"Babylon" lyrics

"Babylon"

The casino doesn't like when you run the tables
And though the box is wrapped up nice, it's just a cage to you
Those electric fences buzz
The stallion flees the stable
And that small town's even smaller now in your rear view
You ran with all the wild things
A liberated libertine who then longed for home

'Cause it's where you're from
Aunt Virginia with a church dress on
No elbows on the table
And the neighbor's lawn always looked better
Your hand-me-down sweater should've been from the mall

And you hate this song
But you wake up on the train with your headphones gone
Then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone

Give the people what they want, then you keep it movin'
Make your plans and friends, a stranger's makeup on your tie
Twenty watches in the safe 'cause your time is money
Love is ice upon the ladder that you need to climb
She captured your attention, so free of all pretension
It stopped you cold

Because she loved you so
Pretty as a picture that you didn't post
Looking at you like you're made of solid gold
Never official
You mention you're single to the girls at the bar

And you hate this song
But you wake up on the train with your headphones gone
And then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone

You're using nostalgia as a weapon to hurt yourself
But darling, you end up hurting everybody else
The self-harm of never being where you are
It's bedtime, but you're sitting in your car
You're missing all the best parts

And they're all at home
She's hanging Christmas lights with your son
Sneak into the bathroom to call her mom
And say, "It's not working
It's just not worth it if we're not what he wants"

But you love this song
You wake up on the train with your headphones gone
Then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
And now, it's almost gone

Aunt Virginia with a church dress on
No elbows on the table (It's almost gone)
And the neighbor's lawn always looked better
Your hand-me-down sweater should've been from the mall

But you love this song, you wake up on the train and you're all alone
Then that memory is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone


"Babylon", being one of four new songs added to the original "The Life Of A Showgirl" album, was written by Taylor Swift during a trip to Sweden with Max Martin and Shellback which collaborated with her on the album. "Babylon" was released as the 16th and final track on the "The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore" version on the 25th of September, 2026.
Taylor Swift already mentioned Babylon in two of her other songs: first, she referenced the Gardens of Babylon on her song "Cowboy Like Me"; later, she co-wrote and appeared on Gracie Abrams' song "Us.".
album: "The Life Of A Showgirl" (2025)
Taylor Swift - The Life Of A Showgirl album cover
Patient Zero
("The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore" Bonus Track)
Cleveland!
("The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore" Bonus Track)
Pink Clouding
("The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore" Bonus Track)
Babylon
("The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore" Bonus Track)
You May Also Like
Paramore - "Still Into You" Can't count the years on one hand That we've been together I need the other one to hold you Make you feel, make you feel better It's not a walk in the park To love each other But when our fingers...
The 1975 - "About You" I know a place It's somewhere I go when I need to remember your face We get married in our heads Something to do while we try to recall how we met Do you think I have forgotten? Do you think I have...
Alessia Cara - "Scars To Your Beautiful" She just wants to be beautiful She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits She craves attention, she praises an image She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor Oh, she don't see the light that's shining...
Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" If you don't wanna see me Did a full one-eighty, crazy Thinking 'bout the way I was Did the heartbreak change me? Maybe But look at where I ended up I'm all good already So moved on, it's scary I'm...
Maroon 5 - "Daylight" Here I am waiting I'll have to leave soon Why am I holding on? We knew this day would come We knew it all along How did it come so fast? This is our last night, but it's late And I'm trying not to...