Picture To Burn by Taylor Swift

Album: Taylor Swift (2006)

Charted: 28

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Taylor Swift told Great American Country about the lad who inspired this comeuppance song from her debut album: "The guy I wrote this song about, I didn't really ever 'officially' date. We almost dated. It really bothered me that he was so cocky and that's where that song came from. After school, I would come into downtown. I had a publishing deal with Sony, and I would write songs every single day, exactly what I felt. I found myself just sitting there with my guitar going, 'I hate his stupid truck that he doesn't let me drive. He's such a redneck! Oh my Gosh!' That actually became the chorus to the song, so that's one of the most honest songs I've ever written."
This originally had the lyric: "Go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine; I'll tell mine you're gay." Swift later adjusted that line so as not to give offense.
Taylor Swift said: "Before I sing this song, I always try to tell the audience that I really do try to be a nice person... but if you break my heart, hurt my feelings, or are really mean to me, I'm going to write a song about you. Haha. This song is the perfect example."
According to a report in The Daily Mail, Taylor Swift wrote this scathing song about her Hendersonville High School classmate, Jordan Alford. The pair dated before Jordan romanced another classmate, Chelsea, who would later become his wife. Chelsea recalled: 'We were kind of good friends at school, later not so much. She dated him, that's why. They dated in freshman year. 'Picture To Burn' is about him. Because he's always had big old trucks and stuff."

The couple were told by Taylor's best friend Abigail Anderson that the song was about Jordan. "We just thought it was funny," said Chelsea. "[Jordan] was like, 'I'm not a redneck! She makes me look like some redneck!' but other than that we just thought it was kind of funny."
The very first video Sabrina Carpenter posted to YouTube was a cover of "Picture To Burn" on August 3, 2009, when she was 10 years old. She kept posting videos, and in 2014 landed a starring role in Disney Channel's Girl Meets World. That year she released her first single, "Can't Blame A Girl For Trying." Her star turn came in 2024 with her album Short n' Sweet, earning her a gig opening for... Taylor Swift! (On the Eras Tour.)

Comments: 17

A Swiftie from Nashville TennesseLove this song! Really let's you get out al the feelings about a guy (or girl) who just wasn't worth it. Go you Taylor!
Love love love
AnonymousLoooooove this song so much! There was so much I thought I knew about old Taylor, but nope!
Peter from Coventry, United KingdomI play this song when I get dumped.
Simmi from Baton Rouge, LaThis song reminds me of a book character, yes a book character. Finnick Odair from Catching Fire.
Ronny from London, United Kingdomthis song did actually inspire me to tell everyone that my ex boyfriend is possibly gay :) cheers taylor :) <3 x
Ronny from London, United Kingdomthis song it utterly amazing! i blasted it so load and sang away to myself when my ex finished with me. just thinking F*** youu, your just another picture to burn. makes me think...." theres gonna be another one next, better than him" and well i was right, there was.
Breanna from Henderson, NvThis is an awesome song! It's about as honest as you can get which is a pleasant change.
Emily from Around Chicago, IlIn the clean version of the cd it says "Go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine you won't mind if I say..."
I like the other words better :)
Lizzie from Fairfax, VaI love this song! A boy broke my heart early in the summer of 2008. He was totally the "oh don't you just love me I'm so handsome and special and you're not" type. At the end of summer he apologized and said "you can stop hating me now" even though one of the things he'd done was try to turn me against my best friend. I started playing this song, and he got the message- and ran.
Makayla from Louisville, Kyi love this song i would totally do what you did in the music video
Jake from Groveland, FlMy girlfriend and I dated for 13 months, and I played this song for her and told her the lyrics by memory the day after. It's a great breakup song, as strange as that sounds.
D from Virginia, Uruguayi like that part where she says
Go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine; I'll tell mine you're gay."
Jenn from Buffalo, NyHow can anybody not like Taylor Swift? Honestly?
Stephanie from Nashville, Tni love this song.
it describes my last relationship.
taylor swift is so good!
Amber from Anchorage, Aki absolutely love this song. i was listening to it one time with my friend and i was like omg! cuz pretty much every single thing she said was just like what my friend was going thru with this guy, who she wasnt dating either. but now i think about it for me, with a guy that i almost dated almost a year ago now.
Bethanii from Okc, Okloveee this song!
gahh. i hate guys like that dont u?? i get so sick of them being so oh im so gorgeous dont u just want to love me?
gahhh grow up! get over urself. srsly u rnt THAT pretty. :] stupid boys.
Claire from Fresno, Cai don't like this girl but this song is good because it reminds me of "smile" by lily allen, which is a good song

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