The Life of a Showgirl – English Lyrics

• By: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter
• Album: The Life of a Showgirl

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the glamorous yet complex world of "The Life of a Showgirl" to experience a masterclass in modern pop storytelling. You can learn vocabulary and idioms related to ambition, show business, and self-awareness through its narrative structure, which shifts perspective to explore the reality behind the fame. The song's energetic and vibrant production, a reunion with Max Martin and Shellback, makes it a perfect entry point for engaging with sophisticated, confident English lyrics.

[English]

Her name was Kitty

Made her money being pretty and witty

They gave her the keys to this city

Then they said she didn't do it legitly, uh

I bought a ticket

She's dancing in her garters and fishnets

Fifty in the cast, zero missteps

Looking back, I guess it was kismet

I waited by the stage door

Packed in with the autograph

Hounds barking her name

Then glowing like the end of a cigarette

Wow, she came out

I said, "You're living my drеam"

Then she said to me

"Hеy, thank you for the lovely bouquet

You're sweeter than a peach

But you don't know the life of a showgirl, babe

And you're never, ever gonna

Wait, the more you play, the more that you pay

You're softer than a kitten, so

You don't wanna know the life of a showgirl, babe

And you're never gonna wanna"

She was a menace

The baby of the family in Lenox

Her father whored around like all men did

Her mother took pills and played tennis

So she waited by the stage door

Asked the club for more to arrive

She said, "I'd sell my soul to have a taste of a magnificent life"

It's all mine

But that's not what showgirls get

They leave us for death

Hey, thank you for the lovely bouquet

You're sweeter than a peach

But you don't know the life of a showgirl, babe

And you're never, ever gonna

Wait, the more you play, the more that you pay

You're softer than a kitten so

You don't know the life of a showgirl, babe

And you're never gonna wanna

I took her pearls of wisdom

Hung them from my neck

I paid my dues with every bruise

I knew what to expect

You wanna take a skate on the ice inside my veins

They ripped off me off like false lashes

And then threw me away

And all the headshots on the walls

Of the dance hall are of the bitches

Who wish I'd hurry up and die

But, I'm immortal now, baby dolls

I couldn't if I try, so I say

"Hey, thank you for the lovely bouquet

I'm married to the hustle

And now I know the life of a showgirl, babe

And I'll never know another

Pain hidden by the lipstick and lace (lipstick and lace)

Sequins are forever and now I know the life of a showgirl, babe

Wouldn't have it any other way

(Thank you for the lovely bouquet; oh) have it any other

(Thank you for lovely bouquet)

And now I'm making money being pretty and witty

Thank you for the lovely bouquet

Thank you for an unforgettable night

We will see you next time

Give it up for the band

And the dancers

And of course, Sabrina

I love you, Taylor

That's our show

We love you so much

Goodnight

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
showgirl /ˈʃoʊɡɜːrl/ B2	noun - a female performer who dances or sings in a theatrical show, often wearing elaborate costumes
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - currency used as a medium of exchange
witty /ˈwɪti/ B2	adjective - cleverly amusing; showing quick intelligence and humor
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A1	adjective - attractive in a delicate way
stage /steɪdʒ/ A2	noun - the area where performances are presented verb - to present a play or other performance
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep; an aspiration
bouquet /buˈkeɪ/ B2	noun - an arrangement of flowers, often given as a gift
peach /piːtʃ/ A2	noun - a soft, sweet fruit with fuzzy skin
menace /ˈmenəs/ B2	noun - something or someone that is threatening or likely to cause harm
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/ C1	adjective - splendid; impressively beautiful, elaborate, or grand
death /dɛθ/ A2	noun - the end of life; the permanent cessation of all vital functions
immortal /ɪˈmɔːrtəl/ C1	adjective - living forever; never dying
hustle /ˈhʌsəl/ B2	verb - to move rapidly or to push aggressively to achieve something noun - a state of busy activity; a pursuit of profit by energetic effort
lipstick /ˈlɪpˌstɪk/ B2	noun - a cosmetic product applied to the lips for color
sequins /ˈsiːkwɪnz/ C1	noun - small, shiny, disc-shaped ornaments sewn onto clothing for decoration
unforgettable /ˌʌnfərˈɡetəbəl/ C1	adjective - impossible to forget; memorable
glowing /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/ B2	adjective - emitting a steady light; radiant
kismet /kɪzˈmɛt/ C2	noun - fate or destiny; the idea that events are predetermined

Key Grammar Structures

• They gave her the keys to this city

  ➔ Past tense with 'gave'

  ➔ The verb 'gave' is in the past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. It describes an event that happened before the present moment.

• Looking back, I guess it was kismet

  ➔ Present perfect with 'have guessed'

  ➔ The phrase 'I guess' is used with the present perfect 'have guessed' to express a conclusion or opinion formed in the past that is relevant to the present.

• She said, 'I'd sell my soul to have a taste of a magnificent life'

  ➔ Conditional with 'would sell'

  ➔ The conditional 'would sell' is used to express a hypothetical situation or a wish. It indicates what someone would do under certain conditions.

• But that's not what showgirls get

  ➔ Contraction 'that's'

  ➔ The contraction 'that's' is short for 'that is' or 'that has'. It is commonly used in informal speech and writing for brevity.

• They ripped off me off like false lashes

  ➔ Phrasal verb 'ripped off'

  ➔ The phrasal verb 'ripped off' means to treat someone unfairly or cheat them. It is an idiomatic expression used to describe being taken advantage of.

• I'm married to the hustle

  ➔ Metaphorical expression

  ➔ The phrase 'married to the hustle' is a metaphorical expression meaning deeply committed to hard work and constant effort. It compares dedication to a marriage.

• Sequins are forever

  ➔ Present simple with 'are'

  ➔ The present simple 'are' is used to express a general truth or a permanent situation. Here, it emphasizes the timelessness of sequins.

• Wouldn't have it any other way

  ➔ Negative contraction with 'wouldn't'

  ➔ The negative contraction 'wouldn't' is short for 'would not'. It is used to express a strong preference or refusal in a hypothetical situation.