Harkness, who also went by Betty, was the previous owner of Swift's Rhode Island home and serves as the inspiration for the third track on Swift's latest LP, "The Last Great American Dynasty," where she tells the story of Harkness while mixing it in with her own. She was one of the richest women in America. Sports Taylor Swift has once again drawn inspiration from her own personal life to use within her songs.. The True Story of Rebekah Harkness from Taylor Swift's "Last Great American Dynasty" The fascinating woman once scrubbed her pool with Dom Pérignon. Pregnant Vanessa Morgan Takes 'Riverdale' Maternity Leave, Feeling the Love! The mansion is known as “Holiday House.” Taylor draws subtle comparisons between herself and Rebekah Harkness … Rebekah Harkness in 1966, Taylor Swift in 2020. One of the most surprising characters to crop up on Taylor Swift's latest album is Rebekah Harkness in "the last great american dynasty." ", RELATED VIDEO: Taylor Swift Announces Release of 'Surprise' New Album Folklore. Disturbing ‘Business of Drugs’ exposes how illegal industry banks ... Lily James haunted by ghost of Armie Hammer’s ex ... Tia Mowry: Teen mag wouldn’t put me and Tamera ... Kristen Bell says daughters drink Dax Shepard’s nonalcoholic O’Doul’s. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Who Is Rebekah Harkness? She filled the estate's pool with Dom Perignon. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype, Taylor Swift Fans Think Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Secretly Co-Wrote Two Songs on New. Business Taylor Swift's "The Last Great American Dynasty" lyrics were inspired Rebekah Harkness, the socialite who previously owned the pop star's Rhode Island mansion "Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits/And then it was bought by me. As Swift recounts in her song, Harkness was a notorious (if well-intentioned) spendthrift; a patron of the arts, she founded her own Harkness Ballet in the 1960s and poured many millions into the passion project, but it folded in 1975. Taylor Swift’s home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which was previously owned by Rebekah Harkness. This week, Taylor Swift showed the world what she’s been working on during quarantine: a new album, Folklore, which the singer-songwriter released late Thursday evening. On the track, Swift reflects on Harkness' life and her marriage to Standard Oil heir William Harkness, crooning on the chorus, "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. | Amanda Bynes spotted in Los Angeles and more star ... Amanda Bynes spotted in Los Angeles and more star snaps. (Photos: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images, Beth Garrabrant) As the saying goes, well-behaved women seldom make history. Taylor Swift’s eighth album, Folklore, was released on July 24 and contains 16 songs written and produced since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. By all accounts, Harkness was a character. Taylor Swift tells the story of "The Last Great American Dynasty" in her Folklore track about one of the wealthiest women in America, Rebekah West Harkness. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The 16-track album, Swift’s eighth, features a song titled “The Last Great American Dynasty,” about the late St. Louis–born socialite Rebekah West Harkness, whom Swift paints as an eccentric. "Fifty years is a long time / Holiday House sat quietly on that beach,” she adds. Credit: Contact, RSS & Sitemap: No wonder Swift, a noted cat fancier, chose to tweak the tale. The star also released a video for her first single "Cardigan" as well as lyric videos for all her new songs. Terms of Use One could describe Rebekah in many ways, but never boring: Harkness associated with the likes of Andy Warhol, J.D. '90 Day Bares All' Sneak Peek: Brittany Accuses Yazan of 'Cheating', Mossimo Giannulli's Son Gianni: My Dad Is in 'Solitary Confinement' Julianne Moore turns 60: How she has stunned at ... Julianne Moore turns 60: How she has stunned at every age. Rebekah Harkness, who also went by Betty, was the previous owner of Taylor Swift's Rhode Island home and serves as the inspiration for the third track on her latest album Back in 2013, Swift bought Harkness' former home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, for a reported $17 million in cash, according to TMZ. Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90. Unfortunately, according to the Times, “just a leg … or maybe half of her head, and an arm” actually fit in the jeweled vessel, prompting Harkness’ daughter to tote the remaining ashes home in a Gristedes shopping bag. The Grammy winner herself has caused a stir among Watch Hill locals since snapping up Harkness’ abode, turning the town into a tourist and paparazzi hotspot, hosting star-studded Fourth of July parties for several years in a row and even inspiring one neighbor to propose a “Taylor Swift” tax on second homes valued at over $1 million. She and her second husband William bought the massive house on the Rhode Island coast during their seven-year marriage, which they nicknamed "Holiday House.". “Who knows, if I never showed up what could’ve happened?” she asks, shifting the pronouns of the earlier chorus. Salinger, and Alvin Ailey. “There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen / She had a marvelous time ruining everything,” Swift sings. Others tell of sumptuous real-life figures like Rebekah Harkness, a divorcee who married the heir to Standard Oil — and whose home Swift purchased 31 years after her death. Romance and heartbreak (and revenge) ballads make up the primary focus of most albums; however, her newest album, Folklore, which debuted today, features a song, titled "The Last Great American Dynasty," about a New England philanthropist