I love how this circles back to All Too Well and the short film. She’s closing the door on TTPD and all the painful relationships from the past and giving the songs to us to fit into our own stories. It’s beautiful.

"the story isn't mine anymore" is such a beautiful sentence in this context 🤍 it must actually feel so weird to process trauma through art that is shared into the world

"Looking backwards might be the only way to move forward" What a hauntingly beautiful lyrics..

This second half of TTPD is like a long-lost older sister of Folklore and Evermore who had been wandering in the forest, came back, and became a chairman of TTPD to share her stories. Manuscript is SO beautiful. It's like the end of a play. Thank you, Taylor

She basically said 'The story of us' isn't 'mine' (hers) anymore and gave us her albums as a collection of fates of her past relationships, she's handed us the manuscript to show our pain isn't as rare as we'd think, we can find comfort in them and fellow folks who are feeling the same. Thank You Taylor.

The best thing about Taylor is that she just doesn't write songs but she writes stories! I love it when songwriters tell a story on the song! Long live, The Tortured Poets Department!

That line about only eating kids cereal and sleeping in her mom’s bed after being groomed by a thirty year old makes me cry every time. Just something about that imagery breaks my heart

thank you chairman taylor 😭😭😭 love, fans of the tortured poets department

Not only is the song beautiful, this is one of the best lyric videos I've seen

From "one last souvenir from my trip to your shores" to long story short's "and my waves meet your shore ever and evermore" makes me think of her last reflection into the roller coast of the relationship before concluding that she's leaving the relationship bubble.

The Manuscript is a lingering promise that holds tighter with each passing second. The layers to this track signifies just how much Taylor is willing to lay out everything on the table and say that she's still got the upper-hand in any situation she's placed herself in.

To me, this song describes how and why she wrote All Too Well; hints to the other person being an actor 'you're a professional' and him being older 'then she dated boys her own age', created the music video 'the actors were hitting their marks' and shared the story with the world 'the story isn't mine anymore'.

i'm crying so hard,this is definitely the best outro song she had ever wrote.It's so sad but comforted at the same time,it's like you finally make peace with all your tortured and broken past and look forward.🥺

This is the one. This piano moment captures her vulnerability like I have never heard before.

“And at last, she knew what the agony had been for” There’s something about this song, the piano, the reflection, the bittersweet remembering, how much it truly feels like a poem in a journal, all of it has me weeping. TTPD as a whole really struck a cord with something in my soul, in ways I’m still trying to put into words. I’ve been struggling the last several months and this album has exquisitely captured and conveyed all the feelings of anger, grief, melancholy, and detachment I’ve been feeling. Listening to it feels surreal.

"The Manuscript" has thirteen letters in it. And this is how she chooses to end the album. Insane.

"and the tears fell in synchronicity with the score, and at last she knew what the agony had been for" just...beautiful

That whole last part reminds me of the Eras Tour - she's watching her band and dancers perform, she's watching her fans crying, singing, screaming, applauding, and somewhere through that experience she's healing. She found out what all that agony was for.

3:23 The circle storytelling like “we were both young when I first saw you” and “down the block there’s an antique shop and something in my head said ‘stop’ so I walked in”❤❤❤

It's amazing how she turns her heartbreaks and disappointments into goldmines.

6 pages for 6 years with Joe. 7th page is the only thing that left's - manuscript (TTDP album)

I didn't know how badly I needed this album until this morning. It feels like every corner of my trauma, from the resolved, unresolved, and still yet to be discovered, has been given the gentlest hug that I could ever want it to receive.

as someone with broken hearted filled journals, the final bit of this one really stabbed me through the heart

Okay, THIS SONG. I can’t stop thinking about the build-up in the bridge! It's like "Dear Reader," in that there's so much allusion layered into each line. Here's my best guess: “And the years passed like scenes of a show The professor said to write what you know Looking backwards might be the only way to move forward.” Taylor has always channeled her life experiences-especially the difficult ones-into songs. We saw this with Midnights in particular: she looks at what happened in her past as a way of understanding the present. As she recovers from her broken heart, the only thing she can think to do to process it all is write what she knows: her experience. “Then the actors were hitting their marks And the slow dance was alight with the sparks And the tears fell in synchronicity with the score.” These lines make me think of The Eras Tour: a performance of kinds in which she reenacts her songs. The “actors” are the dancers on stage, who “hit their marks” (she uses this term in I Can Do It With A Broken Heart). The “slow dance” reminds me of the Lover choreography, but it could stand for any song of hers that is so beautiful it evokes tears from her fans. “And at last She knew what the agony had been for.” Through her experience with The Eras Tour, celebrating her entire career of songwriting, she realizes that all her difficult experiences gave her the music she needed to bring her here, to this moment, to this time in her life. Not only has she made something beautiful out of the agonies she experienced, but those songs also brought all of us fans together. “The only thing that’s left is the manuscript One last souvenir from my trip to your shores Now and then I re-read the manuscript But the story isn’t mine anymore.” The “manuscript” could represent this album (TTPD), but more likely it represents the collective body of songs about her six-year relationship with Joe-the songs, in a way, are all she has left of the relationship now. From this point, she’s accepted the grief and moved on. She still looks back on their time together, but now the story is out in the world. It’s not hers anymore; it’s ours. Thoughts???

Poetically written, the Empress gracefully entangles her woven words into masterpieces for us all to endure. Lucky us.

Now I see why Taylor chose this as the main bonus track for the standard edition of the vinyl!

I can't be the only one who has absolutely balled my eyes out to this song

This album is like if folklore and reputation had a baby

One thing that i understood is the fact that this is a sequence to her past relationships nd especially All Too Well. There's a scene where they're slow dancing in the kitchen (goes with the lyrics in this song). Now, THE MANUSCRIPT has 13 letters. She is 34 rn, 13 years after 'all too well' happened: we heard the line 'it's fun to be turning 21' in all too well and we saw her grown self 13 years later at the end of the short film. 21+13=34, she had to release this song to close the whole ch. 'now the story is not mine anymore' is such a cool way to put an end to this.

The beginning piano chords foreshadow me falling to pieces by the end of the song.

For every young girl who is loved -- or groomed, maybe it depends on POV -- by an older man, this song opens the wound, rubs the scars and gives hope that she will get over it.

After drying my tears on this one, I wondered how many of these songs brought tears to Travis. He feels his emotions so strongly and Taylor expresses her emotions so well. ❤

If this was her last album this song could fit as her last song, its like a summary of everything she's been through. I'm crying just listening to it.

Absolutely beautiful. I feel like Taylor is closing the door on her past experiences and relationships and opening the door to her new reality and love of the man she is now with. I love this album, I love Taylor and all her music, but this new album(s) is her greatest of them all, imo. Her voice is so angelic and moving. I love her with Travis.

I'm 76 and Taylor has been writing the soundtrack of my life since I met her in 2008. But with The Manuscript she has lent legitimacy to the 180 thousand word memoir I wrote in 2014 called The Blue Dress. I'm waiting for the right publisher. Taylor Swift is the right publisher.

This new album is AMAZING!

Taylor, you are the best writer of this age.

If I didn't know how much Taylor loves creating music, this would have been a glorious and gorgeous goodbye. "The story isn't mine anymore..."

I literally love how simple artists have been going lately. Eternal Sunshine was so simple but also really beautiful (especially imperfect)

This is 100% about all too well and Jake. It fits so well. Especially when she said on the rep tour that we changed the meaning of all too well for her. It’s our story and looking back is when she made the short film and the actors falling into place is Sadie and Dylan. I love this song so much. It feels like a sadder chapter following mastermind for some reason

THE PERFECT ENDING 🥺🤍✨

I'll never know why people are literally sleeping on this SONG! I mean the strength it takes to move forward, to know that the person we loved is not the same and not in love with us anymore or not in our life anymore even though at a certain point we thought that we would be the endgame! Letting all these things go takes so much strength. She wrote this entire process so painfully yet it sounds so beautiful. I hope she's happy now and everyone else who has gone through this phase in their life.

this song gets me in the FEELS

Wow, brilliant song for the ending, filled with pure emotions and the strongest one on the album.

The man - you - script The fantasy of who you think he was going to be.

The instrumental of this song has me sobbing so bad

Never thought Taylor could ever top ‘Teardrops on my Guitar,’ but she vastly exceeds such here. This album is pure therapy.

This has gotta be about turning her pain into the all too well short film ❤

IS THIS ABOUT MISS AMERICANA? “..the slow dance was alight with the sparks.. the tears fell in synchronicity with the score..?.??

THIS LYRIC VID IS JUST *chefs kiss*

love seeing her journal, Her own words in motion with every single emotion and nothing held back. Love you Taylor Swift!

Counter-suggestion to the ATW theory: What if The Manuscript is actually a look back at The Story of Us? A manuscript is meant to be the original work that predates a published piece like a book or an essay. As an actor myself, I've rarely heard scripts for plays and films called manuscripts. They are usually referred to as playscripts, which leads me away from the idea that the song refers to the ATW short film. I also feel like the actors hitting their marks line could refer back to the music video for The Story of Us. Plus, there was that little easter egg of Taylor reading a book titled 'Us' in the Fortnight music video. I personally think that this song is the natural ending of Taylor mapping out her emotional journey of healing from the trauma born from her turbulent relationship with John Mayer. She's telling us all that The Story of Us isn't her story anymore and she's ready to close the book.

I love this song. It's about how she felt directing the music video for "All Too Well"

she hits so hard, i feel like crying.. this song reads like poem recital more than a song.. just so effective as an ending..

perfect outro for the album so TORTURED AND HURT the feeling of you're ready to give them your all but getting hurt in return 😭💔

This whole album is a masterpiece and her ending the album with this song is just perfcet

this is so Jake Gyllenhaal coded, like all too well really was a masterpiece. also, in the All Too Well music video, we see the protagonist making a book about her past experience, more metaphorically as the manuscript for Taylor

Taylor really ate her songwriting wheaties the day she penned this song just absolutely incredible work a memoir's worth of storytelling in just four minutes.

