Father Figure – English Lyrics

• By: Taylor Swift
• Album: The Life of a Showgirl

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of English storytelling and figurative language through Taylor Swift's “Father Figure.” This song offers a masterclass in lyrical irony, using the familiar title of a classic pop song to craft a powerful narrative about mentorship and control. By studying the lyrics, you can learn about persona, metaphor, and how to convey complex emotions and stories through music, all while enjoying a theatrical pop anthem from one of the world's biggest artists.

[English]

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

I'll be your father figure

I drink that brown liquor

I can make deals with the devil because my dick's bigger

This love is pure profit

Just step into my office

I dry your tears with my sleeve

Leave it with me

I protect the family

Leave it with me

I protect the family

I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain

Said, "They want to see you rise, they don't want you to reign"

I showed you all the tricks of the trade

All I ask for is your loyalty

My dear protégé

I'll be your father figure

I drink that brown liquor

I can make deals with the devil because my dick's bigger

This love is pure profit

Just step into my office

They’ll know your name in the streets

Leave it with me

I protect the family

I saw a change in you (Saw a change, saw a change in you)

My dear boy, they don't make loyalty like they used to (Ooh-ooh, oh, like they used to)

Your thoughtless ambition sparked the ignition

On foolish decisions which led to misguided visions

That to fulfill your dreams

You had to get rid of me

I protect the family

I was your father figure

We drank that brown liquor

You made a deal with this devil, turns out my dick's bigger

You want a fight, you found it

I got the place surrounded

You'll be sleeping with the fishes before you know you're drowning

Whose portrait's on the mantle?

Who covered up your scandals?

Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled

I was your father figure

You pulled the wrong trigger

This empire belongs to me

Leave it with me

I protect the family

Leave it with me

I protect the family

Leave it with me

“You know, you remind me of a younger me”

I saw potential

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
father /ˈfɑːðər/ A1	noun - a male parent
figure /ˈfɪɡjər/ A2	noun - a person fulfilling a specific role
protect /prəˈtɛkt/ A2	verb - to keep safe from harm or danger noun - protection or defense
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group consisting of parents and children living together or associated with each other
deal /dil/ B1	verb - to handle or manage noun - an agreement or arrangement
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - a malevolent supernatural being
profit /ˈprɒfɪt/ B2	noun - financial gain verb - to benefit from
reign /reɪn/ C1	verb - to rule as a monarch noun - a period of rule by a monarch
protégé /ˌproʊtəˈʒeɪ/ C1	noun - a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced person
chateau /ʃæˈtoʊ/ C1	noun - a large country house or castle in France
ambition /æmˈbɪʃən/ B2	noun - a strong desire to achieve something
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B2	noun - the ability to see or plan for the future
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to take part in a violent struggle involving weapons or fists noun - a violent confrontation
empire /ˈɛmpaɪər/ B2	noun - a group of countries under one supreme authority
mahogany /məˈhɒɡəni/ C2	noun - a tropical hardwood noun - a deep reddish-brown color
liquor /ˈlɪkər/ B2	noun - an alcoholic drink produced by distillation
rag /ræɡ/ B1	noun - a piece of old cloth
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - a yellow precious metal adjective - made of gold
tear /tɛr/ A2	noun - a drop of salty liquid from the eye
street /strit/ A2	noun - a public road in a city or town

Key Grammar Structures

• When I found you, you were young, wayward, lost in the cold

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The verbs "found" and "were" describe actions or states that happened in the past. "When I "found"" (past) and "you "were"" (past).

• I'll be your father figure

  ➔ Future simple with "will" (contraction "'ll")

  ➔ "I'll" is the contraction of "I will" and expresses a future intention: "I "will be" your father figure".

• I can make deals with the devil because my dick's bigger

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + present simple; contraction "'s" for "is"

  ➔ "can" expresses ability: "I "can" make deals". "my dick's bigger" = "my dick "is" bigger" with "'s" contracted.

• Just step into my office

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ "step" is used as a command without a subject: "(You) step into my office".

• I saw potential

  ➔ Past simple of verb "see"

  ➔ "saw" is the past form of "see": "I "saw" potential" means I perceived potential in the past.

• You made a deal with this devil, turns out my dick's bigger

  ➔ Past simple + idiomatic phrase "turns out"; contraction "'s"

  ➔ "You "made" a deal" (past) followed by the idiom "turns out" meaning "it turns out that"; "my dick's bigger" = "my dick "is" bigger".

• You had to get rid of me

  ➔ Past modal "had to" + infinitive

  ➔ "had to" is the past form of "have to" expressing obligation: "You "had to" get rid of me" = you were obligated to remove me.

• Who covered up your scandals?

  ➔ Wh‑question with subject pronoun "who" + past simple

  ➔ "Who" functions as the subject of the clause: "Who "covered up" your scandals?" The verb "covered" is in the past simple.