I could go and ask her first,
You could try but it won't work,
I don't want my cover blown,
I should do this on my own,

The night has gone,
And I'm walking home,
But I still don't,
I still don't know,

The night has gone,
And I'm walking home,
But I still don't,
I still don't know,

If only one of us,
Had the guts tonight,

Its so hard to find the silent type,
Someone shy who won't spread the hype,
You're so cold and you're in this crowd,
I am on my way now,

The night has gone,
And I'm walking home,
But I still don't,
I still don't know,

The night has gone,
And I'm walking home,
But I still don't,
I still don't know,

If only one of us,
Had the guts tonight,
What if one of us,
Had the guts tonight


Lyrics submitted by newyorkrunaway, edited by simpleplot

What If? song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    To me this sounds like it's about someone who loves someone who's very shy. He's not sure if he really wants to be with her, because he has to make so many moves. But she's special to him so he tries, because I think his friends or something else gave him courage.

    "And what if only one of us had the guts tonight.."

    Something might happen, he wants something to happen. :)

    Yellowheartballoonson October 15, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm not sure about this but to me it sounds like there are three people in this song; the singer, "her" - the girl that he wants to ask out or something, and a third person - his competetion.

    In the first few lines:

    I could go and ask her first, You could try but it won't work,

    Its like they both want to ask her, but then he gos on to say that neither of them have the guts to do it and he's wondering how the night would have turned out if they had.

    Thats just what it sounds like to me, but Bombay Bicycle Club's lyrics are always a little abstract and I never feel like I understand 100% of what he's saying.

    afrolady213on June 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such a good song...bomaby bicycle club deserve to be massive.

    AdamLoweon July 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I am not really sure what is this song about, but it's such amazing tune. It may refer about taking your chances when they are in front "If only one of us had the guts tinight"

    osmosison August 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just love this song... It is defnietly about a shy person and keeps thinking If only one of us had the guts tonight?

    seitgeiston October 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The night has gone, And I'm walking home, But I still don't, I still don't know,

    done this many times :( lol

    Fletch1992on April 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that this one's about a two guys who like the same girl, and the one guy wants to tell her, but he's too shy, so he ends up walking home, rethinking his decisions about not asking her, and wondering what if the other guy gets her.

    heylookitsannaon October 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    This song is about two people loving the same person. "I could go and ask her first, You could try but it won't work" They both know they love the same woman,, and he's going to ask her first. I think the girl loves the first guy more, that's why the other guy wouldn't work. The way they found out about it was maybe the first guy asked the second one for help in asking he out, because he was quiet and wouldn't spread it around. The part about the guts, they're seeing ho has the guts to ask her out first. and the walking home at ight. He still hasn't out of respect for his friend. God i love Jack Steadman's voice.

    Indie27on July 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its so hard to find the silent type, Someone shy who won't spread the hype, You're so cold and you're in this crowd, I am on my way now,

    • This is genius.

    And I don't think it's about two people competing for one. It's about two people competing against themselves: neither one having the "guts" to cross the room, having made eye contact and fallen in love in an instant.

    charliedotevanson September 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think that this song is actually just about 2 people, the guy and the girl. The first verse seems to me to be more of a conversation between two sides of a guy's personality, or more likely; who he is, and who he thinks he needs to be to impress the girl.

    You'll notice that after the first lines that implies there are 2 people interested in just one girl, he sings "I should do this on my own, I don't want my cover blown" - implying that he should be himself, and not the super confident guy that other girls might want.

    cptnretroon October 30, 2012   Link

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