Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. 

Searches for ‘What is a fortnight?’ surge after release of Taylor Swift’s song ‘Fortnight’

The title of the lead single from Swift’s new album is a piece of British-English terminology

Inga Parkel
Tuesday 30 April 2024 19:19 BST
Comments
Taylor Swift teases 'timetable' for The Tortured Poets Department album in new video

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Taylor Swift appears to have caused a lot of confusion among her American fanbase with the title of her new song “Fortnight”, as a surge in “What is a fortnight?” searches have exploded following its release.

A collaboration with singer and rapper Post Malone, “Fortnight” is the lead single from Swift’s record-breaking 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.

According to an analysis of Google search data done by QR Code Generator, internet inquiries about the definition of the word “fortnight” increased by 868 per cent in America on 19 April – the day the 34-year-old pop star released her album.

The word “fortnight” – which refers to a period of two weeks – is considered British-English terminology. It comes from Old English and is an abbreviated form of “fourteen nights”.

Given the word’s origin, fans have speculated that the song is either about the end of Swift’s six-year relationship with English actor Joe Alwyn or her brief romance with English singer Matty Healy of The 1975.

“And for a fortnight there, we were forever / Run into you sometimes, ask about the weather / Now you’re in my backyard, turned into good neighbors / Your wife waters flowers, I wanna kill her,” she sings in the chorus. “And for a fortnight there, we were together / Run into you sometimes, comment on my sweater / Now you’re at the mailbox, turned into good neighbors / My husband is cheating, I wanna kill him.”

Explaining the song’s lyrics on Amazon Music, Swift said that she “always imagined” that “Fortnight” was set in an “American town where the American Dream you thought would happen to you didn’t”.

“You ended up not with the person you loved and now you have to just live with that every day, wondering what would’ve been, maybe seeing them out,” she explained. “And that’s a pretty tragic concept, really. So I was just writing from that perspective.”

The Tortured Poets Department debuted at No 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 2.61 million units, the highest for any album since Adele’s 25 in 2015.

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up

Reacting to the record’s success, Swift posted a carousel of polaroids from the recording of the album on social media. “My mind is blown. I’m completely floored by the love you’ve shown this album,” she captioned the post.

“2.6 million ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS?? Thank you for listening, streaming, and welcoming Tortured Poets into your life. Feeling completely overwhelmed.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in