There is a lot of speculation about who Taylor Swift‘s new song, Father Figure, is about, and we may have a theory. Listed as the fourth track on her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, Father Figure welcomes theories and speculations with open arms.
While some believe that the track may even be referencing her alleged feud with Olivia Rodrigo, the majority of fans are convinced that it has something to do with her former business partners, Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun.
SCOOTER BRAUN YOU BETTER SLEEP WITH YOUR DOORS LOCKED AND YOUR LIGHTS ON pic.twitter.com/inDq5tmVqc
Borchetta was the CEO of Swift’s former label, Big Machine Records. The masters of her first six albums were acquired by Braun after he purchased the company in 2019. He later sold her work to Shamrock Capital for $300 million.
Swift’s Father Figure seems to be written from Borchetta’s perspective and is about someone who claims to be her father figure and mentor, all while keeping his profits his number one priority.
The song starts with, “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.“
Swift then flows into the chorus:
I’ll be your father figure
I drink that brown liquor
I can make deals with the devil because my d*ck’s bigger
This love is pure profit
Just step into my office
I dry your tears with my sleeve
Listen to the song below:
“I can make deals with the devil” seems to be a reference to Borchetta’s deal with Braun, which caused Swift to lose her music and eventually led to her re-recording her albums and releasing them as Taylor’s Versions.
In an open letter, Swift wrote (via Tumblr),
When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did.
Swift has always been known as someone who tells her side of the story through her lyrics, and Father Figure seems to be a narrative of one of the darkest periods of her life. She has since bought her music back from Shamrock.
Taylor Swift Talks About Father Figure and Its Lyrics
After the release of The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift sat down for an interview with BBC Radio 1, where she talked about everything from Travis Kelce, who is referenced in the album, to her Eras Tour.
As the duo discussed their favorite lyrics from the album, the host brought up Father Figure, which Swift seemed extremely proud of. She said, “That was a fun one to write…we love a song with a key change.“
She talked about using clever writing in the song to portray a “father figure” as someone who misuses power dynamics. Swift said,
It’s a very different way of using the idea of a father figure to kind of talk about power structures and the flipping of power dynamics…’I can make deals with the devil because [my d*ck’s bigger’], pretty proud of that line.
As she should be!
Swift also discussed the song with Magic Radio, talking about the lyrics, ‘I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain’. She called it her
favorite type of writing
which forces listeners to stop and think about what the line means.
How Is Taylor Swift’s Father Figure Connected to the Late Icon, George Michael?
The late pop culture icon George Michael is credited as one of the writers of Father Figure, which may seem a little out of the blue for people. For those who don’t know, Swift’s song contains an interpolation of Michael’s iconic 1987 hit from his debut studio album, Faith.
Michael’s estate opened up about Swift approaching them for using the song as an interpolation on her recently released album, stating that they were “delighted” upon hearing the good news.
They released a statement on Instagram stating that they had no “hesitation” in granting permission to her as they believe Michael would’ve “felt the same.” Check out the full statement below:
A post shared by George Michael (@georgemofficial)
Whatever may be your opinion of Swift and her music, you have to admit that she pens every single line of her songs with purpose. Father Figure is a much-needed reminder of the battles she has fought since a young age, wrapped in wordplay and layered references. Absolute perfection.
The Life of a Showgirl is available to stream on all music platforms.
