In The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift brilliantly delivers romance, fame, and modern pop across 12 tracks.
Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, released on October 3, 2025, proves why she remains one of the most influential artists in modern music. While some may call her overrated, this record shows her unique ability to tell stories through powerful lyrics. Each track is carefully crafted to connect with fans on a personal level, especially those who truly understand her for making these songs, while still resonating with a wider audience.
As Taylor has recently mentioned in an interview with Greg James, the album holds special significance for Taylor because her current life mirrors the moment she wrote it, which she emphasized is rare. This period reflects her confidently driven yet deeply romantic relationship with Travis Kelce, which has remained steady since the release of her last album, The Tortured Poets Department. That previous album focused more on her past heartbreak, even though she was already with Travis at the time.
Now, Taylor’s life feels brighter, and it shows. The Life of a Showgirl captures her brilliance when she is truly herself, happy, strong, and self-assured. The album highlights her signature mix of unraveling her deepest imagination and emotion through her ideas of romance, friendship, and fame in a way no other artist can replicate.
The Life of a Showgirl Track Listing
1. “The Fate of Ophelia”
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift was inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Swift has often expressed her desire to give tragic love stories like Romeo and Juliet the happy endings they deserve. In her new song “The Fate of Ophelia,” she revisits another of Shakespeare’s doomed heroines, Ophelia, who met a tragic end because of love. Through this song, Swift reimagines a hopeful ending for the character while weaving in elements of her own love story.
“The Fate of Ophelia” is an upbeat yet lyrically captivating track, making it the perfect opener for her new album. The song broke records by becoming the most-streamed track on Spotify within 24 hours of its release. Shakespeare’s Hamlet serves as a direct inspiration for the song, yet it also clearly incorporates references to Travis Kelce.
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“The Fate of Ophelia” tells how Taylor Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, saves her from the same tragic fate as Ophelia. A devoted fan of numerology, Taylor sings, ‘Keep it one hundred. On the land, the sea, the sky,’ referencing her number 13 and Travis’s 87, which equal 100. In the lyrics ‘No longer drowning and deceived. All because you came for me,’ she expresses how Travis helped her rise above heartbreak, isolation, and eventually find true love.
2. “Elizabeth Taylor”
Swift has always loved referencing different characters in her music, whether fictional or real. In the second track of The Life of a Showgirl, she pays tribute to the film legend Elizabeth Taylor. Through the song, it becomes clear that Swift deeply resonates with the actress, especially since this isn’t the first time she has mentioned her in a song. The lyric ‘The view of Portofino is on my mind’ directly refers to Elizabeth’s relationship with Richard Burton, who proposed to her in the Italian seaside town in 1964.
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She also sings, ‘I’d cry my eyes violet,’ a nod to Elizabeth Taylor’s famous eye color. While the song draws inspiration from the Hollywood icon, it also reflects Swift’s own questions about lasting love, hinted at through the lyric ‘Is it forever?’ The track explores the concepts of luxury and authenticity, particularly with the line ‘Would trade the Cartier for someone to trust.’ This lyric struck a chord with fans for its clever wordplay and heartfelt meaning. Elizabeth Taylor remains a favorite track among Swifties who admire Taylor’s talent for blending authentic stories and emotional depth.
3. “Opalite”
Taylor Swift’s joy and contentment shine through her song “Opalite.” In an interview, she shared that the title was inspired by the gemstone itself, explaining how “Opalite” is a man-made version of Opal—her fiancé, Travis Kelce’s, birthstone. Fascinated by that connection, she blended the symbolism into her lyrics, turning it into a love song that celebrates the beauty of something created and nurtured. She revealed to Capital that Opalite reflects the idea that ‘happiness can also be man-made,’ something built intentionally rather than found by chance.
The track feels both dreamy and grounded, mirroring her current phase of life. As mentioned, Swift is confidently stable, loved, and fulfilled with the current state of her life, especially in the aspect of romance. Swift also mentioned that “Opalite” is Travis’s favorite track from the album, a detail that makes the song even more special to fans who see it as a heartfelt reflection of their relationship.
