In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
It's hard
To believe
We weren't to be
And all good things end eventually
But here I am
Walking away
And you're down on your knees
Begging me, please baby stay
Well no can do
'Cause boy you were untrue
The only rule
There is no exception to
3's a crowd
So where does that leave you now
That's what you get for living loud
Remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
I used to think
I couldn't live without us together
But boy look at me now
I got my hopes
My whole life and all my dreams
So as you wave goodbye to me
Just remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
Someday you'll see me walking down the street
Looking all confident and complete
Wondering if you made a mistake
Threw it away too soon
I'll wave and blow you a kiss
And say it's cool running into you like this
How you doing? Have any kids?
Do you ever look back and wish that
You could turn, turn back time
And make me change my mind
But you didn't so
Let's get on with letting go
Almost doesn't count you no
So remember remember
So remember remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
To believe
We weren't to be
And all good things end eventually
But here I am
Walking away
And you're down on your knees
Begging me, please baby stay
Well no can do
'Cause boy you were untrue
The only rule
There is no exception to
3's a crowd
So where does that leave you now
That's what you get for living loud
Remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
I used to think
I couldn't live without us together
But boy look at me now
I got my hopes
My whole life and all my dreams
So as you wave goodbye to me
Just remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
Someday you'll see me walking down the street
Looking all confident and complete
Wondering if you made a mistake
Threw it away too soon
I'll wave and blow you a kiss
And say it's cool running into you like this
How you doing? Have any kids?
Do you ever look back and wish that
You could turn, turn back time
And make me change my mind
But you didn't so
Let's get on with letting go
Almost doesn't count you no
So remember remember
So remember remember
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
Coulda been right
Coulda been cool
Coulda been the best thing since high school
Coulda been wild
Coulda been free
You coulda been everything to me
Coulda been real
Coulda been hot
Coulda been the one who hits my spot
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
But you're not
And all you got
Is something that coulda been
Lyrics submitted by sparklefairy
Coulda Been Lyrics as written by Shelly Peiken Guy Roche
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
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!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.