WOOD You Believe It?

We were halfway through a scathing satire about executive overreach—something involving a senator, a subpoena, and a suspiciously patriotic necktie—when the cultural algorithm blindsided us. Taylor Swift dropped a new single titled “Wood”, and suddenly, the civic satire had to yield to lyrical lumber.

Yes, dear readers, we’ve momentarily veered off the pothole-riddled road of political hypocrisy to take a scenic detour through the forest of metaphor. Why? Because Swift’s latest track has ignited a generational wildfire of misinterpretation—and someone had to bring a cane to the conversation.

While Gen Z hears a sultry anthem of lust and lumber, many of us in the senior set hear something else entirely: a heartfelt ode to mobility aids. And frankly, it’s about time someone gave the walking stick its pop-cultural due.

So hang up your protest signs, put down your subpoenas, and grab your bifocals. We’re heading into the woods—where metaphors splinter, entendres collide, and Taylor Swift may or may not be singing about a cane.

Taylor Swift’s new single “Wood” has arrived like a redwood crashing through the pop culture canopy—bold, suggestive, and utterly unambiguous. It’s not a metaphor. It’s a single entendre. And while Gen Z is busy fanning themselves over its NSFW (not safe for work) undertones, the senior set is reaching for their orthopedic catalogs, wondering if Taylor’s finally written a love song to the humble cane.

Let’s be clear: this is not your grandmother’s ballad. Unless your grandmother happens to be dating Travis Kelce and moonlighting as a lumberjack.

Take the line:

“Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see…”

To Swift’s younger fans, this is a flirtatious wink at her fiancé’s… vertical assets. A towering tribute to testosterone. A botanical euphemism for brawn.

To older listeners? It’s a practical endorsement of mobility aids. A nod to the kind of cane that doesn’t wobble in the wind. “It ain’t hard to see” because it’s got reflective tape and a built-in flashlight.

Let’s imagine a multi-generational listening session:

• Gen Z: “OMG, she’s talking about his body. That’s so hot.”

• Millennials: “It’s about confidence. She doesn’t need luck—she’s got love.”

• Boomers: “She’s talking about the paneling in her first starter home.”

• Silent Generation: “Is this a commercial for lumber? I miss Perry Como.”

The chorus hits:

“I ain’t got to knock on wood…”

Gen Z swoons. Boomers sigh “Remember the avocado shag carpet? We were pioneers.” The Silent Generation wonders if she’s referencing a 1940s big band hit. Meanwhile, orthopedic specialists everywhere are updating their marketing copy.

What’s your favorite misheard metaphor? Submit your own “Swiftian” lyric reinterpreted through the lens of senior satire. Bonus points for orthopedic flair, or poetic contradiction.

Taylor may be singing about redwoods, but some of us are just trying to stay upright in the forest of metaphor.

And frankly, we woodn’t have it any other way.

FTS

Join us on our podcast Specifically for Seniors, where satire meets substance and storytelling sparks civic engagement. Each episode dives into topics like authoritarianism, political spectacle, environmental justice, humor, history and even fly fishing and more—layered with metaphor, wit, and historical insight. We feature compelling guest interviews that challenge, inspire, and empower, especially for senior audiences and civic storytellers. Listen to the audio on all major podcast platforms, watch full video episodes on YouTube, or explore more at our website. Let’s keep the conversation sharp, smart, and unapologetically bold.