Jeff Lang was a close friend of Taylor Swift from high school who tragically died in 2010 at the age of 21. He passed away from inflammation of the lungs, with methadone likely contributing. Swift has publicly remembered him several times, including singing at his funeral and dedicating an award to him in 2010. Her recent song "Ruin the Friendship" from the 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl appears to be inspired by her memories and regrets about Lang, reflecting on missed opportunities and the pain of his loss. Other songs speculated to be about Lang include "Forever Winter" and "Bigger Than the Whole Sky," which also deal with themes of mental health struggles, substance abuse, and grief. Lang was a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga when he died, and his death has had a lasting emotional impact on Swift and her music.