All Taylor Swift Songs About John Mayer

Country-pop legend Taylor Swift dated fellow musician John Mayer from 2009 to 2010. Since their breakup, Swift fans have theorized about potential John Mayer references in her songs.

Although she rarely says which men her lyrics are about, Swift has many songs about her ex-lovers. We’ve done some digging and are here to bring you all the Taylor Swift songs about John Mayer to date.

1. “Dear John” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2010

Taylor Swift wrote this song about John Mayer just months after their breakup. The track debuted on Speak Now on October 25th, 2010, and reached the number four spot on the US Country chart. The song is a classic Taylor Swift guitar hit with an electric blues feel and bright, open vocals.

A “Dear John” is a letter someone writes to confirm their breakup, and Swift uses this play on words to refer to her ex John Mayer.

She calls attention to their age gap and sings about how she was too young for a relationship with him. At the time, Swift was 19, and Mayer was 32, and many fans expressed concern that Mayer was taking advantage of Swift.

Whatever the issues behind their breakup, it’s clear Swift feels a sense of relief at Mayer’s absence. Looking back, she wishes she had listened to the advice of friends and family who told her to break up with him.

“Dear John” is a sort of sequel track to “Half of My Heart,” an early collaboration between Swift and Meyer. In “Dear John,” Swift affirms the idea set out in “Half of My Heart,” that Mayer isn’t mature enough for a long-term relationship, despite his advanced age.

2. “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2022

On October 21st, 2022, Taylor Swift released the deluxe version of her album Midnights. Midnights is a collection of songs that draw inspiration from different insomnia-tinged nights in Swift’s past, and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” refers to a late night back in 2009 when she was dating John Mayer.

“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” is a rock-inspired track with heavy-hitting drums, ethereal choir-like background vocals by Swift, and a melancholy, regretful feel.

The religious imagery in the song suggests Swift and Mayer’s relationship was a situation with an unhealthy power imbalance. She sings about how she worshipped him and gave him everything.

In the chorus, Swift confirms this song is about Mayer. She sings about how this regrettable relationship occurred when she was 19 and how this young experience left her with emotional scars.

3. “Superman” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2010

Not long after their breakup, Taylor Swift released this song about John Mayer. It was from the Speak Now album, released in the fall of 2010.

The song is a country pop track, and Swift sings with a Southern accent in front of a twangy guitar track and hard-hitting drums.

From the first line, it’s clear Swift is talking about Mayer. She refers to a handsome man with dark hair and a tall stature, and he’s the only boyfriend to date who fits this description.

Also, she refers to the ambition of her boyfriend’s father, and John Mayer’s father is a retired principal with an ambition for music, which he shared with Mayer.

Swift said she wrote the song after calling the boy in question Superman, and it’s likely the implied Mayer was intimidating to date because of his fame. However, over a decade after “Superman,” Swift is undoubtedly the more famous of the two.

4. “The Story of Us” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2010

It’s a small world. Perhaps never more than when you’re a celebrity. Swift was at the Country Music Awards in 2010 when who should she run into but John Mayer, the man she’d broken up with just months before!

Swift had to maintain her composure at the awards ceremony and pretend she didn’t care that Mayer was there. She did her best to avoid him during the evening but ended up sitting a few seats nearer to him than she would have liked.

After the uncomfortable experience, Swift felt inspired to write a song. “The Story of Us,” a rock track she put on Speak Now. It’s the seventh track from Speak Now, famous for being the album with many songs inspired by Mayer. It was the last song she wrote for the album.

5. “Ours” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2010

Although “Ours” is a lesser-known track, it’s a crucial addition to the John Mayer and Taylor Swift timeline.

“Ours” premiered in 2010, the fifteenth track from the deluxe version of Speak Now. It’s a folky Swift song about forbidden love.

In “Ours,” Taylor Swift refers to a man with a gap between his teeth. It’s clear that this song is about John Mayer, as the iconic singer has a small gap between his two bottom teeth.

Mayer’s distinctive smile isn’t the only proof this song is about him. She also sings about how other people disapprove of their relationship, just like Swift’s friends discouraged her relationship with Mayer. Additionally, she refers to his extensive tattoos and his long list of ex-girlfriends.

6. “If This Was A Movie” by Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2010

Taylor Swift’s history with John Mayer is exciting enough to be a movie, but Swift calls out the lack of a happy ending in this 2010 track. Nathan Chapman, a Grammy Award-winning record producer from Nashville, joined Swift and added writing to the song.

“If This Was A Movie” dropped in October 2010 on Speak Now, Swift’s third studio album. It’s a Western-sounding song distinctive of Swift’s early career when she wrote in the country pop genre.

The song is a sad track about a past relationship that has failed. Swift wonders what her dealings with Mayer would have been like had the pair lived in a romantic comedy instead of real life.

Many romantic films have a scene similar to the end of John Mayer and Taylor Swift’s relationship. The two have a falling out and break up with each other. However, at the last moment, film couples usually get together in a dramatic gesture. Swift says Mayer would have returned to her if her life was a movie.

7. “Half of My Heart” by John Mayer and Taylor Swift

Song Year: 2009

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the iconic track Swift and Mayer recorded together. The two released “Half of My Heart,” a slow pop track, in 2009, around the time they were together.

Although they started dating in 2009, 2009 was also the year Swift and Meyer met for the first time. This dropped on November 17th, 2009, although it’s unknown when they wrote the song.

Meyer wrote the lyrics and Swift joined in on the chorus, which also had writing input from Steve Jordan. Overall “Half of My Heart” was a collaborative track that’s still an official part of Taylor Swift’s extensive repertoire.

The song has a country feel, fitting in perfectly with Taylor Swift’s vocals. It has lyrics about a relationship that might not work out. Mayer reflects on his isolated childhood and worries it will affect his ability to commit to Swift or any other partner.

Best Taylor Swift Songs About John Mayer, Final Thoughts

So, there’s another batch of Taylor Swift song about exes.

Undoubtedly, Taylor Swift is one of the most iconic musicians of our age. Known for her pop hits, breakup tracks, and poetic lyrics, the Pennsylvanian native has often been in the spotlight for her dating life.

However, Swift has turned this public scrutiny to good use, writing songs about her experiences with men. In particular, her linkage to John Mayer incited the release of several songs, most of them on the 2010 album Speak Now.

Swift’s relationship with Mayer caught the eye of fans, with many drawing attention to their significant age gap. However, it seems she has learned from the experiences, and Swift’s songs show how much she has grown since the relationship.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this round-up of all the Taylor Swift songs about John Mayer, and are ready to learn more. Why not read some more of our articles about Taylor Swift’s career?