"Babe" feat. Taylor Swift is the eleventh track from the standard edition of Sugarland's sixth studio album, Bigger, released on April 20, 2018, through Big Machine Records. It is also the twenty-fourth track from Swift's second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.
Background[]
Patrick Monahan, the founding member of rock band Train, first spoke about the song during a 2013 interview with ABC News Radio. He said that when he asked Swift about collaborating on a song for Train's next album, she asked him to co-write a song for her album Red (2012). Ultimately, the song was not included on the album, but when Swift decided to put out a deluxe version of Red, Monahan thought it would finally be released.[1][2][3] The song was not previously recorded.[4][5]
The album's track list, which was released on April 12, 2018, shows that "Babe" is the only song on the album not co-written by Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland.[6][7] It also marks the second song Swift has written for a country act since making her full transition to pop in 2014, following Little Big Town's "Better Man", as well as the first country song on which she is credited as an artist since that time.[8][9]
Sugarland told reporters backstage at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards that the collaboration came about after Swift, who is a Sugarland fan, called the duo wanting to work with them.[10][11] "She was gracious enough to reach out to us when she heard we were coming back together and doing a record," Bush said. "She said, 'I have a song, would you like to do it?' And we said, 'Uh, yeah!' I was a little anxious. I didn't want to mess it up!" Nettles added: "But she loved it and wanted [us] to be a part of it, which is exciting. She said, 'I have a song,' and we said, 'Okay. Send it over.'"[12][13][14] The duo found it to be an unusual experience, since they have never featured anybody on their past albums. "So we weren't really used to sorting through that and we didn't want to mess it up. We didn't tell anybody about it until we got finished and she liked it, thank God."[15] In a video Swift posted on Instagram, she expressed that she is delighted that the song "gets its own life" and that "Sugarland wanted to record it and has done such a great job with it".[16][17][18]
Chart performance[]
The song debuted at No. 27 on Country Airplay dated April 28, 2018,[19] The following week it was released for sale, and the song reached No. 8 on Hot Country Songs with 38,000 copies in the first sales week. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart it peaked at number 72.[20][21] It has sold 166,000 copies in the United States as of November 2018.[22] Additionally the song peaked at number 94 in Canada and number 64 in Scotland.
Music video[]
The trailer for the music video aired during the 2018 CMT Music Awards and was uploaded to Sugarland's YouTube channel on June 6, 2018, while the official music video premiered on June 9. Swift had the original idea for the video's concept, and as stated per the Sugarland duo themselves, they all got together before the video shoot to collaborate on ideas.[23] To date the video has over 26 million views on YouTube.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
What about your promises? Promises?
What about your promises? Promises? Promises? (No)
[Verse 1]
What a shame
Didn't wanna be the one that got away, yeah
Big mistake, you broke the sweetest promise
That you never should have made
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm here on the kitchen floor
You call, but I won't hear it
You said, "No one else"
How could you do this, babe? (What about your promises? Promises?)
[Chorus]
You really blew this, babe
We ain't getting through this one, babe
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe" (This is the last time, this is the last time)
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe"
(What about your promises? Promises? Promises?)
[Verse 2]
What a waste
Takin' down the pictures and the plans we made, yeah
And it's strange how your face doesn't look so innocent
Your secret has its consequence and that's on you, babe
[Pre-Chorus]
I break down every time you call
We're a wreck, you're the wrecking ball
We said, "No one else"
How could you do this, babe? (What about your promises? Promises?)
[Chorus]
You really blew this, babe
We ain't getting through this one, babe
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe" (This is the last time, this is the last time)
This is the last time I'll ever call you
[Bridge]
Since you admitted it, I keep picturing
Her lips on your neck, I can't unsee it
I hate that because of you, I can't love you, babe
[Breakdown]
What a shame, didn't want to be the one that got away
How could you do this, babe? (Babe)
[Chorus]
You really blew this, babe (Babe)
We ain't getting through this one, babe (Babe)
This is the last time I'll ever call you, babe (This is the last time, this is the last time)
This is the last time I'll ever call you
[Outro]
I'm here on the kitchen floor, you call, but I won't hear it
You said, "No one else"
We ain't getting through this one, babe
I break down every time you call
We're a wreck, you're the wrecking ball
We said, "No one else"
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe" (Babe)
(What about your promises? Promises? Promises?)
[Verse 1: Sugarland]
What a shame
Didn't wanna be the one that got away, yeah
Big mistake, broke the sweetest promise
That you never should have made
[Pre-Chorus: Sugarland]
I'm here on the kitchen floor
You call, but I won't hear it
You said, "No one else"
[Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift]
How could you do this, babe?
You really blew this, babe
We ain't gettin' through this one, babe
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe"
This is the last time, this is the last time
This is the last time, I'll ever call you, "Babe"
[Verse 2: Sugarland]
What a waste
Takin' down the pictures and the plans we made, yeah
And it's strange how your face doesn't look so innocent
Your secret has its consequence and that's on you, babe
[Pre-Chorus: Sugarland]
I break down every time you call
We're a wreck, you're the wreckin' ball
We said, "No one else"
[Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift]
How could you do this, babe?
