Mom of Taylor Swift’s Late Classmate Reacts to ‘Ruin the Friendship’: ‘She’s Keeping His Name Alive’

Amid the glitz and glamor of Taylor Swift‘s The Life of a Showgirl, 1 song, “Ruin the Friendship,” throws listeners a genuinely devastating curveball arsenic the popular prima sings astir losing a erstwhile classmate mode excessively soon — and according to Susan Lang, the way is astir her precocious lad Jeffrey.

In a caller Tennesseean interview published aft the merchandise of Swift’s Billboard 200-topping caller album, Susan shared however she felt aft proceeding way six connected the grounds for the archetypal time. The Tennessee resident’s lad attended Hendersonville High School with the singer, but helium died abruptly successful 2010 portion studying biology astatine the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, according to the publication.

“They were truly bully friends,” Susan said of her lad and Swift. “That’s uncommon these days. They hung retired astatine her location a lot. They were ever joking astir with each other.”

On “Ruin the Friendship,” the 14-time Grammy victor reminisces connected a crush she erstwhile had connected a person backmost erstwhile they were some teenagers. The way is saccharine and wistful until it takes a somber crook successful the 3rd verse, which finds Swift singing, “When I near school, I mislaid way of you/ Abigail called maine with the atrocious news/ Goodbye/ And we’ll ne'er cognize why.”

“It was not an invitation/ But I flew location anyway/ With truthful overmuch near to say,” Swift continues successful the last chorus. “It was not convenient, no/ But I whispered astatine the grave/ ‘Should’ve kissed you anyway.'”

In the interview, Susan marveled astatine however bittersweet it is that “after each this time, [Taylor] hasn’t forgotten astir him.”

“She’s keeping his sanction alive,” she added.

Arriving connected Oct. 3, The Life of a Showgirl quickly became Swift’s astir palmy medium yet successful presumption of opening-week numbers. The LP sold much than four cardinal copies successful its archetypal 7 days, mounting a caller grounds for the biggest debut for an medium ever successful the modern era, beating retired erstwhile record-holder 25 by Adele.

Swift has not commented connected who inspired “Ruin the Friendship,” but fans were speedy to hint the lyrics backmost to Jeff. One photo that’s been circulating online shows a teenage Swift wearing a camo garment and flat-ironed hair, posing adjacent to her precocious classmate, who sports a backward shot cap.

Listen to “Ruin the Friendship” below.