Taylor Swift hints at the price of living life on stage with the title track on her new “The Life of a Showgirl” album.
The pop icon’s 12th studio album, out Oct. 3, fittingly includes 12 songs that embrace the theme of navigating a life in the spotlight. For the LP’s outro, Swift teams up with Sabrina Carpenter for “The Life of a Showgirl.”
The song, which is one of the longest on the album at just over four minutes, marks the first collaboration between Swift and Carpenter. The two have been friends for years, with Carpenter’s music career skyrocketing after opening for Swift on the “Eras Tour.”
TODAY.com is live-blogging all the highlights from the midnight release of “The Life of a Showgirl.” Follow along here for updates.
Swift hinted that the album would tackle the ups and downs of the music industry when she posted the cover on Instagram in August and wrote in the caption, “And, baby, that’s show business for you.”
On the closing song, Swift and Carpenter sing from the perspectives of women who want “the life of a showgirl,” but are told by one that it’s not something they should seek. By the end of the song, they become showgirls themselves.
Prior to the arrival of her latest album, Swift revealed the title and cover of “The Life of a Showgirl” on the Aug. 13 “New Heights” podcast episode, alongside her now fiancé Travis Kelce and future brother-in-law Jason Kelce.
Speaking about the inspiration behind her 12th record, Swift said, “I would be playing shows — I’d do like three shows in a row. I’d have three days off. I’d fly to Sweden, go back to the tour. Actually, like, working on this, I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating and this is…”
Travis Kelce chimed in and added, “Literally living the life of a showgirl!”
Swift proudly responded, “That’s why I called it that. Nailed it!”
Read the Lyrics to ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Her name was Kitty
Made her money being pretty and witty
They gave her the keys to this city
Then they said she didn’t do it legitly
I bought a ticket
She’s dancing in her garters and fishnets
Fifty in the cast, zero missteps
Looking back, I guess it was kismet
I waited by the stage door
Packed in with the autograph hounds barking her name
Then glowing like the end of a cigarette
Wow, she came out
I said, “You’re living my dream”
Then she said to me
“Hey, thank you for the lovely bouquet
You’re sweeter than a peach
But you don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe
And you’re never, ever gonna
Wait, the more you play, the more that you pay
You’re softer than a kitten
So you don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe
And you’re never gonna wanna”
She was a menace
The baby of the family in Lenox
Her father whored around like all men did
Her mother took pills and played tennis
So she waited by the stage door
As the club promoter arrived
She said, “I’d sell my soul to have a taste of the magnificent life,
It’s all mine”
But that’s not what showgirls get
They leave us for dead
Hey, thank you for the lovely bouquet
You’re sweeter than a peach
But you don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe
And you’re never, ever gonna
Wait, the more you play, the more that you pay
You’re softer than a kitten
So you don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe
And you’re never gonna wanna
I took her pearls of wisdom
Hung them from my neck
Paid my dues with every bruise
I knew what to expect
You wanna take a skate on the ice inside my viens
They ripped me off like false lashes
And then threw me away
And all the headshots on the walls
Of the dance all are of the bitches
Who wish I’d hurry up and die
But I’m immortal now, baby dolls
I couldn’t if I tried, so I say
Thank you for the lovely bouquet
I’m married to the hustle
And now I know the life of a showgirl, babe
And I’ll never know another
Pain hidden by the lipstick and lace
Sequins are forever and now
I know the life of a showgirl, babe
Wouldn’t have it any other way
Thank you for the lovely bouquet
Wouldn’t have it any other way
Thank you for the lovely bouquet
Hey Kitty
Now I make my money being pretty and witty
Thank you for the lovely bouquet
Thank you for an unforgettable night
We will see you next time
Give it up for the band
And the dancers
And of course, Sabrina
I love you, Taylor!
That’s our show
We love you so much
Goodnight!