Harry Styles References in Taylor Swift and Sugarland's 'Babe' Lyrics
Taylor Swift tapped back into her country roots and released a new song last night, "Babe," which she wrote and sent to country duo Sugarland for inclusion on their album. Swift also sings on the track, and it includes lyrics that Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles teased to Entertainment Tonight last weekend may be inspired by one of Swift's exes.
“She’s very confessional in what she does with her songwriting. She lives her life out there through it, and you will see,” Nettles started. When pressed more directly on whether the song was about an ex, Nettles replied, “[It] just might be! But you didn't hear that here. We don't know. We didn't ask her, but I'm just saying in the context of the story.”
The context of "Babe" is that Swift struggles with staying in a relationship after finding out her partner has cheated. Swift wrote the track with Pat Monahan, meaning it could've been inspired by both of their experiences or fictionalized a bit.
But according to People, it was originally written in 2013. Monahan told ABC Radio then that Swift tapped him to write with her shortly after Red came out. “It’s a song called ‘Babe,'” he said. “So it’s her song; I was just lucky enough to be a part of it with her, and I’m gonna ask the same of her in the future. She’s very talented, she’s a no-nonsense young kid. I’m not going through different relationships and breakups and all the stuff that young people do, so her perspective is very fresh. And I think that’s what I admire the most [about her].”
At the time, Swift had just gotten out of a relationship with Harry Styles; that ended in January when Swift was famously photographed leaving their New Year's vacation alone on a boat. Her Vanity Fair cover story that March would include a Swift-authorized source quote about their on-off relationship. As Nancy Jo Sales wrote for Vanity Fair:
“He wore her down,” the source says of Styles, who allegedly “chased” Swift for a year. “He was all, like, 'You’re amazing—I want to be with you. I want to do this.'” The relationship fell apart after he texted Swift to alert her of a picture on the Internet of him kissing a friend good-bye. They were “making out like with their hands all up in each other’s hair,” says the source. After Swift ended the relationship, he pursued her for the better part of a year until she finally took him back. “But the whole time she says she feels like he’s looking at every girl,” the source continues. And then when they were in London together he “disappears one night and after that it was like he just didn’t want to keep going.” Styles’s rep, Benny Tarantini at Columbia Records, said that all of Swift’s source’s claims are “undeniably false.”Maybe, but in "Babe," Swift did sing a line that could be referring to the text Styles allegedly sent her about that photo of him kissing a friend goodbye: "Since you admitted it, I keep picturing/Her lips on your neck, I can't unsee it."
It's also been five years. so it's plausible the song could have been tweaked to take inspiration from her more recent relationships. Lyrics like "Taking down the pictures and the plans we made, yeah" is very Calvin Harris-Taylor Swift breakup-esque, considering the two literally took down all their photos together on their Instagram accounts two weeks after their breakup.
InstagramSome of the deleted Instas.
But the song's generic enough that it's open to interpretation. Here, the lyrics via Genius, for your song-subject deciphering.
Verse 1: Sugarland
What a shameDidn't wanna be the one that got away, yeahBig mistake, broke the sweetest promiseThat you never should have madeI'm here on the kitchen floorYou call, but I won't hear itYou said no one else, how could you do this, babe?Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift:
You really blew this, babeWe ain't getting through this one, babeThis is the last time I'll ever call you, babeThis is the last time, this is the last timeThis is the last time, I'll ever call you babeVerse 2: Sugarland
What a wasteTaking down the pictures and the plans we made, yeahAnd it's strange how your face doesn't look so innocentYour secret has it's consequence and that's on you, babeI break down every time you callWe're a wreck, you're the wrecking ballWe said no one else, how could you do this, babe?Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift
You really blew this, babeWe ain't getting through this one, babeThis is the last time I'll ever call you, babeThis is the last time, this is the last timeThis is the last timeBridge: Sugarland
Since you admitted it, I keep picturingHer lips on your neck, I can't unsee itI hate that because of you, I can't love youBabeWhat a shame, didn't want to be the one that got awayHow could you do this, babe?Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift
You really blew this, babeWe ain't getting through this one, babeHow could you do this, babeThis is the last time, this is the last timeThis is the last time, I'll ever call you babeOutro: Sugarland & Taylor Swift
How could you do this, babe?I'm here on the kitchen floor, you call but I won't hear itYou said I'm no one else, we ain't getting through this one, babeI break down every time you call, this is the last timeWe're a wreck, you're the wrecking ballThis is the last time, this is the last timeYou said I'm no one else, this is the last timeI'll never call you babencG1vNJzZmivp6x7prjLnmWcp51ksLa4066pnmeTmrmmrtGiq6Kdo2SucoWXcGhpb2BktaK%2B0bJkrKypobK0ecSxZJunqZu%2FqrHNnWSrnZaav6a6wp6qZqGeYsGixcuoqWarp56ztXnAp5tmq6WcrrO4wKebrGWSlq%2BmecuyqaKbo2Q%3D