Taylor Swift's New Single
Taylor Swift releases new single 'Patient Zero' addressing toxic love from an ex's perspective.
Anonymous
Taylor Swift released “Patient Zero” on September 25 as the lead single from the expanded edition of The Life of a Showgirl. She said the song grew out of a conversation with friends after one of them was contacted by an ex’s new girlfriend seeking advice; Swift writes from the perspective of someone who has left the relationship and can recognize its warning signs. Using illness imagery, the narrator describes herself as the first person harmed by a charming but toxic partner and offers support to the woman now experiencing similar behavior. Swift has not identified the man who inspired the song.
Key Points
1
“Patient Zero” is the lead track on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, a surprise expanded edition of Swift’s 2025 album that includes four new songs.
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The song’s music video stars Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell and is scheduled to premiere at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on September 27.
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Swift said the song’s narrator is careful not to dictate what the new girlfriend should do: the lyrics include “It’s not for me to tell / Someone else what to do,” alongside a welcoming offer of support.
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Swift wrote the new tracks during a trip to Sweden with Max Martin and Shellback, describing the songs as coming from “pure gratitude” after The Life of a Showgirl achieved the biggest first-week numbers of her career.
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