William Bowery was an anonymous pseudonym that helped write songs on folklore and evermore, including "exile", "betty", "champagne problems", "coney Island" and the title track "evermore". No one "knew" who it was. Taylor revealed during her Disney+ special that it was her boyfriend Joe Alwyn. He wrote the piano part for "exile". Aaron Dessner, who helped produce the album, also had no clue as to who this mysterious person was. Fans had many theories on who it could be.
Joe Alwyn
Many fans quickly came up with the theory that the pseudonym William Bowery refers to Joe Alwyn. The name of Joe's great grandfather was William Alwyn, who also happened to be a musician. Bowery would refer to the Bowery Hotel, where Joe and Taylor were spotted around the time they started dating.
