnected paths.

💡 The chessboard theme in Karlie’s post, Taylor’s “Mastermind” lyrics, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show checkerboard stage, and the Eras Tour black-and-white motifs all tie back to themes of control, fate, and strategy.

Is Karlie subtly responding to Taylor? Is this an inside joke or an intentional reference?

One thing is clear: The chess pieces are still moving. ♟️✨

🌈 Did You Know:

Black-and-white checkerboard imagery has long been used in queer-coded storytelling as a symbol of duality, secrets, and transformation.

It is often associated with hidden messages, underground queer spaces, and coded communication—just like the way queerness has been subtly signaled in art for decades.

💡The black-and-white color scheme of the chessboard and Karlie’s setting mirrors one of the most iconic cinematic transitions of all time—when Dorothy leaves the black-and-white Kansas world for the vibrant, complex, and magical world of Oz.

⭐Black-and-White Transitions: From Kansas to Oz & Taylor’s Career

📺 Watch Here: The Wizard of Oz (1939) – The Moment Dorothy Enters Oz

📌 Key Moment in the Film:

The first 20 minutes of The Wizard of Oz are filmed in sepia-toned black and white, representing Dorothy’s dull, restrictive reality.

The moment she arrives in Oz, the world explodes into Technicolor, symbolizing her awakening, self-discovery, and entrance into a more complex reality.

⭐ How This Relates to Taylor:

The black-and-white Kansas vs. Oz transition mirrors Taylor’s career transformation.

Many interpret Taylor’s use of black-and-white motifs as representing her “Kansas” era (the media’s constructed, controlled version of her) versus her true, colorful, more authentic self (Oz).

Karlie’s chessboard post reinforces this theme of strategy, hidden messages, and transitions between different realities.

10. The Tortured Poets Department & The Aesthetic of Kansas in The Wizard of Oz

For this section, I heavily referenced this Reddit post.

📺 Visual References:

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department (Concept Aesthetics) TTPD Announcement Video

The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Kansas Scenes Opening Scene of The Wizard of Oz

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) era is characterized by a stark, desaturated, grayscale aesthetic, heavily focused on themes of melancholy, confinement, and longing. This muted, dreamlike quality bears a striking resemblance to the sepia-toned depiction of Kansas in The Wizard of Oz—a world of restriction, where one longs for escape but also finds deep-rooted meaning.

📌 Kansas in The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy’s life in Kansas is drab, isolated, and full of longing for something more.

The world is monochrome, reflecting both emotional and physical constraints.

The tornado serves as a rupture—transporting Dorothy from a limited reality into a world of heightened color and discovery.

📌 TTPD Aesthetic

Taylor’s album visuals are stark, black-and-white, evoking a feeling of nostalgia, loss, and self-reflection.

The concept of being “trapped” in a poetic department mirrors Dorothy’s confinement on a Kansas farm—both feel like places where creativity is stifled or existence is dull.

Fans have noted the “literary sadness” of TTPD—it embodies the idea of a writer trapped in their own melancholy, longing for something beyond the grayscale world they inhabit.

💡 Queer Interpretation:

Just as Dorothy dreams of escaping Kansas for something more vivid and fulfilling, TTPD could represent a moment of longing before stepping into a fuller identity.

The monochrome aesthetic could symbolize repression or living in a constrained world—before fully embracing one’s truth.

If The Wizard of Oz is a metaphor for queerness, then is TTPD the period before Taylor’s own “tornado moment”?

📌 Key Lyrics from The Tortured Poets Department

But you awaken with dread Pounding nails in your head But I've read this one where you come undone I chose this cyclone with you

Nod to waking up (as Dorothy does in the movie)

Nod to reading (reading about the journey which is undertaken in the Wizard of Oz

Nod to the cyclone (need I say more? Fine, I will.)

The Tornado as a Symbol of Disruption & Change

📌 How Tornadoes Function in The Wizard of Oz

The tornado represents a violent rupture in reality—breaking Dorothy out of the mundane and sending her somewhere new.

It is both terrifying and necessary—it destroys her former world but also leads to her greatest self-discovery.

📌 How This Relates to TTPD

If Kansas = TTPD, then where is Taylor’s tornado?

Could TTPD represent a moment of painful self-awareness before a transformation?

If Taylor follows the narrative structure of The Wizard of Oz, then what comes after TTPD could be a transition into something entirely new—a moment of “color” after the storm.

Visuals At The Beginning of The Eras Tour:

When considering this, I wonder if the intent is to draw attention to the era in which Taylor really began overtly queer coding, Lover, with the dark, swirling cyclones behind her? The screen visual feels like another acknowledgement of Kansas.

If this could be so, and it is true that Taylor connects Lover to Oz and TTPD to Kansas, it is worth noting theories that the costumes for the The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived segment of the TTPD set at The Eras Tour could be a callback to the ME! music video but with all the color removed.

📺 Watch Here: ME! Live From The Billboard Music Awards

In the ME! music video, Swift dons a pastel marching band uniform over a crystal-encrusted bodysuit, complemented by patent boots. This ensemble aligns with the video's overall colorful aesthetic, symbolizing themes of individuality and self-empowerment.

"ME!" Music Video: The colorful uniforms and lively marching underscore a message of joy, unity, and self-celebration.

During the Eras Tour performance of The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, she wore a white military-style jacket featuring epaulettes and frogging, accompanied by a synchronized marching routine with her backup dancers, who played drums. The act concluded dramatically, with Swift and her ensemble collapsing on stage, symbolizing the song's themes of vulnerability and introspection.

Eras Tour Performance: The white military jacket and structured marching reflect a more somber and introspective tone, culminating in a staged death that signifies the song's exploration of personal struggle and defeat.