4. “Father Figure”
Despite its title, “Father Figure” is not a song fans can dedicate to their dads. It is not even about Taylor Swift’s own father, but is believed to be directed toward her former label boss, Scott Borchetta. In the track, she boldly sings, ‘I can make deals with the devil because my dick’s bigger,’ a lyric that immediately caught fans’ attention. The song captures the voice of someone stepping into the role of a true leader, something their father figure failed to do.
“Father Figure” radiates pure Boss Lady energy and resonates deeply with fans who have had to stand up for themselves just like Taylor did. Tension has long marked her history with Scott Borchetta, following his sale of her masters to Scooter Braun. While she has addressed this feud in earlier songs, “Father Figure” stands out as a powerful statement of closure, celebrating her victory in buying back her masters in May 2025. The track is both empowering and emotional, reflecting Taylor’s strength, independence, and the peace that comes from finally reclaiming what is rightfully hers and being able to protect them.
5. “Eldest Daughter”
For avid fans of Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department, this song is for you. Many fans have expressed their longing for the emotional depth found in Taylor’s past albums, forgetting that her music doesn’t always have to come from pain. Still, that wish is granted with the track “Eldest Daughter,” a song dedicated to every firstborn who has carried heavy responsibilities since childhood.
The role of the eldest child inheriting so much duty is universal, and fans quickly shared their appreciation online. The lyrics, ‘Every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter. So we all dressed up as wolves and we looked fire,’ perfectly capturing the struggle and resilience of growing up without a guide. Yet, “Eldest Daughter” also feels like a love song, with a beautifully written verse where the eldest finally finds a shimmering time-lapse kind of romance, perhaps reflecting what Taylor has found with her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
6. “Ruin The Friendship”
Taylor shared that she has always found herself returning to high school memories in her songwriting, which led to the creation of track six, “Ruin The Friendship,” from The Life of a Showgirl. Fans quickly understood the pain behind the song, recognizing it as a reflection of loss and longing for a friend gone too soon. The track is believed to be inspired by Jeff Lang, to whom she also dedicated “Forever Winter.”
Lang passed away at 21 from lung inflammation, with methadone listed as a contributing factor. While “Ruin The Friendship” may not recount their story entirely, it draws from it deeply, especially in the lyric, ‘When I left school, I lost track of you. Abigail called me with the bad news. Goodbye.’ Abigail, Taylor’s longtime friend, also knew Lang, making the connection even more heartfelt. The song is an emotional goodbye filled with regret and realization, capturing the ache of words left unsaid when it is too late.
7. “Actually Romantic”
This track might seem romantic at first, but listeners soon realize it carries a sharper meaning. Every great pop album needs a “haters gonna hate” anthem, and “Actually Romantic” fills that role for The Life of a Showgirl. Fans quickly speculated that the song was inspired by Taylor Swift’s rumored feud with Charli XCX. During the time Swift was dating Matty Healy of The 1975, Charli, who was also linked to a band member, was believed to have thrown subtle shade toward Taylor.
The lyrics, ‘I heard you call me boring Barbie when the coke’s got you brave. High-fived my ex and then 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, but it’s actually sweet,’ is thought to reference that tension following Swift’s breakup with Healy. Although Charli later clarified that her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was not about anyone specific, fans remain convinced the clues are too strong to ignore. Whatever the real story behind it may be, “Actually Romantic” stands out as a clever and catchy track that feels like a love letter to the haters, proving once again how effortlessly Swift turns drama into art.
8. “Wi$h Li$t”
Some fans have pointed out that the love songs from Swift’s Lover album are still better than this one; however, no comparison is needed because both shine in their own way. “Wi$h Li$t” is the perfect track for all the lover girls out there. The song explores how people desire different things in life, yet instead of mocking those wishes, Swift gently expresses that her own desires are far simpler.
In the song, she shares her wish for a happy family and a future filled with love and children. As Travis Kelce’s fiancé, it is easy to sense her excitement as she imagines the life they will build together. While “Wi$h Li$t” was clearly inspired by her love for Travis and her dream of lasting happiness, fans have embraced it as their own. The track has become a sweet anthem for anyone who cherishes the simple dreams of love, home, and forever with someone special.
