The Life of a Showgirl
Taylor Swift featuring Sabrina Carpenter, The Life of a Showgirl, 2025
Writers: Taylor Swift, Shellback, Max Martin
Producers: Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift
Label: Republic
Her name was Kitty,
made her money being pretty and witty,
they gave her the keys to this city,
then they said she couldn’t do it without me, oh.
I bought a ticket,
she’s dancin’ with her glitter and ribbons,
fifty in the cast, zero missteps,
lookin’ back, I guess it was kismet.
I waited by the stage door, packed in with the autograph hounds,
barkin’ her name, then glowin’ like the sky in a sunset then, wow, she came out.
I said, “you’re livin’ my drеam”
then she said to me…
“Hеy, 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 worked too much like all men did,
her mother told lies and played tennis.
So she waited by the stage door as the club promoter arrived,
she said, “I’d give it all to have a taste of a magnificent life that’s all mine.”
But that’s not what showgirls get –
we’re let down instead.
Hеy, 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.
I paid my dues with every bruise, I knew what to expect.
Do you wanna take a skate on the ice inside my veins?
They ripped me off like false lashes and then threw me away.
And all the headshots on the walls,
of the dance hall are of the critics
who wish I’d just break down and cry.
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,
(lipstick and lace)
sequins are forever
and now I know the life of a showgirl, babe –
wouldn’t have it any other way.”
(wouldn’t have it any other way)
(thank you for the lovely bouquet)
Oh, wouldn’t have it any other way.
(thank you for the lovely bouquet)
Hey Kitty,
(thank you for the lovely bouquet)
now I make my money being pretty and witty,
thank you for the lovely bouquet.
spoken:
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.