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Matches

Unreleased | 2005

“Matches” is one of Taylor’s numerous unreleased songs. She co-wrote it with Liz Rose. The lyrics find her sad and angry after her boyfriend cheated on her.

Background and Lyrical Theme

Taylor co-wrote “Matches” with her frequent collaborator Liz Rose. The song has a similar vengeful sound and theme like “Picture to Burn” or “R-E-V-E-N-G-E“, another unreleased Taylor song. Lyrically, “Matches” is about getting revenge on an ex who cheated on you, and how you’re burning down the love you once had.

There are two versions of the song in rotation; a live version and a worktape recording.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I shined your shoes
I poured the wine
I gave you all of my time
I patched your dents
Smiled at your friends
Which apparently is a crime

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I gave you space
You took my place and gave it to her
But life’s too long
To waste it all loving a liar

[Chorus 1]
And when love hands me matches now
I’m gonna burn it down

[Verse 2]
I keyed her car
Got my guitar
And wrote this damn song
Look what you’ve found
She’s been around
I hear the lines long

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And don’t you tell me
To be nice
I’m not a nice girl
She died from complications
Of the things you told her

[Chorus 2]
So when love hands me matches now
I’m gonna burn it down

[Bridge]
Ain’t it funny
You said honey
You meant sitting duck
Well I say, cheater, liar, truck on fire
Loser, leaver, deceiver
Just a few I’ve thought of

[Final Chorus]
And when love hands me matches now
I’m gonna burn it down
I’m gonna burn it down
Oh, yeah
Gonna burn it, burn it
Burn it down
Matches, now

Status	Unreleased
Leaked	2009
Written	2005
Genre	Country
Length	2:30 (live) 2:55 (worktape)
Songwriters	Taylor Swift Liz Rose

Matches

Unreleased | 2005

Table of Contents

Background and Lyrical Theme

Lyrics

Discography

Videography

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