One of the most beautiful works of art she's ever released.

All of this is for her to give traumatized past a fully closure. As you should Taylor! We're so happy for you

The feelings I'm experiencing now were took on another level by the piano, the voice, the story, well... the song in himself. Taylor Swift makes me FEEL ALIVE !!!

I don't care what anybody says, this is the best song from the album

This song feels like last chapter of the very long story you got lost in. You lived in it for so long that you feel weird sadness now that it is over.

Re-reading the manuscript might mean re-recording her discography?! And yeah, the ATW reference because it was one of the biggest highlights of this re-recording process, and such an emotional milestone. And like she said in the Eras Tour movie, now she has given out all those stories to her fans for THEIR experiences.

They say sometimes there is a stage of grief after acceptance. Revenge, so maybe the whole album is foreshadowing that reputation is coming soon since it is her revenge album! 🖤

Omg the blend of White Horse and Cornelia Street melodies ❤❤❤ I’m in heaven!

At last she knew what the agony was for - "Taylor has found purpose out of her agony and heartbreak in the form of sharing it with the world, and realizing the impact she has on the audience, knowing she is not alone in how she feels." That's just so beautiful.

She starts off young, and goes through her life. Then then end... The tears fell with synchronicity with the score..." the Superbowl . When she said she has NEVER been so happy "And at last ahe knew what the agony was for" ...she's calling Travis her endgame. Now she gives her stories to everyone else.

Time heals all. We become wise.

I love writing and I'm glad I've heard this song when I was finishing one of my journals. Like clockwork, I ran into the last line and it sounds so healing to me. Thank you Taylor. If we lived in the same place maybe we could have been friends who write stuff and share them with each other.

“I’m not a donor but I’d give you my heart if you needed it” I LOVE YOU TAYLOR 😭💔

"The only thing that's left is the manuscript, one last souvenir of my trip to your shores" "My waves meet your shore ever and evermore"

Thank you Taylor for giving us a surprise double album after working so hard touring and the TV re-releases you always keep us on our toes & now this is one of my favorite songs!! ❤🥹🫶

This is my favorite lyric video so far. I loved the script she put in it!!! (Predicting a short fan made film lol)

Did anyone noticed that in the bottom right corner you get pages number and the counts end at 7 pages?? As in they dated for 6 years where there were many stories butnon the 7th year(page) she's concluding the end of it

This all sounds so familiar...I have tears with every song that I hear...So thought-provoking!

The Narrator going First Person Perspective gave me the goosebumps.

Love The Manuscript since the first listen.

I think this has to be one of fave of hers now. An underrated song from the album ❤

This song... Taylor, this song makes my tears fall in synchronicity with your score. What an incredible way to end such a beautiful album 🤍 Thank you for your genius

Thanks Chairman, TTPD! The story is ours Now! ❤❤

The whole album is taking the era by Storm, Taylor's singing style is smooth and unique

Its giving healing from John Mayer

1. Taylor Swift - A Dreamer 2. Fearless - The Country-Pop Superstar 3. Speak Now - The Princess 4. Red - A Heartbroken Woman 5. 1989 - The Party Woman 6. reputation - The Heroine 7. Lover - The Lover 8. folklore - A Wise Woman 9. evermore - The Storyteller 10. Midnights - The Brilliant Insomniac 11. The Tortured Poets Department - A Poetess Maker ................

This has me bawling. I feel like it’s a story about me looking back on me ages 18-22. 💔

UGHH THIS ALBUM IS AMAZING

This is my favourite song, its kinda like All too well but in acceptance version. I am crying remember my past relationship.

Such a perfect closure.

it feels like manuscript has been about her relationships, and now the story isn't hers anymore, she's moving on to new shores.

The piano in the beginning is so haunting and beautiful... love this song...

This his a great album: her voice has so improved and her musicians are stellar and have created an” atmospheric ambience- sound” kudos to her musicians

So this is the last stage, the acception. ❤

Thank you Taylor for this album❤

I think this is the closure of All too well ( as well as other past loves).. after she did 10 min version, in an interview she said now the story is not mine anymore but the fans..

The way she made this lyric video like a script 😭

What a beautiful wrap up ❤❤❤❤

So many Easter eggs to everything with this album- type writer- florida

I'm not a true Swiftie by any means but I am what you would call a casual fan. I believe she (Taylor) is an incredible songwriter. Taylor is a poet and lyricist in one. And this album is just so heartbreaking, haunting yet bittersweet and stunningly beautiful. TTPD left me speechless. (Pardon the pun!!!) I listened to "The Anthology" double album on that weekend starting on Saturday, took it slow so I didn't listen to the album all day Saturday. I listened to some of it Sunday and finished it on Monday. I'm re listening to certain songs like "The Black Dog," "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" "Cassandra," "So Long, London," and this one "The Manuscript." There's other songs that I'm re listening too but these seem to strike a cord within me. I'll say one more thing and I'll take my leave: If TTPD doesn't get any Grammy nominations next year, I riot!!!

This should be song of the year, beautifully written!

BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM