*na nanaaaaaaaaaaaaaa nana na naaaaaaaaaa anaaaaaannnna*
pretend that was an electric guitar solo… particularly the solo at the beginning of Picture To Burn. Which happens to be today’s lyric breakdown. So, grab some matches and maybe an old picture of your ex…. (or don’t), and let’s dive into the angry masterpiece that is Picture To Burn.
once upon a time, Scarlett (me) decided to listen to Debut. (after the incidents of Tim McGraw, you can read more here) my instant favorite was Picture To Burn…it’s got everything…catchy lyrics, great insults, and killer guitar solos… now let’s get to the lyrics…
State the obvious I didn’t get my perfect fantasy I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me
oof… this poor boy is about to be hit with one of the angriest, Taylor Swift, revenge songs…ever… now props to Taylor for recognizing this guy is a bad influence, no one wants to be with a self-centered guy. She also says ‘state the obvious’ like it was evident that it was going down in flames (be prepared for more fire puns)
So go and tell your friends that I’m obsessive and crazy that’s fine you won’t mind if I say ‘And by the way’
this boy is really not cool, why are you telling your friends that your ex is obsessive and crazy. she also doesn’t mind that he’s calling her that… (I would mind) well, little does he know she’s about to insult beyond the ends of the earth.
I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive you're a redneck heartbreaker that’s really bad at lying
now hold up I have a lyric connection in Tim McGraw the lyric is…
just a boy with a Chevy truck that had a tenacity of getting stuck on back roads at night (Tim Mcgraw)
IS THIS THE SAME PICKUP TRUNK!?!?!?! it could be… but back to Picture To Burn… she then calls him a ‘redneck heartbreaker who’s really bad at lying’ I can’t tell you how much I love that insult…
so watch me strike a match on all my wasted time as far as I’m concerned, you’re just another picture to burn
finally arson
so yep, Taylor has now burned the picture of this guy… moving on
there’s no time for tears I’m just sitting here planning my revenge and there’s nothing stopping me from going out with all of your best friends
and now Taylor enacts her vengeance on this man… (what did he do)
and if you come around saying sorry to me my daddy’s gonna show you how sorry you’ll be
most girls know that their daddies will protect them from boys for as long as they can…I can imagine Taylor telling her dad that he has permission to shoot this guy… then she repeats the chorus
cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive you're a redneck heartbreaker whose really bad at lying so watch me strike a match on all my wasted time as far as I’m concerned, you’re just another picture to burn
(my gooseness I love this chorus) now the bridge…
and if you're missing me, you better keep that to yourself cause coming back around here would be bad for your health
in this bridge, she plainly states that this boy better not come back b/c shes over him and will poison him if he comes back. there’s not much more to this bridge, as you’ll see throughout debut and a bit of fearless Taylors bridges are small and straight to the point.
cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive you're a redneck heartbreaker whose really bad at lying so watch me strike a match on all my wasted time as far as I’m concerned, you’re just another picture to burn…your just another picture to burn…baby burnnnnn
and that brings us to the end of our second lyric breakdown fea. Picture To Burn…
quick housekeeping I’ll be posting Eras Tour/ swiftivite breakdowns on Sundays b/c that’s when I have time….also I would love it if y’all posted your thoughts and comments on my lyric breakdowns or something Taylor Swift-related you want to see from me in the comments… until next time
— SCARLETT PARKER