[Verse]

Long were the nights

When my days once revolved around you

Counting my footsteps

Prayin' the floor won't fall through again

And my mother accused me of losin' my mind

But I swore I was fine

You paint me a blue sky

Then go back and turn it to rain

And I lived in your chess game

But you change the rules every day

Wonderin' which version of you

I might get on the phone tonight

Well, I stopped pickin' up

And this song is to let you know why

[Chorus]

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

I shoulda known

[Verse]

Well, maybe it's me and my blind optimism to blame

Or maybe it's you and your sick need

To give love and take it away

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"

[Chorus]

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

Dear John, I see it all now, it was wrong

Don't you think nineteen's too young to be played by

Your dark, twisted games when I loved you so?

I shoulda known

[Bridge]

You are an expert at "Sorry" and keepin' lines blurry

Never impressed by me acing your tests

All the girls that you run dry have tired, lifeless eyes

'Cause you burned them out

But I took your matches before fire could catch me

So don't look now

I'm shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town

Oh

[Chorus]

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?

The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?

The girl in the dress wrote you a song

You shoulda known

[Outro]

You shoulda known

Don't you think I was too young?

You shoulda known