SLS – American

Whenever we mention Independence Day to our friends in the UK, they think we are referring to that film with the aliens. But it has been always the big event of the summer, another chance for family to gather and eat a lot of food. Fireworks – lots of fireworks – perhaps more than New Year’s Eve.

For today’s American music theme, I have picked a song called “The last Great American Dynasty” inspired by socialite and philanthropist Rebekah Harkness, who was one of the wealthiest women in United States history. Rebekah Harkness used to live in a Rhode Island mansion that Taylor Swift owns.

The read-up on Rebekah Harkness and the parallels Taylor draws with her own life are very interesting. So if you have time today, you might enjoy reading what Wikipedia has to say about this track.

I think it is a fitting story of the “American dream” – the crazy amounts of wealth that some have made in the US and the way it has effected their life.

The song is written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner.

Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train, it was sunny
Her saltbox house on the coast took her mind off St. Louis
Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil name, and money
And the town said “How did a middle class divorcée do it?”

The wedding was charming, if a little gauche
There’s only so far new money goes
They picked out a home and called it “Holiday House”
Their parties were tasteful, if a little loud
The doctor had told him to settle down
It must have been her fault his heart gave out

And they said “There goes the last great American dynasty”
Who knows, if she never showed up what could’ve been
There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen
She had a marvelous time ruining everything

Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever
Flew in all the Bitch Pack friends from the city
Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names
And blew through the money on the boys and the ballet
And losing on card game bets with Dalí

And they said “There goes the last great American dynasty”
Who knows, if she never showed up, what could’ve been
There goes the most shameless woman this town has ever seen
She had a marvelous time ruining everything

They say she was seen on occasion
Pacing the rocks staring out at the midnight sea
And in a feud with her neighbor
She stole his dog and dyed it key lime green
Fifty years is a long time
Holiday House sat quietly on that beach
Free of women with madness
Their men and bad habits, and then it was bought by me

Who knows, if I never showed up what could’ve been
There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen
I had a marvelous time ruining everything
I had a marvelous time
Ruining everything
A marvelous time
Ruining everything
A marvelous time
I had a marvelous time