What Is Not But Could Be If Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Skiptomylou 

Cover art for What Is Not But Could Be If lyrics by Silver Jews, The

"What was not but could have been was my obsession way back when now I just remember this what is not but could be if

what is not but could be if we could be crossing this abridged abyss into beginning

and failure's got you in its grasp and you're reaching for your very last vicious beginning"

i think this is talking about his previous drug use and overcoming it. that's what i got out of it at least. he could be crossing into a new "sober" life and he just remembers the times when he used to "be obsessed" and held in the grasp of drugs.