(Fullest Version) Better Man - Taylor Swift Live At The Bluebird Cafe

There are two versions of Better Man on Youtube, one with Scott talking and one without. I always assumed the one without just cut his narration without adding anything new but today I learned differently! So of course I had to do my best to make a full version of this gorgeous song.

A few parts are missing due to Scott talking over them but I was able to salvage most of the song. I'm no audio mixing expert so some of the transitions aren't as smooth as I would like, but they were the best I could do.

I put the audio over the live performance videos, removing Scott where needed haha. Enjoy!

All rights to Taylor, Big Machine, Little Big Town, and whomever else is concerned.

[rockonufa]

Just hits different when it's acoustic and her voice.

[incaseofasteroid]

Isn’t it funny how we’re all here, watching this, and thinking about different persons and different mistakes they made?

[Danielle__RT]

Some of her songs absolutely cut, and this is one of them. People hate on her so much, but she really is talented, and the girl can write! This song had me sobbing within 15 or 20 seconds the very first time I heard it. I gave 13 years of my life to the man that this song reminds me of. Moving on is so hard. I've tried, but I haven't found the fireworks like I had with him. I guess you only find that once, if you're lucky enough to find it at all!

[mackenzieessner]

it blows my mind how effortlessly she sings this song with such control

[Sublilacify]

I love people in the crowd faces they are genuinely amazed. Thank you Taylor you make people happy.

[singerg]

Some of the saddest and most relatable words Taylor ever said was, "You would've been the one if you were a better man". I'm sure every woman on Earth knows exactly how that feels.

[whell]

Hope Taylor could re-record this in her Taylor’s version album🥺

[MrNEEDAREALCHANGE]

How can anyone deny the talent of this singer and songwriter?

[madisonwolgast]

This is beautiful. I never knew that she wrote this until just recently.

[shougahmad]

I just love how everybody is admiring her singing and nobody has their phone up, Beautiful

[TheDropkick]

I know
I’m probably better off on my own
Than lovin' a man who
Didn’t know what he had when he had it.
And I see
The permanent damage you did to me.
Never again,
I just wish I could forget when it was magic.
I wish it wasn’t 4 am,
Standing in the mirror, saying to myself:
You know you had to do it.
I know the bravest thing I ever did was run.
Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can feel you again
But I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man.
And I know why we had to say goodbye like the back of my hand
And I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man,
A better man.
I know
I’m probably better off all alone
Than needing a man who could
Change his mind at any given minute.
And it’s always on your terms
I’m hanging on every careless word
Hoping it might turn sweet again
Like it was in the beginning.
But your jealousy, I can hear it now.
You’re talking down to me like I’ll always be around.
You push my love away like it’s some kind of loaded gun.
No, you never thought I’d run.
Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can feel you again
But I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man.
And I know why we had to say goodbye like the back of my hand
And I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man,
A better man...
Better man...
I hold onto this pride
Because these days it’s all I have
And I gave you my best,
And we both know you can’t say that...
No, You can’t say that...
If you were a better man...
You would’ve been the one, If you were a better man,
Yeah, yeah.
Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can feel you again
But I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man.
And I know why we had to say goodbye like the back of my hand
And I just miss you and I just wish you were a better man,
A better man...
Better man...
We might still be in love, if you were a better man,
You would’ve been the one, If you were a better man

[daveotto]

when she sings "sometimes" you can hear her twang, and i never noticed how much musicians and Taylor Swift does here is use her mouth for vocalizing. When she sings "Man" and I know..i had to say goodbye" when she sings know she's really doing well and over accentuating her vowels...oh i was gonna say that this is prob my fav song of hers and this is my fav version, which makes me frustrated i can't hear the whole thing the whole way through, but at the same time, it makes that night at the Bluebird all the more special for those who were in attendance.

[niki]

Listening to this and Riptide one after the other is a whole experience

[theosison]

This is more emotional than the taylor's version.

[shanshanemo]

This is really well done, we don't see enough performances from Taylor like this.

[ahanajain]

this is like a sequel to 'tolerate it'

[SamanthaIngrid-rz]

Taylor Swift "you are captvating, that's why...we love you so much"❤❤

[MilaBelen]

Was just looking for the version without that as**ole Scott. THANK YOU

[laurenb]

I have a lot of respect for Little Big Town and they sing this song well but Taylor’s voice with this song is beyond gorgeous!!! ❤️😃

[le_th_]

Thank you so much for posting this @Vickoridge So appreciate you doing your best to do this gorgeously vulnerable and powerful song about someone walking away from an abusive relationship despite still being in love with that person.

I hope we someday get to see a full and complete acoustic version of this song performed from beginning to end. That said, I can only imagine that it must take a lot of courage for her, even today, to get up on stage and make herself completely vulnerable to a room full of strangers and just sing out whatever pain still resides inside her from that toxic relationship.

I wouldn't wish that kind of abusive relationship trauma on any adult, and certainly not on someone in their early 20s.

Just incredibly brave for her to get up on stage and perform this. You can almost sense her initial trepidation as she begins singing and then eventually just closes her eyes and belts it all out once she sees the audience smiling back at her. I'm glad the audience was so attentive and respectful.