Joan Armatrading

It Could Have Been Better

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It Could Have Been Better Lyrics

I was very sad last night
You came by
I was so glad though sadness covered
The smile I kept for you
I was waiting for the cloud to pass over
Then I could show my love

You could have made me laugh if you'd stayed
But you left
I was more confused than I was before you came
I was frightened
I saw insanity and tears
I shouted for you to stay

It could have been better
If you had held my hand
And smiled at me
Or questioned why
My face was so distorted

I'm back in the sunlight again
Oh I'm so glad
It's only joy I wanna give to you
Sometimes I feel lost and desperate
Please forgive me
If I show no sign of reasoning
Or consideration
In my bleaker times

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songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012

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SongMeanings

Submitter

2012-02-06 16:08:17

1 Meaning

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by BWuff

4y ago

It's about unrequited love. The person doesn't know how to express their feelings to a friend or a special someone they feel love and a strong romantic attraction to, they're overcome with anxiety and wait for the perfect moment when their love visits ("You came by, I was so glad though sadness covered, The smile I kept for you, I was waiting for the cloud to pass over, Then I could show my love"). However, that moment never comes, their friend doesn't reciprocate the feelings, either because they're oblivious and misunderstand, or they feel uncomfortable, and leave. Whenever the person thinks about their love, they feel bittersweet and then depressed ("I'm back in the sunlight again, Oh I'm so glad, It's only joy I wanna give to you, Sometimes I feel lost and desperate, Please forgive me, If I show no sign of reasoning, Or consideration, In my bleaker times") knowing that thinking about their love makes them happy and they want to show them affection, but they know they'll never have them as a partner, and their romantic advances either go over the head of their love or get rebuffed.

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