""Slut!"" (stylized in quotation marks) is the seventeenth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's fourth re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor's Version), released on October 27, 2023, through Republic Records. The song is the first "From The Vault" track on the album. The song was sent to Italian radio stations as a single on October 27, 2023.
Background[]
When recording her fifth studio album, 1989, Swift's dating life became a major topic of discussion among media and tabloids. She decided to "cheekily play" on it in her music, which led to the creation of songs like "Blank Space" and ""Slut!"". As both share similar origins, when having to choose tracks for the album, it was decided the former was a much stronger track, thus ""Slut!"" was discarded. Additionally, Swift felt as though the aesthetic of 1989 was leaning more towards New York, and ""Slut!"" "was always California".[1]
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Scrapped lyrics of "Slut!"
When re-recording it for 1989 (Taylor's Version), ""Slut!"" initially featured English pop rock band The 1975.[2] This appears to be confirmed through some rare issues of the vinyl records, making it possible the feature was removed late in the re-recording's production, likely due to Swift's and Matty Healy's then-recent breakup.
Release[]
On September 19, 2023, Swift posted a video of a blue vault to social media, teasing the song. The letters S, L, U, T, and an exclamation point came out of the vault. Fans speculated that the title of the song could have been "Lust!" or "Slut!". Shortly after the video was released, Google implemented a vault puzzle of word scrambles found when users searched "Taylor Swift". After 33 million puzzles were completed, the vault was unlocked, and the other four vault track titles were announced. Soon after, the back cover of the album was revealed, showing that the other vault track was ""Slut!"".
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Flamingo pink, Sunrise Boulevard
Clink, clink, being this young is art
Aquamarine, moonlit swimming pool
What if all I need is you?
[Pre-Chorus]
Got love-struck, went straight to my head
Got lovesick all over my bed
Love to think you'll never forget
Handprints in wet cement
Adorned with smoke on my clothes
Lovelorn and nobody knows
Love thorns all over this rose
I’ll pay the price, you won't
[Chorus]
But if I'm all dressed up
They might as well be lookin’ at us
And if they call me a slut
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
[Verse 2]
Send the code, he's waitin' there
The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air
Everyone wants him, that was my crime
The wrong place at the right time
And I break down, then he's pullin' me in
In a world of boys, he's a gentleman
[Pre-Chorus]
Got love-struck, went straight to my head (Straight to my head)
Got lovesick all over my bed (Over my bed)
Love to think you'll never forget
We’ll pay the price, I guess
[Chorus]
But if I’m all dressed up (If I'm all dressed up)
They might as well be lookin’ at us (Lookin' at us)
And if they call me a slut (If they call me a slut)
You know it might be worth it for once (Worth it for once)
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
[Bridge]
Half asleep
Takin' your time in the tangerine
Neon light, this is luxury
You're not sayin' you're in love with me
But you're going to
Half awake
Takin' your chances, It's a big mistake
I said, "It might blow up in your pretty face"
I'm not saying, "Do it anyway" (Do it anyway)
But you're going to
[Outro]
(Up!)
And if they call me a (Slut!)
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be (Drunk!)
I might as well be drunk in love
[Verse 1]
Flamingo pink, Sunrise Boulevard
Clink, clink, being this young is art
Aquamarine, moonlit swimming pool
What if all I need is you?
[Pre-Chorus]
Got love-struck, went straight to my head
Got lovesick all over my bed
Love to think you'll never forget
Handprints in wet cement
Adorned with smoke on my clothes
Lovelorn and nobody knows
Love thorns all over this rose
I’ll pay the price, you won't
[Chorus]
But if I'm all dressed up
They might as well be lookin’ at us
And if they call me a slut
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
[Verse 2]
Lights blink, losing my mind
What we think happens to rhyme
I drink, drink, fortunate timing
Days shrink into long nights now
Plus 44 on an American phone
Cat eye running down her cheekbones
But it’s elegant
I tell her: "You are not a slut.
You’re just relevant."
And then she called me a gentleman
[Pre-Chorus]
Got love-struck, went straight to my head (Straight to my head)
Got lovesick all over my bed (Over my bed)
Love to think you'll never forget
We’ll pay the price, I guess
[Chorus]
But if I’m all dressed up (If I'm all dressed up)
They might as well be lookin’ at us (Lookin' at us)
And if they call me a slut (If they call me a slut)
You know it might be worth it for once (Worth it for once)
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
[Bridge]
Half asleep, takin' your time
In the tangerine, neon light, this is luxury
You're not sayin' you're in love with me
But you're going to
Half awake, takin' your chances
It's a big mistake, I said, "It might blow up in your
Pretty face", I'm not saying, "Do it anyway" (Do it anyway)
But you're going to
[Outro]
Up! And if they call me a slut!
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be drunk!
I might as well be drunk in love
Live performances[]
The song was performed as a surprise song on The Eras Tour on November 12, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was performed as a surprise song twice more as part of a mashup with "False God" on March 8 and July 17, 2024.
References[]
| 1989 | ||
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| "Welcome To New York" • "Blank Space" • "Style" • "Out Of The Woods" • "All You Had To Do Was Stay" • "Shake It Off" • "I Wish You Would" • "Bad Blood" • "Wildest Dreams" • "How You Get The Girl" • "This Love" • "I Know Places" • "Clean" | ||
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