9. “Wood”
Taylor Swift has described The Life of a Showgirl as having a flirty undertone, which may specifically refer to the track “Wood.” The phrase “knock on wood” is a common superstition used to avoid jinxing something good, and Swift cleverly plays with that idea. Fans have been buzzing over the lyric, ‘Love was the key that opened my thighs,’ praising it as a bold yet empowering expression of female confidence and sexuality.
Listeners also noticed that the song’s playful tone feels similar to Sabrina Carpenter’s style, especially since she is featured on the same album. In her interview with Jimmy Fallon, Swift revealed that the idea for “Wood” started from a very innocent concept, which fans found amusing given the song’s suggestive nature. The fandom has also created theories around its connection to Kelce, noting that the track is 2:35 long, which, when converted, equals 9 inches, coincidentally matching its place as the ninth track on the album. Whether or not these theories are true, they only make “Wood” more fun to listen to and talk about.
10. “CANCELLED”
“CANCELLED” was described by Swift’s fiancé as a complete banger during their New Heights podcast. The song takes on the perspective of a public figure, not just celebrities like Swift, and explores how easily years of hard work can be undone by public judgment. It sheds light on the harsh reality of cancel culture, where assumptions and quick criticism often overpower truth and empathy. For fans of Reputation, “CANCELLED” feels like a natural continuation of that era, matching its bold, unapologetic energy and lyrical fire.
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The song captures the struggles of those facing backlash and criticism while emphasizing that not everyone experiences it the same way. Yet through its sharp verses, Swift reminds listeners that connection and understanding remain possible, especially among friends who relate to the feeling of being unfairly judged. The tenth track is allegedly inspired by the friendship between Swift and Blake Lively, particularly the possible fallout between the two. “CANCELLED” stands out as both a fierce anthem and a thoughtful reflection on resilience in a world that often forgets compassion.
11. “Honey”
This track is about seeing things in a more positive light as time and people pass by in someone’s life. In the song, Taylor talks about gradually recognizing the words that were once expressed to her without sincerity. For instance, the words “lovely,” “sweetheart,” and “honey.” Often, these words are now used negatively when people mock or offend someone for how they dress or look.
However, when someone finds the right person, all the negativities tied to those words begin to fade. Taylor expresses how love can make a person see optimism again. There is no doubt this track is a love song because Taylor is right when she sings, ‘You say it like you’re in awe of me. And you say it until the morning, honey.’ It’s a beautiful message to anyone who has found love or is still searching, showing that love naturally brings out sincerity and changes a person in the most positive way.
12. “The Life of a Showgirl (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)”
The last track of the album features a fictional character created by Swift named Kitty. Kitty lives a glamorous public life, and the song’s perspective follows someone who longs to be like her. Swift likely wrote the song inspired by her own experiences as an artist who entertains for a living. It reflects how the life of a showgirl, or anyone in the spotlight, comes with its own struggles. Wishing to live in someone else’s shoes also means embracing the burdens that come with them.
The song poses the question, “Are you ready to risk it all though?” and the answer is yes. It celebrates the beauty of pursuing one’s passion and the fulfillment it brings. One doesn’t have to be Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, or a showgirl to relate. A fun fact about this track is that the crowd noise in the outro actually comes from the Eras Tour. It was during the moment Taylor and Sabrina performed together. This detail makes the track the perfect closer to the album. It is almost like Taylor summing up all the songs and saying, “Hey, this is my life,” which feels incredibly heartfelt.
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The Life of a Showgirl, topping charts and breaking records, is far from impossible. Swift once again proves her poetic vision and creative depth as a songwriter. The fact that these songs were written during the Eras Tour shows her massive passion for music. She has often expressed fear that she could not write without misery, yet this album proves otherwise.
Her writing thrives not only in heartbreak but also in joy, reflection, and peace. She is clearly proud of this album because it captures the happiness she felt both then and now. While fans will always find comfort in the melancholic beauty of The Tortured Poets Department, Folklore, and Evermore, Taylor has moved forward with excitement, happiness, and hope for a brighter life ahead.
Source: YouTube, Taylor Swift
