The song is part of the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Country.
The lyrics describe Taylor's dissatisfaction with her ex-boyfriend (whom she describes as "just another picture to burn"), and her plans to seek revenge on him. The official single release contains the radio edit which replaces the line "That's fine, I'll tell mine that you're gay" with "That's fine, you won't mind if I say". This version was used on the March 2008 re-release. Similar to Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" music video.
Picture to Burn
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me
So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy
That's fine, you won't mind if I say
By the way
I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
You're a redneck heartbreak who's really bad at lying
As far as I'm concerned, you're just another picture to burn
There's no time for tears
I'm just sitting here planning my revenge
There's nothing stopping me
From going out with all of your best friends
And if you come around saying sorry to me
My daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be
'Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
You're a redneck heartbreak who's 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
And if you're missing me, you'd better keep it to yourself
'Cause coming back around here would be bad for your health
'Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
You're a redneck heartbreak who's really bad at lying
So watch me strike a match on all my wasted time
In case you haven't heard, I really, really hate that
Stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
You're a redneck heartbreak who's 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
Burn, burn, burn, baby, burn
Just another picture to burn
Baby, burn
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's song "Picture to Burn" express the feelings of a scorned woman who has been hurt by her ex-lover. She begins by acknowledging that her perfect fantasy of love did not come to fruition, and realizes that her ex-boyfriend loves himself more than he ever loved her. She then proceeds to call him out on his lies and publicly declare her hatred for him, warning him not to come back into her life. In fact, she plans to take revenge by going out with all of his best friends. She even threatens him with violence, with the implication that her father will do the dirty work for her.
The personal, angry nature of the lyrics is emphasized by the catchy melody and driving guitar riffs. The chorus, "I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive / You're a redneck heartbreak who's 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," repeats itself several times, making it both easy to remember and to sing along to.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of anger and the desire for revenge in the face of heartbreak. It speaks to the universal experience of feeling wronged, mistreated, or betrayed by someone we once trusted, and the intense emotions that can arise from those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
State the obvious, I didn't get my perfect fantasy
I accept that the relationship is over and it didn't live up to my expectations.
I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me
You're too into yourself to ever care about someone else's feelings, especially mine.
So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy
You're trying to make me look like the bad guy to your friends, but I don't care.
That's fine, you won't mind if I say
I have something to say to you and you won't care what it is.
By the way
This is what I have to say to you.
I hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
I'm angry with you for not letting me drive your truck even though I really wanted to.
You're a redneck heartbreak who's really bad at lying
You're the type of person who breaks hearts and lies about everything but you're not very good at it.
So watch me strike a match on all my wasted time
I'm done wasting my time with you and I'm ready to move on.
As far as I'm concerned, you're just another picture to burn
I'm over you and you're just another person who can be easily forgotten.
There's no time for tears
I'm not going to cry over you anymore.
I'm just sitting here planning my revenge
I'm going to get back at you for hurting me.
There's nothing stopping me
I have the power to do whatever I want now and I'm going to use it.
From going out with all of your best friends
I'm going to date all of your friends just to bother you.
And if you come around saying sorry to me
If you try to apologize to me, don't expect me to forgive and forget.
My daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be
My dad is going to make sure you regret ever hurting me.
And if you're missing me, you'd better keep it to yourself
If you're feeling emotional about the breakup, don't bother telling me.
'Cause coming back around here would be bad for your health
If you come back around, you're going to regret it because I'll make sure you do.
In case you haven't heard, I really, really hate that stupid old pickup truck you never let me drive
I'm driving the point home that I'm angry with you for not letting me drive your truck.
Burn, burn, burn, baby, burn
I want you to feel the heat of the fire I'm starting.
Just another picture to burn
You're just another person who can be easily forgotten.
Baby, burn
Bye bye, I'm done with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Elisabeth Wagner Rose, Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@usha22_
Well, every Taylor Swift album has a Savage song.
Taylor Swift : Picture To Burn
Fearless : Forever and Always, Tell Me Why
Speak Now : Better Than Revenge
Red : I Knew You Were Trouble, WANGBT
1989 : Bad Blood
Reputation : This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things ,IDSB
Unreleased: REVENGE
Well, who doesn't love a Savage song. So much fun.
Edit: I know there are more but these are my favorites.
@jenayatoding
"he let her drive the truck? He never let me drive the truck!"
ICONIC✨
@beckywesinger7488
Hey why does your post show incognito and how-do-you-do that
@youthtalk1096
I’m pretty sure she wasn’t even old enough to drive at the time. That could possibly be why he never let her drive the truck.
@katesmith8897
My ex is dating a new girl who looks like a horse (literally) and drives a pick up truck
@cookies8484
Kate Smith xD
@chantelroberts1085
Igree
@mihira_9
Does no one cares for Paul Sidoti, the guitarist. He has literally been with Taylor for more than 15 years now😭😭
@annejia5382
appreciation 💓💓💓
@josephstalin188
Include the bass player as well, he was with her from the start
@yashnatiwari5484
Yeah I saw him on BBC lover performance too