John Mayer made a shocking confession about one of his songs — on the same weekend Taylor Swift‘s breakup news went public. Hmm…
The 45-year-old singer recently opened up about his track Paper Doll — a song fans have long believed is about Taylor. For those who need a refresher, the musicians briefly dated in 2009 when she was only 19 years old and he was 32. And following their break up in February 2010, the now 33-year-old songstress ended up releasing a scathing song called Dear John — which is undeniably about Mayer. The track features savage lyrics like:
“Dear John, I see it all, now it was wrong / Don’t you think nineteen is too young to be played by your dark twisted games when I loved you so? / I should’ve known”
It was pretty brutal, and the song has haunted John over the years! In fact, he blasted the track in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2012, saying:
“It made me feel terrible. It was a really lousy thing to do. I never got an email. I never got a phone call. I was really caught off guard.”
Related: Taylor Broke Up With Alwyn In Time To Focus On Her US Tour???
And a year later, he dropped Paper Doll. While Mayer never revealed who was the inspiration for the piece, many fans read it as his response to Taylor, due to easter eggs within the lyrics. For instance, he sings at one point:
“You’re like 22 girls in one/And none of them know what they’re runnin’ from / Was it just too far to fall?/ For a little paper doll.”
Not only does it include the title of her song 22 from the Red album, but it also seemed to be a direct response to a part in Dear John where Taylor belts out:
“And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand / And I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said ‘run as fast as you can.’”
Yeah, there’s no denying that Paper Doll seems to be a clap back at Taylor! He clearly was very salty about the hate he received after Dear John was released.
But after their back-and-forth song drama, John seems to have some regrets over his response to everything! During his concert at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on April 8, he reflected on the song and confessed that the tune may have come across as a little too “bitchy” — at least for his liking these days. In a video posted on TikTok, John could be seen telling the audience:
“I wonder if people don’t like it because it sounds a little pissed off. I don’t like ‘pissed off’ as a song. I think it was more hurt. Is there something about it that’s a little bitchy? I try not to give bitchiness in the song, and that happens sometimes. I guess I don’t do it very well, sarcastic bitch, but I didn’t really see it. I guess it is sort of a little bit like ‘Meehhh.’”
Ya, think? Ch-ch-check out the concert moment (below):
@covidcovers John Mayer reflecting on his Paper Doll lyrics #johnmayer #johnmayersolotour #taylorswift #couldveshouldvewouldve #dearjohn #paperdoll
Innerestingly enough, these new comments from John came on the same day that Taylor’s split with her boyfriend of six years, Joe Alywn, was revealed. So naturally, despite his candid reflection, many Swifties thought John was just being shady after making these comments and playing the track in light of the breakup news. See some of the Twitter reactions (below):
“John Mayer deciding to play paper doll the day that that news about taylor dropped is being reported on is filling me with rage”
“You know who the real enemy here is? John Mayer….Guy literally played Paper Doll on the day of the breakup rumours. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) can’t come any quicker”
“John Mayer fully knew what he was doing when he said “Paper Doll” is one of his favorites and then proceeded to say he knows it comes off as bitchy and it happens sometimes with songs on the day people find out about Taylor’s breakup.”
*Cue Taylor’s song I Bet You Think About Me* Lolz! Reactions, Perezcious readers? Do YOU think he was being sincerely self-reflective? Or subtly shady?? Let us know in the comments below!
[Image via MEGA/WENN]