Taylor Swift - Tear Drops On My Guitar (Lyrics Review, Meaning & Guitar Chords)

“Tear Drops On My Guitar” stems from the very first album by Taylor Swift released in 2006. It is one of those songs that have defined Taylor Swift as a Country artist and one that has propelled her to the spotlight.The song peaked at #13 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and was received by critiques as one of Taylor’s best works. The single is also certified triple platinum by RIAA.

Ironically enough, “Tear Drops On My Guitar” was about one of Taylor Swift’s ex’s named ‘Andrew Hardwick’. They were not in a relationship, but Taylor Swift had a serious crush on him in high school. Andrew would often speak about his girlfriend with Taylor and the whole song is based on this one-sided affair.

Watch “Tear Drops On My Guitar” Music Video

“Tear Drops On My Guitar” Lyrics Review and Song Meaning

This song is a classic story of heartbreak of not being able to get that one person you love. At the age of 17, Taylor must have felt this pain sharp. So she turned her pain into words and this huge sensation appeared.

Taylor Swift was not to hide who the person she was talking about. His name is all over the song in repeat. Let’s jump into the intro;

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see
That I want and I’m needing everything that we should be
I’ll bet she’s beautiful, that girl he talks about,
And she’s got everything that I have to live without.

Drew (Andrew Hardwick) is the unfortunate guy who had no clue that Taylor Swift was madly crushing about him. For Taylor, everyday school life must have been hard seeing Andrew in class and him constantly talking about his precious girlfriend.

taylor swift teardrops on my guitar andrew hardwick — Andrew Hardwick in the picture. We could see him being that dreamy guy in high school

Taylor Swift says Drew’s girlfriend has everything that she has to live without and ‘everything’ here meaning the guy.

Drew talks to me, I laugh ’cause it’s so damn funny
That I can’t even see anyone when he’s with me
He says he’s so in love, he’s finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he’s all I think about at night

A naive, 17 year old girl can dream about her crush. And Taylor Swift can only imagine Andrew being with her. But Andrew is head over heels for his girlfriend that he missed every signs of affection extended by Taylor Swift.

The chorus of “Tear Drops On My Guitar” is very catchy

He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He’s the song in the car I keep singing, don’t know why I do

Taylor Swift is a pretty good guitar player and she started playing when she was very small. At nights she would often play the guitar and shed a tear knowing that Andrew is never going to be his. He is her only wish and he is the song of her life.

Verse 2 gives more details about the love she cannot have.

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can’t breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she’s lucky ’cause

The classic ‘she takes my breath away’ turned around for sexes. Taylor Swift is being pretty open about how she felt about him. For her, he was the perfection that she could never have or be. She is unimaginably jealous of Andrew’s girlfriend. But Taylor wishes him no harm and she hopes that girlfriend gives him everything he wants.

So I drive home alone.
As I turn out the light
I’ll put his picture down
And maybe get some sleep tonight.

‘Cause he’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who’s got enough of me to break my heart
He’s the song in the car I keep singing, don’t know why I do
He’s the time taken up, but there’s never enough
And he’s all that I need to fall into.

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see.

Every night Taylor Swift turns out the night light to sleep and Andrew is all he can think about. She has a picture of him by the bed side and she puts it down hoping she can get some sleep.

It never worked out for Taylor Swift in real life. Andrew never knew about the love she had for him until this song was released. But then he was married-probably to the same girl in the song. But I guess it worked out for the better, because Andrew Hardwick was later arrested for child abuse.

Taylor Swift spoke about the song and Andrew Hardwick in an interview;

“About two years after the album came out in the States, he showed up in my driveway. Apparently he and his girlfriend had broken up so that was his first stop when he was back in town. I was like ‘you are so late, y’know. If you’d stopped by right after the album came out then that would be one thing, but…’ I remember reading on his MySpace page one time ‘My name’s Drew and I have a famous song written about me. Email me and I’ll give you details.’ I was like, right, wow, note taken.”

Guess, Taylor Swift avoided a colossal douche and she made a few million dollars in the process. #Slay

That concludes our review of this classic Taylor Swift song and I hope you enjoyed the music and the lyrics review as much as I did in composing this article.

If you have any comments about the song or the lyrics review please do note them down below and we will make it a conversation. Also below are the guitar chord for the song as promised.