who is forever winter about

The song "Forever Winter" by Taylor Swift is about her concern for a close male friend who was struggling deeply with mental illness and addiction. The song's central metaphor of "forever winter" represents this friend's desolate mental state and the darkness of his emotional struggles. Taylor Swift sings about checking up on this friend as he faces depression and substance issues, expressing fear and helplessness about his condition and the impact it could have on those who care about him. Although Taylor has not explicitly named the friend, it is widely believed by fans and critics that the song was inspired by her late friend Jeff Lang, who struggled with similar issues and passed away in 2010. The song conveys the pain of watching someone go through a dark time and the hope and promise to be a supportive presence—a "summer sun"—for that person forever if they can hold on.