This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

by Taylor Swift
Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play

Other arrangements of This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

It was so nice throw ing big par ties, jump in to the pool from the bal co ny, ev ’ry one swim ming in a cham pagne sea.

And there are no rules when you show up here.

Bass beat rat tl ing the chan de lier.

Feel ing so Gats by for that whole year.

So (Bb)why’d you have to rain on my pa (C)rade?

I’m shak ing my (Gm)head

and lock ing the (C)gates.

(CN.C.)This is why we can’t have (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)dar

(C)ling.

Be cause you break them, I had to take them a way.

(C)This is why we can’t have (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)hon

(C)ey.

(F)Did you think I would n’t hear (Dm)all the things you said a bout (Bb)me?

(C)This is why we can’t have nice things.

It was so nice be ing friends a gain.

There I was, giv ing you a sec ond chance, but you stabbed me in the back while shak ing my hand.

And there in lies the is sue: friends don’t try to trick you, get you on the phone and mind twist you.

And so I took an axe to a mend ed fence.

But I’m (C)This is why we can’t have...

(F)Here’s a toast to my (Dm)real friends: they don’t care a bout the (C)“he said, she said.” And here’s to my (Dm)ba by: he ain’t read ing what they (C)call me late ly.

(F)And here’s to my (Dm)ma (F)ma: had to lis ten to (C)all this dra ma.

And (F)here’s

to (Dm)you, ’cause for (Bb)give ness is a nice thing to (C)do.

This is why we can’t have (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)dar

(C)ling.

Be cause you break them, I had to take them a way.

(C)This is why we can’t have (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)hon

(C)ey.

(F)Did you think I would n’t hear (Dm)all the things you said a bout (Bb)me?

(C)This is why we can’t have (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)dar

(C)ling.

Be cause you break them, I had to take them.

And here’s to my (C)ba by, (F)nice

(Dm)things,

(Bb)hon

(C)ey.

(F)Did you think I would n’t hear (Dm)all the things you said a bout (Bb)me?

(C)This is why we can’t have nice things.

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

7 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" by Taylor Swift: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Bb, 156 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things”

What key is "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" by Taylor Swift played in?
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things"?
The arrangement plays at 156 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things"?
"This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" was originally performed by Taylor Swift. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Taylor Swift can I play here?
Try "GETAWAY CAR", "THE LAST TIME", "ENCHANTED". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" by Taylor Swift. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in Bb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.