London – “And so I watch you walk into a bar called The Black Dog and drill new holes in my heart.”
Like Taylor Swift's “The Department of Martyred Poets” album continues to break records, that ambiguous reference in the song “The Black Dog” has taken a small London pub of the same name to new heights.
The 34-year-old superstar's moody lyrics reference watching an ex-partner forget to turn off the location setting on his phone while heading to the bar.
As soon as the album – which on Thursday broke Spotify's streaming record with more than 1 billion streams – dropped last week, devoted fans of the American singer managed to pinpoint the whereabouts of the humble British watering hole, and off they went.
CBS News/Duarte Dias
It didn't take long for the self-proclaimed Swifties to discover that her British ex-boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, lives near Vauxhall, not far from the local pub.
“We've had to turn away customers every day since the album's release. It's been a fantastic experience for the pub and our team to be a part of,” Amy Crowley, marketing manager for The Black Dog, told CBS News. on Wednesday.
The pub has taken full advantage of its newfound fame by adding Taylor Swift-themed drinks and food to the menu. The company has even started selling merchandise, Crowley said.
CBS News met some Swift superfans who made the pilgrimage to The Black Dog and were thrilled to sample an “Aperol Spritz (Taylor's Version)” cocktail.
Gracie and Ethan, siblings from Texas on their first and only holiday in Britain, said they simply had to visit the place given its connection to their cultural hero.
“We went to the crown jewels, [we have] Les Mass tonight, and then The Black Dog – which is all equally important,” they said, laughing.
London-born artist and fellow Swiftie Chris Lloyd was standing outside the pub drawing the exterior when we arrived.
CBS News/Duarte Dias
“I think it's so cool that she has woven a piece of London into her tracks and history,” he said. “So it's cool because you can see the Swifties from London around here, you just feel a little closer to her, a little more connected.”
New York-born sisters Jaquelyn and Daniella were even scarred for life for expressing their passion for Swift while on holiday in London.
“We have matching tattoos here, inspired by Taylor – I love you to moon and to Saturn, which is from the song 'Seven',” Daniella explains. “So my sister got the moon, and I got Saturn, for Taylor.”
