There Are a Million Reasons for Why This May Not Work... and Just One Good One for Why It Will

i guess its about standing by someone, as a friend, while they went through relationships with other people and being there for them.

Amazing song off The Red Tree. My personal favorite. I think it could be about standing by someone as a friend, but knowing in your heart that you want more than friendship, but the other person doesn't see that,

I think DarcMurkee's right. Excellent song, and it is the best song off of the "Red Tree".

wow.

From Absolutepunk interview:

What’s the inspiration behind “The East Has Stolen What the West May Want”? Is there a story there?

Kenny: Yeah, that was one of the first songs I wrote on the album. It was inspired by a journal entry I read from someone who was separated with the Berlin Wall, whereas my story is a little different than theirs because I didn’t want to take anyone else’s own words. It all basically has to do with a couple that split up between the East and the West of the Berlin Wall. One side the living conditions were much better. So the only way for this couples to keep communication between each other were to write these letters. The woman was actually the one writing saying forget about me and there’s no hope, just go on without me, let’s forget about each other, there’s nothing we can do and move on with your life. The song is coming from his perspective and he’s saying I can’t do that and I don’t want to give up. It’s all about the struggle that people really did have by being split up by this stupid wall that made no sense. It was basically just there to ruin people’s lives. It was such a landmark of stupidity and this was the first song that I wanted to write about something different. I really dove into head first and in the end I didn’t know if it was going to work because I’ve never done anything like this before. Which it’s now one of my favorites on the album and one that I’m really excited to play acoustic.

ops, sorry, wrong window^^

perfection.

I think the song itself means that this girl can't seem to see the way he really feels about her, while she waits for some guy who really doesn't care.

When I saw 'em at Emo's, before they played this, Kenny was talking about people you might take for granted and then one day, they're gone, and you feel terrible, and you just want to walk up to them and say "I fucked up, but I'm going to try to be a better person now."

He also gave the advice.... "As soon as you find that person in your life, duct tape yourselves together at the chest, and do not let that person go ever."

Thought it might give some insight

Ya, definitely about someone who you want more than a friend, but they just can't seem to see that, for whatever reason.

I still dont understand the "what if this had never happened" part though, any thoughts?