Taylor Swift on having long career: 'You keep your wits about you and you keep your head'

Taylor Swift says the secret of having a successful career in music is 'keeping your head'.

The singer opened up in the November issue of Vogue magazine about the fickle nature of the music industry.

The US star said that she has "studied" the rise and downfall of big acts and as such knows how to play her cards right in the business.

Swift said: "I've been a student of people's careers. Ever since I was a kid I used to watch this show, Behind the Music on VH1, where they would profile the career heights or a band and, then, why everything fell apart. And one thing I noticed is that it's very simple. You keep yourself in check. You keep your wits about you and you keep your head...That's the key. This could go away in five seconds.

"No one is past being taken down. And the only thing that we have that's in our control is keeping our mind right. And the thing that's out of our control is luck."

Swift meanwhile will release her new album '1989' on October 27.

Watch Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' video below: