Dear John
Speak Now (2010)
Lyrical Theme
«The song 'Dear John' is sort of like the last email you would ever send to someone that you used to be in a relationship with. Usually, people write this venting last email to someone and they say everything that they want to say to that person, and then they usually don't send it. I guess by putting this song on the album I am pushing send.»
A Toxic Relationship
«I know it wasn’t good, so I don’t want to know. I put a high priority on staying happy, and I know what I can’t handle. It’s not that I’m this egomaniac and I don’t want to hear anything negative, because I do keep myself in check, but I’ve never developed that thick a skin. So I just kind of live a life, and I let all the gossip live somewhere else. If you go too far down the rabbit hole of what people think about you, it can change everything about who you are.»
Other Songs About the Relationship
Taylor supposedly also wrote the songs “I Knew You Were Trouble.”, “The Story of Us“, “Ours” and “Superman” about her relationship with John. The latter has a lyric that connects to the secret message of “Dear John”: “Loved you from the very first day.”
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you
Counting my footsteps praying the floor won’t fall through, again
And my mother accused me of losing my mind
But I swore I was fine
[Verse 2]
You paint me a blue sky, then go back and turn it to rain
And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules everyday
Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight
Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why
[Chorus 1]
Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone
Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home
I should’ve known
[Verse 3]
Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame
Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love and take it away
And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand
And I look back and regret, how I ignored when they said,
“Run as fast as you can”
[Chorus 1]
Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone
Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home
[Chorus 2]
Dear John, I see it all now, it was wrong
Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games
When I loved you so?
I should’ve known
[Bridge]
You are an expert at “Sorry” and keeping lines blurry
Never impressed by me acing your tests
All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes
Cause you burned them out
But I took your matches before fire could catch me, so don’t look now
I’m shining like fireworks over your sad empty town
[Chorus 1]
Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone
Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home
[Outro]
I see it all now that you’re gone
Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress wrote you a song
You should’ve known
You should’ve known
Don’t you think I was too young?
You should’ve known