Taylor Swift has released her highly anticipated 12th studio album today, October 3. The Life Of A Showgirl is expected to top charts around the world. In a post on Instagram, the pop superstar said she was “so proud” to finally share the new record with the world.
The singer wrote: “I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right,” she captioned the photograph of herself “A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait. If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain…”
Taylor recorded the album while in Europe on the Eras Tour, reuniting with producers Max Martin and Shellback. She has already announced a music video for first track The Fate Of Ophelia and other notable track titles include Elizabeth Taylor, Opalite, Eldest Daughter and Ruin The Friendship.
The award-winning artist is currently in the UK as she promotes her new album. She appeared on Capital Breakfast this morning as she was interviewed by hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby.
Taylor will also appear on the famous sofa of The Graham Norton Show this evening, after recording the episode yesterday. The Life Of A Showgirl is Taylor’s first record since she announced her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce and since she revealed in May that she had regained control over the master recordings for her first six albums.
Fans have already been deciphering what each track means and looking for hidden Easter eggs from the months before the album release. A couple of the songs have been trending today as Taylor dominates the headlines and streaming platforms. The full lyrics for a number of her new songs are below (taken from GeniusLyrics).
Actually Romantic lyrics
[Verse 1]
I heard you call me “Boring Barbie” when the coke’s got you brave
High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me
Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face
Some people might be offended
[Chorus]
But it’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly wild
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
I really gotta hand it to you, ooh
No man has ever loved me like you do
[Verse 2]
Hadn’t thought of you in a long time
But you keep sending me funny valentines
And I know you think it comes off vicious
But it’s precious, adorable
Like a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse
That’s how much it hurts
How many times has your boyfriend said
“Why are we always talking ’bout her?”
[Chorus]
It’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly wild
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
I really gotta hand it to you, ooh
No man has ever loved me like you do
[Bridge]
You think I’m tacky, baby
Stop talking dirty to me
It sounded nasty, but it
Feels like you’re flirting with me
I mind my business, God’s my witness that I don’t provoke it
It’s kind of making me wet (Oh)[Chorus]
‘Cause it’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly lovely
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
Really got to hand it to you, to you
No man has ever loved me like you do[Outro]
It’s actually romantic (You’ve just given me so much attention; la-la-la-la)
It’s actually romantic
(It’s so) Romantic
Father Figure lyrics
[Verse 1]
When I found you, you were young, wayward, lost in the cold
Pulled up to you in the Jag’, turned your rags into gold
The winding road leads to the chateau
“You remind me of a younger me”
I saw potential[Chorus]
I’ll be your father figure
I drink that brown liquor
I can make deals with the devil because my d***’s bigger
This love is pure profit
Just step into my office
I dry your tears with my sleeve[Post-Chorus]
Leave it with me
I protect the family
Leave it with me
I protect the family[Verse 2]
I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain
Said, “They want to see you rise, they don’t want you to reign”
I showed you all the tricks of the trade
All I ask is for your loyalty
My dear protégé
[Chorus]
I’ll be your father figure
I drink that brown liquor
I can make deals with the devil because my d***’s bigger
This love is pure profit
Just step into my office
They’ll know your name in the streets[Post-Chorus]
Leave it with me
I protect the family
Leave it with me
I protect the family[Bridge]
My dear boy, they don’t make loyalty like they used to
Your thoughtless ambition sparked the ignition
On foolish decisions which lead to misguided visions
That to fulfil your dreams
You had to get rid of me
I protect the family[Chorus]
I was your father figure
We drank that brown liquor
You made a deal with this devil, turns out my d***’s bigger
You want a fight, you found it
I got the place surrounded
You’ll be sleeping with the fishes before you know you’re drowning
Whose portrait’s on the mantle?
Who covered up your scandals?
Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled
I was your father figure
You pulled the wrong trigger
This empire belongs to me
[Post-Chorus]
Leave it with me
I protect the family
Leave it with me
I protect the family
Leave it with me[Outro]
You know, you remind me of a younger me
I saw potential
Cancelled
[Verse 1]
You thought that it would be okay, at first
The situation could be saved, of course
But they’d already picked out your grave and hearse
Beware the wrath of masked crusaders[Pre-Chorus]
Did you girl-boss too close to the sun?
Did they catch you having far too much fun?
Come with me, when they see us, they’ll run
Something wicked this way comes[Chorus]
Good thing I like my friends cancelled
I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal
Like my whiskey sour
And poison thorny flowers
Welcome to my underworld
Where it gets quite dark
At least you know exactly who your friends are
They’re the ones with matching scars[Verse 2]
It’s easy to love you when you’re popular
The optics click, everyone prospers
But one single drop, you’re off the roster
“Tone-deaf and hot, let’s f*****g’ off her”
Pre-Chorus]
Did you make a joke only a man could?
Were you just too smug for your own good?
Or bring a tiny violin to a knife fight?