📌 Key Lyrics from TTPD:

Taylor Swift’s use of animal imagery in The Tortured Poets Department carries striking parallels to The Wizard of Oz, specifically through references to the lion, tiger, and bear—three creatures that are deeply embedded in the Oz mythology.

These references mirror the iconic phrase from The Wizard of Oz:

“Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh my!”

In the film, Dorothy and her friends chant this line as they enter the haunted forest, anticipating unseen dangers. Each animal in the story represents a distinct archetype:

The Cowardly Lion – Symbolizes fear, insecurity, and the search for courage.

The Tiger – Represents strength, intensity, and a predatory nature.

The Bear – Associated with both protection and untamed aggression, embodying both nurturing and destruction.

💡 How This Relates to TTPD

The “coward claimed he was a lion” lyric in LOML suggests a false bravado—someone pretending to be strong but ultimately lacking courage, much like the Cowardly Lion’s arc in The Wizard of Oz.

The lyric “Way to go, tiger, you look ridiculous and you have no idea” suggests mocking someone who thinks they are strong or in control.

The bear in The Bolter represents the tension between control and freedom, echoing how Dorothy’s companions struggle with their own limitations.

11. Lions, Tigers, and Football Players, Oh My!

Follow me into this theory where I explore the idea that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are both on that journey together—not as a romantic couple, but as two people navigating a carefully constructed public image while protecting their private truths.

🌈 Queer Allegory:

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds her people on the road—each struggling with their own identity crisis.

Similarly, if Taylor and Travis are indeed “walking the Yellow Brick Road” as a protective duo, then this relationship could symbolize two individuals working together to maintain a shared safety net in the public eye.

💡 Possible Implications:

If Travis is queer (or in a long-term private relationship with Ross Travis), and Taylor is also closeted, then their relationship becomes a shield—allowing them both to exist more freely behind the scenes.

This would align with other known Hollywood “double bearding” arrangements, where two public figures strategically date to deflect speculation.

⭐ The Kansas City Connection: From Allegory to Reality

📌 Key Connection:

The Wizard of Oz is set in Kansas, a place Dorothy longs to escape but ultimately learns to appreciate.

Now, Taylor is literally in a public relationship with one of the biggest Kansas City figures in the world.

💡 If Kansas has always been a metaphor for longing, escape, and self-realization in Taylor’s work, then does this relationship mark a return to something safe and stable, rather than a new romantic revelation?

Follow the Yellow Brick Road… to Arrowhead?

I just wanna note that I do not believe the Cornelia Street lyric below was premeditated to be referential to the Tayvis relationship, however, it's always peculiar how Taylor's life so stunningly imitates art.

As if the street lights pointed in an arrowhead Leading us home

Where is Dorothy trying to go? HOME! KANSAS!!

📌 How This Theory Could Fit the Timeline:

Khalen Saunders (former Chiefs player) is the brother of Kameron Saunders, one of Taylor’s backup dancers and close friends.

The theory suggests that Travis and Taylor may have been introduced through Kameron via Khalen, setting up a mutually beneficial dynamic.

If this is true, it would mean Taylor and Travis’s public debut in July 2023 was premeditated long before the world caught on.

Aside from the Khalen + Kam connection, it is worth noting that Karlie, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, has publicly supported the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis specifically.

In May 2022, Travis Kelce attended a Formula 1 cocktail party hosted by Karlie Kloss in Miami. This event indicates that they were acquainted prior to Travis's relationship with Taylor Swift.

🌈 Queer & Symbolic Interpretation:

In many ways, this fits a classic queer narrative of finding safety in partnerships that protect one’s truth.

The Wizard of Oz is about longing for a place where you are safe, understood, and able to be yourself.

Could Travis and Taylor’s relationship represent a way for them to exist more freely within their respective closets—while the world watches a different story?

⭐ Why This Relationship Works—Regardless of the Truth

Whether this theory is correct or not, one thing is undeniable: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have a public dynamic that feels mutually beneficial in ways that go beyond romance.

📌 What Travis Provides for Taylor:

A strong, masculine, straight-passing relationship to appease media and conservative backlash.

Genuine public adoration—he is protective of her and supportive of her success.

A sense of stability and safety in a relationship that does not threaten her independence.

📌 What Taylor Provides for Travis:

Elevated status outside of sports, making him one of the most visible athletes in the world.

A PR shield—any speculation about his private life is drowned out by their high-profile romance.

Increased crossover appeal—his branding now extends to pop culture in a way it never did before.

💡 If they are truly bearding for each other, it would mean they are not only protecting their personal lives, but also strengthening their own public legacies in the process.

This theory presents a compelling reframing of Taylor and Travis’s relationship as something more complex than just romance.

🌈 Is this truly Taylor’s Dorothy moment—finding her “home” with Travis in Kansas City? 🌈 Or is this another carefully constructed part of the larger story, walking the Yellow Brick Road together, knowing full well the truth that lies at the end?

Maybe, just like Dorothy, they already know the truth—but they have to walk the path anyway.

Conclusion: “Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain”

Taylor Swift’s repeated return to The Wizard of Oz—through imagery, lyricism, and visual storytelling—feels deliberate, layered, and unshakable. For over a decade, she has woven Oz into her art, a recurring thread in a larger tapestry of hidden meanings.

So what is she really telling us?

Is Oz a metaphor for fame—an illusion, an Emerald City that’s never as real as it seems? Is it about queerness—the journey of self-discovery, longing, and finding a chosen family? Is it a hidden love story—one written between the lines, only visible to those who know where to look?

The answer? Maybe all of them.

Taylor Swift is still following the Yellow Brick Road. And for those of us who have been paying attention, one thing is certain:

🌈 There’s more to the story than meets the eye.