It’s here! Sugarland just released their first single off their upcoming album Bigger, “Babe” written by Taylor Swift and Pat Monahan (Train) circa 2012. Yes, that is during the Red Era which is the album “Babe” was originally written for. We know Swift has mentioned before that sometimes she can write up to 70 songs per album cycle and then has to narrow them down to the top 13-15. So how many other songs this amazing does she have sitting around and can she continue offering them to other artists to sing? Because wow, between “Babe” and “Better Man” we would be missing life-altering songs!

I am so here for @taylorswift13 giving artists all her old songs she never put on albums. Damn this is good. #Babe#SongwriterOfTheMillennium

— Jencita Vargas (@_Jencita_) April 20, 2018

Swift also lends her vocals on “Babe”, starting with background “ehs” before getting into singing lyrics “This is the last time… I’ll ever call you babe.” The song is truly heartbreaking in nature, but it is not a typical sad ballad, one might expect of Swift’s truly heartbreaking songs. Instead, it is upbeat, a song you almost feel bad dancing around the room too and putting on repeat, yet at the same time, you want to smash something fragile because of the rage of someone cheating on our girl.

Hey #Babe… 😉👋💖 pic.twitter.com/VsngVRaCdy

— Sugarland (@Sugarlandmusic) April 19, 2018

Swift doesn’t bash her ex for having cheated on her, she doesn’t call him names but instead finds herself questioning how he could break the promises he made, and the words he said when he said it was just the two of them. It’s that stage of a failed relationship when you aren’t in a rage, but sadness, because something you thought was so great, had to come to an end. But when all is said in done, she didn’t stay with someone who wasn’t faithful because she respected herself enough to leave.

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

“Babe” takes on a crucial era, as Red is regarded by fans as possibly the best album of all time, that was definitely cheated out of a GRAMMY for album of the year and produced the most amazing song ever…. “All Too Well.” So in hindsight, can we go back and look at the times Swift was obvious about this relationship that we never knew much about in the public eye, except that it took up pretty much an entire album? Throughout Red, Swift sings “You never loved me, or HER, or anyone” which definitely hints at cheating. Speaking of “All Too Well” and one of the most quoted lyrics “You call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest.” Now Swift sheds more light with the lyrics: “What a shame / Didn’t want to be the one that got away, yeah / Big mistake / Broke the sweetest promise that you never should have made” and as previously mentioned, “Since you admitted it / I keep picturing / Her lips on your neck…” So the casual cruelness could be him admitting he cheated and doing so in the name of being honest. Honesty is, of course, important in a relationship, and people should always own up to their mistakes, but sometimes there are just some things that can’t be forgotten, and you can’t move on from.

Fans have long suspected cheating before, during scenes of several music videos like “I Knew You Were Trouble” when the male lead is actually seen kissing another girl.

It’s a song people have long debated about who it was written for and with “Babe” it definitely makes it a little more clear as songs intertwine. Although, with the release so many years later, it doesn’t seem to be as big a blow guessing at who is the subject of the song (but let’s say the scarf is the least of his problems), but it definitely helps link more together and answers questions about some lyrics and why love failed. It’s amazing how this whole album intertwined and how there is even a song on it called “The Last Time” in which Swift has to continuously ask her partner to put her at the top of his list, but he keeps breaking her heart and leaving. She is truly a master at songwriting and conveying the hardest parts of relationships so artistically and so relatable. Her amazing artistry is often lost in the commotion of who the songs are about, but at their core, there is arguably not a better songwriter of this generation.

Swift definitely did a great job of choosing Country Duo, Sugarland to record the song with. Their album is currently available for pre-order and will be out June 8. Check out the song and lyrics below!

BABE – Lyrics

What a shame
Didn’t want to be the one that got away, yeah
Big mistake
Broke the sweetest promise that you never should have made

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

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

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

I break down every time you call
We’re a wreck, you’re the wreckin’ ball
We said no one else
How could you do this Babe

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

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

What a shame
Didn’t wanna be the one that got away,
How could you do this, babe?
You really blew this babe,
We ain’t getting 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

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 the wreck
You’re the wrecking ball
You said no one else

This is the last time I’ll ever call you, babe