Pop, Country

Dear John Chords

Taylor Swift Beginner Key of C 4 Chords 4 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · C · G · F

Taylor Swift’s poignant ballad about a regretful relationship with an older man. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you

Am F

Counting my footsteps, praying the floor won’t fall through… again

C G

And my mother accused me of losing my mind

Am F

But I swore I was fine, you paint me a blue sky

C G

Then go back and turn it to rain

Am F

And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day

C G

Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight

Am F

Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Verse 2

C G

I took your matches before fire could catch me

Am F

So don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

C G

And I didn’t mean that but I need to hear you say it

Am F

Or see the pictures in your head of the slow, painful death of the girl with the blue eyes

C G

Put your favorite records on when I left

Am F

All I think about is how you screwed it all up in a blink of an eye

C G

Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games?

Am F

When I loved you so, I should’ve known

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Bridge

Am

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

F

Never impressed by me acing your tests

Am

All the girls that you’ve run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

F

’Cause you burned them out

C

But I took your matches before fire could catch me, don’t look now

G

I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Chorus

F

Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone

C

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

G

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

C

Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame

G

Or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love then take it away

F

And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand

C

And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said “run as fast as you can”

Outro

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young?

Am

You should’ve known

F

You should’ve known

C

Don’t you think I was too young?

G

You should’ve known

Am

I see it all now that you’re gone

F

I see it all now that you’re gone

C

I see it all now that you’re gone

G

Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?

Am

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

F

I should’ve known

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, even strum pattern throughout the long verses, and let the emotional intensity come from your vocal delivery rather than speeding up.