Taylor Swift sang “Never Grow Up” and dedicated the performance to her godson Leo Thames during her 1989 World Tour concert in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, Aug. 15. Swift strummed a black acoustic guitar and traced back to her country music roots.
“So this was a song that someone asked me to do today and I think that this song really kinda hit me in a different way. I wrote it when I was like eighteen or nineteen,” said Swift. “My friend just had a baby and she made me godmother of it. I was holding this baby and I was just thinking differently.”
“When you're holding onto something that’s so innocent and so perfect, and has no idea what's coming for it in the world,” continued Swift. “The world is gonna throw so many things at you as you grow up. And it made me think of this one song that I wrote a long time ago called "Never Grow Up."
The rendition was pure Swift, without the help and added star power of models, girl groups, rappers, and her squad of celebrity besties. The single was from her 2010 album entitled, "Speak Now." Swift had just completed a “Black Magic” duet with girl band Little Mix. She told the crowd that she wanted to do a duet with them.
Taylor Swift performing at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on May 30, 2015.
Fireworks went off in the distance, as Swift commented that she had no idea who was setting off fireworks during her concert. She said that it was “so cool” and that she loved it. “More fireworks. I’m never gonna complain about that,” said Swift. The singer shared that she had never sung “Never Grow Up” on the 1989 tour before.
“Your little hand's wrapped around my finger and it's so quiet in the world tonight. Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming, so I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light. To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret. I'd give all I have, honey if you could stay like that,” sang Swift.
“Oh darling, don't you ever grow up. Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little. Oh darling, don't you ever grow up. Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple,” sang Swift. “I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart and no one will desert you. Just try to never grow up, never grow up.”
The parents of her godson is ‘Hart of Dixie’ actress Jaime King and director Kyle Newman. Leo Thames is their second child. He was born on July 16, 2015. Swift has posted photos of baby Leo on social media, one of which shows him wrapping his hand around her finger. King said that the performance was “so beautiful” and that “Leo Thames is so blessed.”
