Taylor Swift Redefines George's 'Father Figure' From A Song Of Devotion To A Scream Of Defiance

Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, is truly the Karma version of her, as it doesn't shy away from confronting ghosts of her past. However, there is a specific track that fans have been eagerly awaiting to listen to. Yes, we are talking about track 4, Father Figure, which is likely about her tumultuous history with music executive, Scott Borchetta.

Father Figure, but make it Taylor's version

Father Figure is Taylor's deep dive into George Michael's 1987 hit song of the same name. The song not only incorporates a portion of the pop classic's composition into her version, but also the melody and the beginning chorus lyrics. For the unversed, Michael released Father Figure as the fourth single from his landmark album, Faith. The upbeat hit became one of his signature songs and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. 

The iconic singer, George Michael, died in 2016 from heart failure. However, Taylor Swift reached out to his team asking for their permission to interpolate the song. The team shared a tweet on X, revealing the details of what really happened. 

While Michael's version offers intimacy and protection, Taylor Swift's version turns the phrase on its head in a story of betrayal. The singer, known for her impeccable penmanship, crafts a banger about fractured trust and power struggles with a man who once steered her career. The lyrics can be quoted as saying:

"I'll be your father figure / I drink that brown liquor / I can make deals with the devil / Because my d***'s bigger."

Is Taylor Swift referring to Scott Borchetta in the song?

In 2004, Scott Borchetta introduced the young Taylor Swift to his label, Big Machine Records. The two worked together on her first six albums. Under that partnership, Taylor grew from being a country songwriter to a global pop star. The song addresses the journey they had been on, and as she sings about the beginning days and states:

"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."

However, things changed when Taylor tried to buy her master recordings; negotiations broke down, and she left Big Machine in 2018, signing a new deal with Universal Music Group that guaranteed ownership of her future masters starting with her seventh album, Lover. In the following years, fans saw her fight for her work and rerecord every song she had ever written.

And then came the fateful day in the summer of 2025, when Taylor Swift finally claimed her masters again. She shared how, ever since she was a teenager, she's been actively saving up money to buy her music. She added that the first time it was sold, it really ripped her heart out, and she told everybody exactly how that felt for her. Talking about the same on The New Heights podcast, she stated:

"Owning your master recordings means that you have complete control and power over distribution, licensing, and essentially the way your legacy is shaped. It's a huge thing. It's always been a huge thing for me. And I started basically defiantly rerecording my music because I wanted to own it."

For Taylor, the irony is that the Father Figure who once protected her in the industry now serves as her foil. She further added layers to the song by invoking Michael's song, honouring a pop icon while exposing the volatility of her own 'father figure' dynamic. As an artist, it is about owning her entire catalogue; the track lands like a victory lap disguised as a reckoning. Where George Michael once sang of devotion, Taylor sings of defiance, completely rewriting the role of the 'father figure' entirely.

What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift's Father Figure? Let us know.

Next Read: Taylor Swift's 'Ruin The Friendship' Is NOT About Blake Lively, But A Sequel To 'You Belong With Me'

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