LYRIC BREAKDOWN: Tim McGraw

debut- track one

*Opens Spotify*

*Puts in airpods*

*Listens to Tim McGraw on repeat*

‘He said the way my blue eyes shined—’

The very first lyrics we ever heard from Taylor Swift. This song brings back memories of your first love, whether it was the hot guy in your math class or the bowl of cereal you ate every morning every morning in middle school.

DISCLAIMER: I have NO personal experience with being in love with a bowl of cereal…if you do…therapists exist…I advise you to talk to one…

now, let’s turn up the nostalgia and step lyric by lyric through track one on Taylor Swift (the album not the person): Tim McGraw

The first time I heard this song was in the back seat of my dad’s truck on the way to swim practice. That was about a year ago when I had just started listening to Taylor Swift. In my head, I didn’t like country (and I still don’t) so I hadn’t listened to Debut yet, but hearing Tim McGraw seriously changed my mind and got me to listen to Debut.

MY FIRST REACTION:

this is really well written…I kinda like this

so now to the lyric breakdown….

he said the way my blue eyes shined put the Georgia stars to shame that night I said ‘That’s a lie’

You can just imagine a cute Friday night date, under the stars, in the backcountry of some southern state. these lyrics are pretty self-explanatory, so we’ll move on.

just a boy in a Chevy truck that had a tenacity of getting stuck on backroads at night

So, she proceeds to describe this boy using his truck. Now, this truck could also be a metaphor for a strong man, or she could just be describing this truck that this guy owns. pretty flaunty trunk…

and I was right there beside him all summer long, and then the time we woke up to find that summer was gone

These lyrics inform us of summer love, and that seems to be all it was. now the line ‘we woke up to find that summer gone…’ is not as sus as it lets on. simply saying, ‘I woke up one morning and realized this wasn’t forever’ and vice versa.

when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song the one we danced to all night long the moon like a spotlight on the lake

Firstly, why won’t a guy ask me to ‘dance all night long’ with a ‘moon like a spotlight on the lake’!!!! (there’s my standards in men in a nutshell) secondly, this masterful picture painting attests to Taylor’s storytelling skills even at a young age.

‘The moon like a spotlight on the lake’

I mean just look at that, these lyrics led themselves to pictures like that!!!

when you think happiness, I hope you think that little black dress think of my head on your chest and my old faded blue jeans

TAYLOR!!! this guy needs brain cells…stop making him think about you (jk I swear) Now this pictures love, simply, not anything fancy. Just plain dresses, cuddles, and blue jeans. all so simple. I love it. also, her describing all these things as happiness. beautiful. then to wrap up the chorus she sings.

when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of me

Or rephrased, ‘When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of Taylor Swift’ Trust me I do!! also props to Taylor for a great tagline. The second verse then goes like this.

September saw a month of tears and thanking God you weren’t here to see me like that.

3 (3!?!?!?! iykyk) things to note.

1- September is NOT summer. this love was a summer love so this love is over when this line happens

2- ‘month of tears’ poor Taylor I’ve always imagined she was getting bullied that September *crying face*

3- she’s possibly happy that this is over ‘thanking God that you weren’t here to see me like that’ She didn’t want him to see her like that.

but in a box beneath my bed, there’s a letter that you never read three summers back

So, the main thing here: there is maybe a secret love letter or something that she’s hiding. I personally would like to know what’s written in that letter, also 3 (my gooseness all the 3s) have passed since that fateful summer.

it’s hard not to find it all a little bittersweet and looking back on all of that it’s nice to believe…

She’s now reminiscing on that summer she seems like she’s moved on. then she repeats the chorus.

when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song the one, we danced to all night long the moon like a spotlight on the lake when you think happiness I hope you think that little black dress think of my head on your chest and my old faded blue jeans when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of me

Then on to the bridge…

And I’m back for the first time since then I’m standing on your street and there’s a letter left on your doorstep and the first thing that you’ll read…

Now lucky for me my first lyric breakdown doesn’t have a massive bridge to unpack, but again Taylor delivers with the imagery. it’s a pretty seance filled with quite a bit of emotion. then Taylor tells us what’s written in the letter.

is when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song someday you’ll turn your radio on I hope it takes you back to that place when you think happiness I hope you think that little black dress think of my head on your chest and my old faded blue jeans when you think Tim McGraw I hope you think of me

she then restates the classic first line giving it a lasting effect.

he said the way my blue eyes shined put those Georgia starts to shame that night…I said that’s a lie

Tim McGraw is a song reminiscing on young love.

*turns off Spotify*

*takes out airpods*

*stops eating sour skittles*

and that’s all for now folks…come back on Saturday for a Swiftvities roundup and quick eras tour recap. Don’t forget to share with a friend but until then, think of Tim McGraw…. (I don’t know where I was going with that)

— Scarlett Parker…. *peace sign emoji*