You really blew this, babe
We ain't gettin' through this one, babe
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe"
This is the last time, this is the last time
This is the last time
[Bridge: Sugarland & Taylor Swift]
Since you admitted it (Oh), I keep picturin' (Oh)
Her lips on your neck (Oh), I can't unsee it (Oh)
I hate that because of you (Oh), I can't love you, babe
What a shame, didn't want to be the one that got away
[Chorus: Sugarland & Taylor Swift]
How could you do this, babe?
You really blew this, babe
We ain't gettin' through this one, babe
How could you do this, babe?
This is the last time, this is the last time
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe"
[Outro: Sugarland & Taylor Swift]
How could you do this, babe?
I'm here on the kitchen floor, you call but I won't hear it
You said, "No one else", we ain't gettin' through this one, babe
I break down every time you call, this is the last time
We're a wreck, you're the wreckin' ball
This is the last time
You said no one else
This is the last time I'll ever call you, "Babe"
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Country Music Association Awards | Video of the Year | Nominated | [24][25] |
| 2019 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Nominated | [26] |
Live performances[]
Sugarland performed the song for the first time on Live with Kelly and Ryan on May 8, 2018.[27] On June 6, 2018, they performed it on The Today Show live from Blake Shelton's bar, Ole Red.[28] The song is also included in the Still the Same Tour set list. Swift included the song on her pre-show playlist on her Reputation Stadium Tour and sang it as the surprise song at her Cleveland show.[29] Sugarland joined Swift as the special guest at the second show in Arlington on the tour, where they performed the song together live for the first time.[30] It was performed as a surprise song on the Eras Tour on March 7, 2024, as part of a mashup with "Death By A Thousand Cuts"
Sugarland - Babe ft. Taylor Swift (Live at reputation Stadium Tour Dallas)
References[]
- ā Train's Pat Monahan on Writing with Taylor Swift: "Her Perspective Is Very Fresh"
- ā Taylor Swift Wrote and Is Featured on Sugarland's Newest Song "Babe"
- ā Sugarland and Taylor Swift Release Breakup Song 'Babe' ā Find Out the Story Behind the Track
- ā Taylor Swift, Sugarland team for country duet 'Babe'
- ā Sugarland, Taylor Swift team for country duet 'Babe'
- ā Taylor Swift Lends Vocals on Sugarland's Bigger
- ā Sugarland dropping new track with Taylor Swift next week
- ā Sugarland Announce New Album 'Bigger,' Taylor Swift Collaboration
- ā Hear Taylor Swift Sing On 'Babe,' Country Duo Sugarland's New Breakup Anthem That She Co-Wrote
- ā Sugarland Talks Taylor Swift Collaboration on ACM Awards Red Carpet: 'It's Fantastic'
- ā Sugarland Reveal How a Taylor Swift Song Landed on Their Upcoming 'Bigger' Album
- ā Sugarland Teases Lyric Details on New Song 'Babe' Written By Taylor Swift (Exclusive)
- ā Sugarland Opens Up About New Taylor Swift-Penned Song "Babe"
- ā Taylor Swift's Upcoming Sugarland Single 'Just Might Be' Inspired by a Previous Relationship
- ā Sugarland on Recording Taylor Swift Song: 'We Didn't Want to Mess It Up'
- ā Taylor Swift Returns to Country Music With Sugarland Song 'Babe' ā Listen
- ā Taylor Swift Is Featured on Sugarland's New Song "Babe"
- ā Taylor Swift Reacts To All The Love For Writing Sugarland's 'Babe'
- ā Country Airplay
- ā Hot Country Songs
- ā Top 30 Digital Country Singles: April 30, 2018
- ā Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: November 13, 2018
- ā Sugarland's Steamy 'Babe' Video Treatment Was Taylor Swift's Idea: 'She Reached Out to Us'
- ā CMA Awards announces 2018 hosts, will reveal nominees on August 28
- ā 2018 CMA Awards nominations announced
- ā 2019 ACM Awards nominations
- ā Watch Sugarland Perform 'Babe' on 'Kelly and Ryan'
- ā Watch Sugarland perform their new song 'Babe' live on Today
- ā All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far)
- ā See Sugarland, Taylor Swiftās First Ever Live Performance of āBabeā
| RED | ||
|---|---|---|
| "State Of Grace" ā¢ "Red" ā¢ "Treacherous" ā¢ "I Knew You Were Trouble" ā¢ "All Too Well" ā¢ "22" ā¢ "I Almost Do" ā¢ "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ā¢ "Stay Stay Stay" ā¢ "The Last Time" ā¢ "Holy Ground" ā¢ "Sad Beautiful Tragic" ā¢ "The Lucky One" ā¢ "Everything Has Changed" ā¢ "Starlight" ā¢ "Begin Again" | ||
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