and patron of the arts, Rebekah West Harkness. Swift debuted her brand-new album, which is the superstar's follow-up to August 2019's Lover, on Friday after she announced its arrival only hours before on Thursday morning. In three minutes 51 seconds, Swift tells the story of Harkness’s legacy through lyrics. Back in 2013, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter splashed out a reported $17 million for a stately oceanside mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. As Swift mentions, Harkness was also friendly with Salvador Dalí; after she died of cancer in 1982 at the age of 67, she even requested her ashes be kept in a $250,000 custom urn of the artist’s design. Rebekah Harkness, as seen in the December 1956 issue of Vogue. Anna Faris emerges after leaving ‘Mom’ and more star ... Anna Faris emerges after leaving ‘Mom’ and more star snaps. It seems fair that the life of Rebekah Harkness is now celebrated through Swift's song and … By Elena Nicolaou. One of her houses, anyway. Gag News About Us Taylor Swift's, new song titled 'The Last Great American Dynasty' is about Rebekah Harkness, the scandal-ridden socialite who once owned the Watch Hill, Rhode Island mansion Swift purchased in 2013 Sitemap. Taylor Swift and the State of Rhode Island have their own contentious history. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. On any given evening, J.D. Ryan Reynolds films a Netflix movie and more star ... Ryan Reynolds films a Netflix movie and more star snaps. The subject of “Folklore” song “The Last Great American Dynasty,” Harkness — née Rebekah Semple West — was born in 1915 to “a rich, emotionally frigid St. Louis family,” according to the New York Times, and in 1947 married William Hale Harkness, her second husband and heir to the Standard Oil fortune. And then in 2020, the house’s owner, Taylor Swift, wrote a song about Rebekah Harkness, called The Last Great American Dynasty.The music video featured the beach and the waves from the house, just as Rebekah Harkness would have seen it. “The Last Great American Dynasty” tells the story of Rebekah Harkness, the socialite who lived in Swift’s mansion in Rhode Island. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. The Harknesses shared a HUGE Watch Hill, Rhode Island mansion, called … Rebekah West Harkness (17 Nisan 1915 - 17 Haziran 1982) -Betty Harkness olarak da bilinir, Harkness Balesi'ni kuran Amerikan bir besteci, heykeltıraş, dans müdavimi ve hayırseverdi. As Swift mentions, Harkness was also friendly with Salvador Dalí; after she died of cancer in 1982 at the age of 67, she even requested her ashes be kept in a $250,000 custom urn of the artist’s design. Rebekah Harkness, who also went by Betty, was the previous owner of Taylor Swift's Rhode Island home and serves as the inspiration for the third track on her latest album. ", Swift also noted that she worked on the project in quarantine amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, writing in an Instagram post, "Before this year I probably would've overthought when to release this music at the 'perfect' time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed.". “The product of a boating accident, not foul play.” Taylor Swift gifts Katy Perry an embroidered blanket for ... Taylor Swift to perform ‘Betty’ at the 2020 ACM ... 12 celebrities who bravely spoke about their eating disorder ... Taylor Swift ‘Shake It Off’ copyright lawsuit can proceed, ... Kanye West claims God made him storm Taylor Swift’s ... Libbie Mugrabi and ‘Mighty Ducks’ star Brock Pierce hit ... Mossimo Giannulli's Son Gianni: My Dad Is in 'Solitary Confinement', James Marsden: There was a ‘strange feeling’ on the set of ‘The Stand’, The mask is off the Turtle and the Republican Senate, Mets’ interest in Liam Hendriks hinges on bigger MLB free agency idea, Starry Tropicana ad campaign accused of encouraging alcohol abuse, Pregnant Mandy Moore's 'Hormones Are No Joke' in 3rd Trimester, Baby Bump! Privacy Policy The song gives an overview of the life story of American socialite Rebekah Harkness, who was the previous owner of Swift’s Watch Hill, Rhode Island home.But while the famous “Holiday House” may have been in part the connection that drew Swift to write about Harkness, “[Harkness’s] saltbox house on the coast” is not where her story begins. (Photos: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images, Beth Garrabrant) As the saying goes, well-behaved women seldom make history. Now, her home’s previous owner, …. By the end of “The Last Great American Dynasty,” Swift has woven her own story together with Harkness’, with their shared reputation for “madness” bridging the years between the two. Rebel Wilson Posts Sweet Kissing Pic With Jacob Busch, You Might Love These Flowy Yoga Pants Even More Than Your Leggings, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Peta Murgatroyd's Son, 3, Looks Like Dad in New Pic. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Jack Mitchell/Getty. While the couple were only married for seven years — “The wedding was charming, if a little gauche / There’s only so far new money goes,” Swift sings — it was during that time that they purchased their so-called “Holiday House,” where the pop star now resides. Irina Shayk’s new ‘man’ is really chill and more ... Irina Shayk’s new ‘man’ is really chill and more star snaps. Now, her home’s previous owner, the infamous late socialite Rebekah Harkness, has an entire Swift track in her honor. 103, Starry Tropicana ad campaign accused of encouraging alcohol abuse “There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen / I had a marvelous time ruining everything.”. While stuck at home in quarantine, Taylor Swift looked to a fitting source of inspiration for her new album “Folklore”: her house itself. Taylor Swift has once again drawn inspiration from her own personal life to use within her songs. 