Eldest Daughter

Taylor Swift's track 5s are known for being very emotional and heart-touching. 'Eldest Daughter' from The Life of a Showgirl is no different. 

I feel like this song is an anthem for every eldest daughter. The girl who has to be her parents' son, while trying to maintain her femininity in a man's world. She has to be reliable, and she can never let anyone down. They have to keep their word and set an example for everyone else. She can't express herself without feeling guilty that she is breaking her vows. 

She had to grow up too soon, hiding things that she liked. She had to take care of herself when the younger child was born. She had to hide bad things from the other children, which is an incredible burden to place on a child. 

When she says 'every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter,' it reminds me of how parents use their first children to learn how to be parents. They try things out on their first child and learn how to parent their next children. The first child, or here, the eldest daughter, is the sacrificial goat. 

The line that breaks my heart is 'When I said I don't believe in marriage. That was a lie.' I feel like all the eldest daughter wants is to be free. She yearns for a time when she doesn't have to take care of other people and she can be taken care of. However, in marriage, that doesn't really happen. Women are meant to be the caregivers. So, the eldest daughter doesn't believe in marriage, but she yearns for it. She yearns for the safety that it brings. 

Overall, this is one of my favorite songs on this album because, as the eldest daughter, I feel the same.