• I could have been a sailor, could have been a cook A real live lover, could have been a book I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock As simple as a kettle, steady as a rock I could be Here and now I would be. I should be But how? I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first. I could have been your pillar, could have been your door I could have stayed beside you, could have stayed for more I could have been your statue Could have been your friend A whole long lilfetime could have been the end I could be yours so true I would be. I should be through and through. I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first. I could have beena whistle, could have been a flute A real live giver, could have been a boot I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock As simple as a kettle steady as a rock I could even be here I would be. I should be so near I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first. I think it's important to look at the connotations of the things that he could have been... while I agree with all the interpretations here, they are very surface-level. I don't think he's referring to a literal alternative life (or carnation) but more contemplating metaphorically the fact that life is a series of choices that lead us to be who we are. With this specific person he could have been very different, things could have gone differently. But he wasn’t, and they didn’t. Even though he could try put things back together now… it’s too late. He should have been these things first, before the relationship ended. In the first verse he looks at what kind of person he could have been in general. “First” here refers to before he met the person in verse 2. He could have been an explorer (a sailer), a provider (a cook), a lover, someone who spent their time gaining knowledge about the world (a book). He could have been simply something to show others the direction they should go in (a sign post), he could have been simply something to show others the stage of their life they were at (a clock). He could have been simple and unremarkable (a kettle), he could have been strong and reliable (a rock). He could still be any of those things but doesn’t know how to change. In the second verse he looks at what kind of a person he could have been during a specific relationship. Here “first” refers to before the relationship ended. He could have been the person’s support (a pillar), an escape route from something else, or entrance into something different (door), could have been the unchanging constant that reflected what the other person was and belonged to the other person completely without taking anything from the relationship himself (your statue), could have just remained a friend (as difficult to be as all these other things). Then their relationship would have lasted a lifetime. He could have been, he should have been… before the relationship ended. In the final verse deals with the end of the relationship. The “first” here refers to before he had the experiences he had. Before he had had certain experiences, he would have had the choice to do either of these things (which are complete opposites). However after the experiences, the choice is no longer his. He could have been the one pointing out the problems, annoying and controlling (a whistle), he could have been the opposite, singing all the praises of the other person, trying to please them (a flute). He could have just kept giving and giving (a real live giver) or he could have ended it by just kicking the other person out of his life (a boot). He repeats that he could have been a signpost and a clock but this time meaning specifically to the other person – he could have been their warning sign, could have told them where they were heading, could have told them who they were. He could have made them aware of the days that passed, the commitments in life, time running out, kept them busy in between other things. Could have just been simple and unremarkable to the person, could have been a strong and reliable thing in that person’s life. Even now, divided by time and/or physical distance, he can still be those things to the person. But he should have been those things before they broke up… now it’s too late. The choices he made defined him and there is no way that he could be something other than what he is, there is no way the relationship could have gone any way other than how it did.

• No Comments

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!