In a recent episode of And Just Like That (Season 3, Episode 9), Carrie Bradshaw—wearing a knockout “I just threw this on” kind of outfit—sat at a café table facing her longtime paramour, Aidan. And just like that….. their romance came to an end—in a swift heartbreaking scene.
After a short conversation about their insurmountable obstacles, Carrie and Aidan come to the conclusion: it’s over! After a goodbye embrace, Carrie turns on her heel and struts down the sidewalk (in her sky-high pumps, of course), away from Aidan, and into the next chapter of her life. Cue the Taylor Swift deep-cut slow burn, “How Did It End,” from her album, The Tortured Poets Department.
I’m a huge fan of And Just Like That, the sequel to Sex and the City. Decades removed from the original debut, the SATC characters—now in middle age, still in their fantasy footwear and otherworldly wardrobes—navigate real-life situations many of us “of a certain age” can relate to: aging bodies, adult children, career challenges, complicated relationships, and above all, the enduring power of friendship.
Haunted with the scene and the song, the next day, I watched the scene again and located the sheet music to “How Did It End” on Musicnotes.com. One of my favorite things about being a musician is the ability to get my hands on the sheet music and play something that resonates on a personal level. In this case, the inspiration was the perfect storm: a relatable story, a beautifully crafted scene, and an emotional song.
Taylor Swift’s lyrics for the first verse and chorus of “How Did It End”:
Come one, come all
It’s happenin’ again
The empathetic hunger descends
We’ll tell no one
Except all of our friends
We must know
How did it end?
We hereby conduct this post-mortem
He was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsman
Our maladies were such we could not cure them
And so a touch that was my birthright became foreign
If you’d like to explore the possibility of playing music that moves you—just like I did with “How Did It End”—consider signing up for my beginning piano course here.
Or perhaps you’re looking for elegant and timeless music for a special event or wedding. I’d love to be part of it.
Laura, Tristan here. I loved listening to this beautiful piece. Reminder; I was at Rancho (2023ish w/ Kathe Wallace, Ruby was with you). I live in Ravenna and we have Wedgwood Pool connection. Wish I could take piano lessons, but had some recent hand surgery and not sure it is my future. I always pay attention to what you send. Thank You. Best, Tristan
Hi Tristan. I remember our time very well. I’d love to explore the lessons with you if you are up for it in the future. Also there are pieces written for one hand! 🙂 I don’t see you at the pool – probably because I usually go to early morning lap swim at 6:00 am. Hope you are enjoying your summer. 🙂
Thanks for reading.