“the last great american dynasty” follows the story of Rebekah Harkness, a patron of the arts, and founder of the Rebekah Harkness Foundation. In 2013, Swift bought a Rhode Island mansion once owned by Rebekah Harkness. The mansion is known as “Holiday House.”
Taylor draws subtle comparisons between herself and Rebekah Harkness in the song. She likens her star-studded parties to the bevy of famous composers and and dancers that once frequented Holiday house in Harkness' days. Also similar to Taylor Swift, Rebekah Harkness was often a target of harsh criticism from the tabloids, and people alike.
This song is reminiscent of “The Lucky One” from her album "Red" where Taylor Swift sang of an unnamed Hollywood star who moved away from the limelight and from under the microscope of the media, into a life of solitude.
The style of the song follows Taylor Swift’s familiar contemporary pop sound. She spends most of the song singing in a low octave, transitioning to a higher octave only towards the end of the song. The song has elements of folk music in it too, matching the overall theme of the album.
Swift told People in March 2021:
"I’m really proud of [the lyric] ‘She had a marvelous time ruining everything’ from "the last great american dynasty" because it’s about what happens when women step out of their cages and run. It can be a real pearl-clutching moment for society when a woman owns her desires and wildness. And I love the idea that the woman in question would be too joyful in her freedom to even care that she’s ruffling feathers, raising eyebrows or becoming the talk of the town. The idea that she decided there were marvelous times to be had, and that was more important."
“the last great american dynasty” debuted at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of August 8, 2020.
the last great american dynasty
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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"
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
The song "The Last Great American Dynasty" is the tale of Rebekah Harkness, an oil heiress who once owned the Holiday House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which Taylor Swift later purchased. The opening verse emphasizes Rebekah's arrival on an afternoon train, leaving St. Louis to live in the picturesque saltbox house on the coast. Swift then continues to highlight how her marriage to Bill, an heir to the Standard Oil name, aided her in acquiring immense wealth that was beyond the expectation of the people in the town. The line "There's only so far new money goes" hints at the societal injustice of old money versus new money and the envy it brings.
The chorus emphasizes Rebekah's carefree and reckless behavior, as the town characterizes her as the maddest and shameless woman they have ever seen. Swift unravels Rebekah's life, filled with lavish parties, champagne-filled swimming pools, and card games with Salvador Dali, and how she ultimately lost everything. The last verse of the song brings the song full circle by revealing that Taylor Swift herself later purchases Rebekah's home, now known as the summer house.
With this song, Taylor Swift honors Rebekah's story by portraying her as a woman who lived her life unabashedly, marching to her own drumbeat, and breaking society's rules. Rebekah's story is an excellent reminder to people to live life to the fullest and chase their dreams, regardless of any societal judgments.
Line by Line Meaning
Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train, it was sunny
Rebekah arrived in town on a bright afternoon by train.
Her saltbox house on the coast took her mind off St. Louis
Rebekah's house on the coast was a nice escape from her previous home in St. Louis.
Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil name, and money
Rebekah's husband Bill came from a wealthy family with ties to Standard Oil.
And the town said "How did a middle class divorcée do it?"
The townspeople were curious how Rebekah, who was divorced and of middle-class background, managed to marry into a wealthy family.
The wedding was charming, if a little gauche
The wedding was pleasant overall, though it had some cringey moments.
There's only so far new money goes
Newly acquired wealth can only take someone so far in society.
They picked out a home and called it "Holiday House"
The couple chose a home by the beach and named it "Holiday House".
Their parties were tasteful, if a little loud
Their parties on the beach were refined, yet sometimes noisy.
The doctor had told him to settle down
The doctor advised Bill to calm down and lead a more peaceful life.
It must have been her fault his heart gave out
The townspeople attributed Bill's premature death to Rebekah's supposed wild behavior.
And they said "There goes the last great American dynasty"
The couple's life and legacy came to a dramatic and impactful end.
Who knows, if she never showed up what could've been
The townspeople wondered how things would have turned out if Rebekah had never arrived.
There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen
The townspeople considered Rebekah to be the craziest woman they had ever encountered.
She had a marvelous time ruining everything
Despite the town's negative opinion of her, Rebekah enjoyed causing chaos and disrupting the norms of high society.
Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever
Rebekah abandoned Rhode Island's high society permanently.
Flew in all the Bitch Pack friends from the city
Rebekah invited her social circle from the city to her beach house.
Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names
Rebekah and her high-profile friends swam in a pool filled with champagne.
And blew through the money on the boys and the ballet
Rebekah spent money recklessly on boys and ballet performances.
And losing on card game bets with Dalí
Rebekah played card games with Salvador Dalí and lost a lot of money.
And they said "There goes the last great American dynasty"
Rebekah's actions and reputation brought an end to her family's once-great status in American society.
There goes the most shameless woman this town has ever seen
The townspeople considered Rebekah to be the most shameless woman in their community.
She had a marvelous time ruining everything
Rebekah enjoyed causing chaos and upsetting the town's high society.
They say she was seen on occasion
Rebekah was sometimes spotted by bystanders.
Pacing the rocks staring out at the midnight sea
Rebekah was spotted walking back and forth on the rocks while staring at the sea.
And in a feud with her neighbor
Rebekah was involved in a dispute with one of her neighbors.
She stole his dog and dyed it key lime green
As an act of vengeance, Rebekah stole her neighbor's dog and dyed its hair bright green.
Fifty years is a long time
Time had passed since Rebekah's wild days by the beach.
Holiday House sat quietly on that beach
The couple's beach house sat undisturbed and free of drama.
Free of women with madness
The beach was now free of women like Rebekah who brought drama and chaos.
Their men and bad habits, and then it was bought by me
The house eventually changed hands and was purchased by the current narrator.
Who knows, if I never showed up what could've been
The singer wonders what would have happened if they had not purchased the house.
There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen
Rebekah was known as the most outspoken woman in the town's high society.
I had a marvelous time ruining everything
The artist enjoyed telling Rebekah's story and bringing her legacy to light.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor A. Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mehedihasan2024
"The last great american dynasty" would be such an incredible movie with a great storyline and visuals.
@jawadjahid7526
And Directed by Taylor Swift
@ruthtilahun2881
and blake lively would be the main actress
@josephinekromer2827
@@ruthtilahun2881 yes!!!!!
@garima_y7712
Reminds me of The Great Gatsby
@jimmysplayhouse427
Imma put it in the credits if my next animated movie lesgooooooo
@CorpseyBoo
FOLKLORE deserves a Grammy. This album is a masterpiece
@seanrolly8594
folklore got nominated for AOTY at the Grammys!!!
@marie-xk4ph
@Alicia Souvelle taylor got nominated AGAIN
@abiyamed6873
GRAMMY’s shit. Doesn’t deserve Taylor