Baby, that all ends tonight[Chorus]
Good thing I like my friends cancelled (Cancelled)
I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal
Like my whiskey sour
And poison thorny flowers
(Honey) Welcome to my underworld
It’ll break your heart
At least you know exactly who your friends are
They’re the ones with matching scars[Bridge]
They stood by me
Before my exoneration
They believed I was innocent
So I’m not here for judgment, no, ooh[Verse 3]
But if you can’t be good, then just be better at it
Everyone’s got bodies in the attic
Or took somebody’s man, we’ll take you by the hand
And soon you’ll learn the art of never getting caught
[Chorus]
It’s a good thing I like my friends cancelled
You know that I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal
I like my whiskey sour
And poison thorny flowers (Ooh)
Yeah, it’s a good thing I like my friends cancelled (Cancelled)
I salute you if you’re much too much to handle
Like my whiskey sour (I like it)
And poison thorny flowers (I love it)
Can’t you see my infamy loves company?
Now they’ve broken you like they’ve broken me
But a shattered glass is a lot more sharp
And now you know exactly who your friends are[Outro]
You know who we are
We’re the ones with matching scars
Ruin the friendship
[Verse 1]
Glistening grass from September rain
Gray overpass full of neon names
You drive (Mm-mm), 85 (Mm-mm)
Gallatin Road and the Lakeside Beach
Watching the game from your brother’s Jeep
Your smile (Mm-mm), miles wide[Chorus]
And it was not an invitation
Should’ve kissed you anyway
Should’ve kissed you anyway
And it was not convenient, no
But your girlfriend was away
Should’ve kissed you anyway, hey[Verse 2]
Shiny wood floors underneath my feet
Disco ball makes everything look cheap
Have fun (Mm-mm), it’s prom (Mm-mm)
Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist
Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse
And see (Mm-mm)
You looking at me[Chorus]
And it was not an invitation
But as thе 50 Cent song played (Song played)
Should’vе kissed you anyway (Anyway)
And it was not convenient, no (It was not, convenient)
Would’ve been the best mistake
Should’ve kissed you anyway, hey
[Verse 2]
Shiny wood floors underneath my feet
Disco ball makes everything look cheap
Have fun (Mm-mm), it’s prom (Mm-mm)
Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist
Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse
And see (Mm-mm)
You looking at me[Chorus]
And it was not an invitation
But as thе 50 Cent song played (Song played)
Should’vе kissed you anyway (Anyway)
And it was not convenient, no (It was not, convenient)
Would’ve been the best mistake
Should’ve kissed you anyway, hey
[Refrain]
Don’t make it awkward in second period
Might piss your ex off, lately we’ve been good
Staying friends is safe, doesn’t mean you should
Don’t make it awkward in second period
Might piss your ex off, lately we’ve been good
Staying friends is safe, doesn’t mean you should[Bridge]
When I left school, I lost track of you
Abigail called me with the bad news
Goodbye, and we’ll never know why
It was not an invitation
But I flew home anyway
With so much left to say
It was not convenient, no
But I whispered at the grave
“Should’ve kissed you anyway”[Chorus]
Oh, and it was not an invitation (It was not, an invitation)
Should’ve kissed you anyway (Anyway)
Should’ve kissed you anyway, anyway (Anyway)[Post-Chorus]
And it was not—
My advice is always ruin the friendship
Better that than regret it for all time
Should’ve kissed you anyway
And my advice is always answer the question
Better that than to ask it all your life
Should’ve kissed you anyway
Should’ve kissed you anyway
Wood
[Verse 1]
Daisy’s bare naked, I was distraught
He loves me not, he loves me not
Penny’s unlucky, I took him back
And then stepped on a crack
And the black cat laughed[Pre-Chorus]
And baby, I’ll admit I’ve been a little superstitious (Superstitious)
Fingers crossed until you put your hand on mine (Ah)
Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luckA bad sign is all good
I ain’t gotta knock on wood[Chorus]
(Ah) All of that bitchin’, wishing on a falling starNever did me any good
I ain’t got to knock on wood
(Ah) It’s you and me forever dancing in the dark (Ah)
All over me, it’s understood
I ain’t got to knock on wood[Post-Chorus]
Forgive me, it sounds cocky
He ah-matized me and opened my eyes
Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see
His love was thе key that opened my thighs
[Verse 2]
Girls, I don’t need to catch the bouquet, mm
To know a hard rock is on the way[Pre-Chorus]
And baby, I’ll admit I’ve been a little superstitious (Superstitious)
The curse on me was broken by your magic wand (Ah)
Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck
New Heights (New Heights) of manhood (Manhood)
I ain’t gotta knock on wood[Chorus]
(Ah) All of that bitchin’, wishing on a falling star
Never did me any good
I ain’t got to knock on wood
(Ah) It’s you and me forever dancing in the dark (Ah)
All over me, it’s understood
I ain’t got to knock on wood[Post-Chorus]
Forgive me, it sounds cocky
He ah-matized me and opened my eyes
Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see
His love was the key that opened my thighs
Forgive me, it sounds cocky
He ah-matized me and opened my eyes
Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see
His love was the key that opened my thighs