As Taylor Swift re-releases her hit Dear John, a look at the song’s ‘meaning’

Taylor Swift has re-released her hit song Dear John on her new version of her album Speak Now.

The singer, 33, first performed the song in 2010 and it was widely believed to be about her ex-boyfriend John Mayer.

It was released on her third album Speak Now, which Taylor has now re-recorded as part of an effort to “reclaim” her work. Fans heard the new versions on Friday.

Amid her legal battle with Scooter Braun over her original masters, Taylor decided years ago to re-record all of her old albums and release new “Taylor’s Versions” to which she would own the rights.

In between re-recordings of her third album, Taylor has re-released her fan favorite, Dear John, which she recently performed live for the first time in 11 years.

John reportedly dated Taylor from December 2009 to February 2010, when he was 31 and she was 19 — and the breakup was far from amicable.

Since the single first debuted, fans have widely assumed that the lyrics were about John Mayer, who she had a grudge split with earlier that year, though Taylor has never confirmed it was about him.

With its scathing lyrics about an ex’s “sick need to give love and then take it away,” fans have long speculated that the lyrics refer to her past romance.

“Don’t you think I was too young to mess around with?” Taylor sang in Dear John. “The girl in the dress cried all the way home – I should have known.”

She continues, “Well, maybe it’s me and my blind optimism—or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love and then take it away.”

Taylor continues sizzlingly, “And you add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand, and I’ll look back and regret ignoring when they said, ‘Run as fast as you can.'”

Dear John, besides referring to John’s name, she also remembers her age (19) at the time of their romance, which further leads the fans to suspect that song is about her ex.

The track was also released in October 2010 – just eight months after their reported split.

To dig? The 33-year-old singer first sang the song in 2010 and it was widely believed to be about her ex-boyfriend John Mayer.

After the song came back into the public eye as part of her re-release, Taylor begged her fans not to “defend” her against John.

However, they ignored her pleas and started denouncing him online as a “groomer” because he was 33 and she was 19 when they dated.

The song also came into the public eye when John, now 45, spoke out on his 2013 song Paper Doll, which is believed to be a rebuttal to Dear John.

On his John Mayer Solo live show in April, John discussed Paper Doll and told the audience, “I wonder if people don’t like it because it sounds a little pissed off.” I don’t like pi**ed off as a number. I think it was more hurt,” via Yahoo.

He added, “Is there anything about it that’s a little b****y? I try not to give bi***ness to the song and that sometimes happens. I guess I’m not doing very well – sarcastic b***h.’

In 2012, John had previously told Rolling stone magazine that he felt “really humiliated” about the song, which made him “feel horrible.”

He told the outlet, ‘Because I didn’t deserve it. I’m pretty good at taking responsibility now, and I’ve never done anything to deserve that. It was really horrible what she did.’

Romance: John reportedly dated Taylor from December 2009 to February 2010 when he was 31 and she was 19 — and the breakup was far from amicable

He said at the time that he didn’t know how she felt until after the song was released: ‘I never got an email. I never received a call. I was really caught off guard and it really humbled me at a time when I was already dressed. I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest level you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower?’

After his sharp words, Taylor was asked for her thoughts on what he told Rolling Stone.

She told Glamor magazine, “How presumptuous! I never reveal who my songs are about. I know it wasn’t right, so I don’t want to know. I value staying happy and I know what I can’t handle.’

The couple, who have a 12-year age difference, met when she collaborated on his song Half of My Heart, which led to the brief three-month relationship from December 2009 to February 2010.