102, © 2020 UsaGAG, Inc. All Rights Reserved Rebekah Harkness in 1966, Taylor Swift in 2020. Carol Ann Mossa/Shutterstock. Photos Rebekah Harkness and her Harkness Ballet in 1966. Taylor Swift bought Holiday House for US$17 million in 2013. 197, James Marsden: There was a ‘strange feeling’ on the set of ‘The Stand’ The Grammy-winner, 30, just released her new album Folklore on Friday, where she alludes to an array of stories in her eighth studio album — among them that of the real-life owner of Harkness Ballet, Rebekah Harkness. Libbie Mugrabi still gadding about town with ‘Mighty Ducks’ ... Kanye West wants to help Taylor Swift get her ... Taylor Swift sings ‘Betty’ at ACM 2020: Secret meaning ... Texas man sentenced to prison for stalking Taylor Swift. In St. Louis, when she was known as Betty West, she and her debutante friends were known as the “bitch pack,” which Swift notes lyrically. So then Rebekah married big-shot oil tycoon William Hale Harkness. While stuck at home in quarantine, Taylor Swift looked to a fitting source of inspiration for her new album “Folklore”: her house itself. Taylor Swift Compares Herself to Late Composer in Song on New Album. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is beyond ripped and more ... Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is beyond ripped and more star snaps, Tiger Woods misses another US Open cut at Winged Foot, Dissecting the Giants’ Evan Engram problem, Browns fans let into game — immediately fight each other, The extra motivation for Yankees in final week of season, Erin Andrews featured on weird ‘Thursday Night Football’ cake. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Lena Dunham gets real about her quarantine body and ... Lena Dunham gets real about her quarantine body and more star snaps. Photograph by John Rawlings. The woman was a 20th-century socialite whom we’ve covered some facts about. Jul 24, 2020 Taylor Swift's eighth album, Folklore, was released on July 24, and features 16 songs written and produced since the coronavirus pandemic began. Back in 2013, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter splashed out a reported $17 million for a stately oceanside mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. The song “the last great american dynasty” on Taylor Swift’s new album “folklore” was inspired by the eccentric life of Standard Oil heiress Rebekah Harkness. Gag Style Fast forward 60 years, and another thin, rich, beautiful white woman bought Holiday House. Swift also mentions the debutante’s “bitch pack,” referring to her real-life group of prankster pals from school who enjoyed spiking punch bowls with mineral oil, filling swimming pools with Dom Perignon and swearing aloud on ocean liners. The album comes with a decidedly moody black-and-white aesthetic and features 16 tracks, with other song titles like "Illicit Affairs," "Mad Woman" and "Betty. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? 135, Mets’ interest in Liam Hendriks hinges on bigger MLB free agency idea Singer Taylor Swift fans might not know this, but one of her songs is about a woman named Rebekah West Harkness. This Taylor Swift 'Folklore' fan theory, suggests that the whole album is one big story. Beth Garrabrant, | In 2013, Swift bought a Rhode Island mansion once owned by Rebekah Harkness. Even after her husband’s death in 1954 (“It must have been her fault his heart gave out,” Swift muses), Harkness threw wild parties that clearly ruffled her neighbors’ feathers, with guests her son Allen Pierce once described as “all the fairies flying off the floor, the blackmailing lawyers, the weirdos, the people in the trances,” according to the Times. Alessandra Ambrosio looks sexy in the surf and more ... Alessandra Ambrosio looks sexy in the surf and more star snaps, Pete Davidson’s puppy love and more star snaps. As for the line about Harkness once dyeing a neighbor’s dog “key lime green?” That really happened — but according to the Times, it was actually a cat. Bir avukat ve William L. Harkness'ın Standard Oil servetinin varisi olan William Hale ''Bill'' Harkness ile evliliği onu Amerika'nın en varlıklı kadınlarından biri haline getirdi. 147, The mask is off the Turtle and the Republican Senate Opinion In her lyrics, the star makes it clear how Harkness was perceived in the upper-crust coastal community. Taylor Swift surprised her fans at the end of last week when she released a new album, Folklore, with many spending the weekend dissecting the set of new songs and the meanings behind the singer's lyrics. The house has played host to many of the pop songstresses Fourth of July parties and previously sat empty before she bought it, as Swift mentions on the song. “I wonder if Taylor Swift might like to hear the story of the time a body washed up on the beach under her Watch Hill mansion,” wrote a reporter for the New London Day at the time. In 2013, Taylor Swift bought Harkness’ former home — Holiday House — in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Swift’s song, "The Last Great American Dynasty" is actually a tale about Harkness. (It was eventually withdrawn.). Taylor Swift’s home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which was previously owned by Rebekah Harkness. ", RELATED: Taylor Swift Fans Think Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Secretly Co-Wrote Two Songs on New Folklore Album, According to the New York Times, Harkness was born in 1915 to "a rich, emotionally frigid St. Louis family." “Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train / It was sunny,” Taylor Swift croons in her new song “The Last Great American Dynasty”. 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