I saw him at the corner store
He gave me candy, - The fact he gave her 'candy' insinuates that he has a kind nature and the fact that she saw him at corner store could mean he works there.
I came back for more.
I asked for his name, - Coming back for more could refer to the candy, but it refers mainly to his name. The fact she came back for it shows her interest in him.
He said call me J for James
He was 6'2 lots of style, - The fact of having a nickname of 'J' and not "Jay" might show that he thinks he's cool, the fact that 'he was 6'2 lots of style' adds to this as it gives you an image of a tall hansom guy - which is stereotypical of a "cool" person.
He had the recipe to make you smile
But he got too popular with the girls This could refer to cheating or even her jealousy by the fact he was paying attention to other girls. However, it does show that she won't risk her feelings being hurt.
So I erased him from my world - Showing that she wasn't willing to have a boyfriend who was 'too popular with the girls' as she is careful who she gives her heart to as she doesn't want it broken.
The next boy was cute and shy This shows that she's going from one extreme to another, as the first guy was 'too popular with the girls' and this one can't even look her in the eyes.
But he never really looked me in the eyeSecretive I was intrigued - Evolving on the idea that he's shy, but the fact he couldn't look her in the eye and the fact he was secretive give you the idea that he couldn't be trusted - which is a bad quality in a relationship.
He was sweet, his name was Pete (Sweet Pete)
First time that he took me out,
I didn't know what to talk about - The fact they 'didn't know what to talk about' shows that they had nothing in common and weren't a good match. However, it could also be adding on to the fact Pete was 'shy'.
So I took the initiative
And told Pete he had to leave - 'Initiative' showing that she took charge of the situation and ended it before any of them got hurt; using her common sense to notice that they would not be a good couple.
[Chorus:]
So I'm back to square one
With Mr Good For Nothing John - This tells us that she was with John before all the others and that she's still hung up on him, despite her more recent relationships.
Ever since he brought me down,
I can't get off the ground - Showing that this 'John' broke up with her, contrasting the fact that she keeps breaking up with her boy friends. This might be because when 'John ' broke up with her it broke her heart and she doesn't want to experience that again so she breaks up with her boyfriends before they have a chance to hurt her like 'John' did.
It's not like I don't try,
And I'm pretty easy on the eye - Thus showing she still has her self-confidence and that she keeps trying to 'get back up' after what John did, by dating new and different guys.
But the one I really crave,
Is the one that got away - By the word 'crave' you can tell tell that no matter what she does she can't get this guy out of her head and she wants him like she wants nothing else. 'The one that got away' is a classic term about that one person you truly loved and cared for, that 'got away' referring to the fact that this person left them.
With each boy he gets worse,
But I'm still stuck on the first - 'With each boy he gets worse' referring to the fact no matter who she dates and how many guys she dates the fact that they're not him becomes more clear as time goes on. This is because she saw John as "perfect" which is why she's so stuck on him.
Really hate to say,
I want the one that got away - Showing that she knows what she really wants no matter how she denies it and that she hates that she does because he broke her heart. The fact she 'hates to say' might be because she feels embarrassed and betrayed by herself because she wants 'the one that got away'. This could be why she is dating all these guys to try find one better than John so that she can get over him.
[Verse 2:]
He's the star of the football team,
Can be found in every girl's dream - The fact she hasn't given the name of the guy shows that he's of less importance and that she's starting to get bored trying to 'get over' John.
We've been talking for a while,
You could say that he's on trial -'Talking for a while' insinuates that she's been taking it slow, contrasting against her other relationships that she's mentioned. Showing that she's fed p of the relationships not working out and that she really wants to try make this one work.
But whenever we're alone,
His jaw's like a gramophone - 'Whenever we're alone' showing that they're not really alone a lot. The fact of ' his jaw's like a gramophone' showing that he really drones on and is less interesting without a crowd to impress.
When he goes off the field,
With him goes his appeal - This almost insinuated she only dated him for the fact he was a football star and not for his person or that he's a completely different person of field, one that she doesn't like or know.
[Chorus:]
[Bridge:]
Here she goes again,
With another boy on her hands - This is wrote in a different persons perspective - of a persons opinion of her. It's in a judgemental tone showing that they don't approve of her way of getting over John.
Word goes around
Real fast in this small town - Showing that everyone knows everyone's business and that nothing can be kept a secret, rumours are being spread and you can suspect that they are not pleasant nor polite. By this she's telling you that the whole town is now judging her.
All these rumours like I'm a stark, - 'Stark' being a pop-culture reference to the Stark family in Game of Thrones, showing that she's now infamous within the town and that everyone knows these silly rumours.
Just wanna find
Someone to give my heart - The fact she is just looking for someone to give her heart to means that after her relationship with John all she want is to love someone and for someone to love her back; she wants to be able to trust the person she gives her heart to.
No luck with James, Pete or the football stud - Referring to the fact she is fickle with her affections and that she wants to find the right guy to give her heart to, not just anyone.
None of them can compare
None of them can compare
To my John - Repartition of the fact that 'none of them can compare ' enforces the point and makes it known that none of John's replacements were worthy compared to John. Also the fact that she says 'To my John' shows that she still believes he's hers and the 'my' being quite possessive shows how she 'craves' him.
[Chorus:]
It's not like I don't try,
And I'm pretty easy on the eye
But the one I really crave,
Is the one that got away
With each boy he gets worse,
But I'm still stuck on the first
Really hate to say,
I want the one that got away - This chorus is shorter as she has now learned that she can't replace John so there is no 'square one' . Also, the fact that it doesn't mention John bringing her down or how she can't get up; implying that she is now back up and resigned to the fact that John is the the one she wants and craves and she can't do anything about it.
I want the one that got away - This is the final line of the song, showing the repetitiveness from her actions, by how this line is repeated throughout the song, and how they always lead her back to John - 'the one that got away'.
