What Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ About? Breaking Down the Lyrics

Taylor Swift’s song “Opalite” shines like a gemstone.

The third song on her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, which dropped on Oct. 3, isn’t just a romantic ode inspired by her fiancé, Travis Kelce — it’s a celebration of growth, self-forgiveness and the messy, beautiful journey of love.

“When we go through something that doesn’t work out, we oftentimes look at it as this major setback, like we’ve taken a step back,” she explained during an interview with Hits Radio. “But I’ve found that so many of those instances in my life can catapult you forward in growth, in wisdom, in perspective.”

Swift continued, diving into the heart of the track: “’Opalite’ is a song about forgiving yourself for having gone through something that didn’t pan out the way you wanted it to. It’s giving yourself permission to not have it all figured out or not marry the first person you ever dated.”

Here’s everything Swift has said about “Opalite,” and all its connections to Kelce.

What is opalite?

Opalite is a man-made version of the natural stone opal that has become popular in jewelry and crystal shops for its striking appearance, according to Inspereza.

It has a milky, translucent quality that glows with soft blue tones when light passes through it, while under certain angles it can reflect warm hues like orange or yellow. Due to its ethereal appearance, opalite is often marketed as a gemstone, even though it is a man-made material rather than a naturally formed mineral.

Beyond its visual appeal, many people are drawn to opalite for the spiritual or metaphysical qualities attributed to it, such as promoting calmness, emotional healing and clear communication.

Who is Taylor Swift’s song “Opalite” about?

Swift’s track “Opalite,” the third song on The Life of a Showgirl, is widely understood to be about her fiancé, Kelce. His birthday is Oct. 5, making his birthstone an opal. Eagle-eyed Swifties also noticed she wore opal earrings while cheering him on at the AFC Championship Game in 2024.

The song follows her journey toward finding lasting love after heartbreak, a theme that resonates with her history of high-profile relationships. She spent six years with actor Joe Alwyn before a short-lived romance with The 1975’s Matty Healy at the start of the Eras Tour in 2023.

In the opening verse, Swift sets the stage with stark honesty about her past: “I had a bad habit / Of missing lovers past / My brother used to call it / Eating out of the trash / It’s never gonna last.”

She follows with a reflection on feeling haunted by old relationships and watching “perfect couples” offer the age-old advice that “when you know, you know.”

The chorus shifts in tone, bringing in words of comfort from her mother, Andrea Swift, who encouraged her to hold on through the storms of heartbreak. “But my mama told me, ‘It’s alright / You were dancing through the lightning strike / Sleepless in the onyx night / But now the sky is opalite.’ ”

In the second verse, she seemingly turns the spotlight on Kelce’s own experiences with love, referencing his on-and-off relationship with Kayla Nicole from 2017 to 2022. “You couldn’t understand it / Why you felt alone / You were in it for real / She was in her phone / You were just a pose,” she sings, acknowledging the struggles he faced before finding stability with her.

What has Taylor Swift said about the song?

Swift confirmed the speculation about “Opalite” in an interview with Capital FM in October 2025, sharing that the song carries a personal and symbolic meaning connected to Kelce.

“Travis’ birthstone is an opal, so I’ve always fixated on that, I’ve always loved that stone,” she explained. “I thought it was kind of cool metaphor. [Opalite is] a man-made opal, and happiness can also be man-made, too. So, that’s kind of what the song is about, kind of the juxtaposition of those two.”

What has Travis Kelce said about the song?

Kelce has spoken publicly about “Opalite” on his podcast New Heights, revealing that the song is one of his favorites from Swift’s new album.

“I think ‘Opalite’ might be my favorite, at least right now,” Kelce told his brother Jason Kelce in August 2025. “Every time it comes on, I always catch myself.”

He also praised the album more generally, saying that although it leans more toward pop, it “is just still so poetic in her melodies and her references.”

Kelce continued, “It’s just so much fun to listen to, man. I’ve been dancing throughout the house.”