Could
Billy Ray Cyrus Lyrics


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I hear you just got married
Took a month long honeymoon
A new love smiles at the wedding
You cried when you kissed the groom
I got no invitation
I guess the mailman didn't bring it to me
But I see the whole thing in slow motion
Every night as I try to sleep
My buddy John said you looked real pretty
And you acted like you were in love
He said the preacher asked for objections
And he thought about standing up
I told John he must've been crazy
Cause you were just about to say I do
He just gave me a wink and said all he could think
Was it could've been me with you

It could've been me
Standing there with you
It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see
It could've been me

I don't guess I ever told you
That I went out and bought you a ring
I even carry it around in my pocket
Waiting to say the right thing
I pulled it out the other day
But the diamond had lost it's shine
Well I know how it feels cause my eyes grow dim
When I think you could've been mine

It could've been me
Standing there with you
It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see
It could've been me

I know I called just in time a bit too late
You know dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see that

It could've been me
Standing there with you
It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see
It could've been me

It could've been me
It could've been me




It could've been me
It could've been me

Overall Meaning

The song "Could've Been Me" by Billy Ray Cyrus tells the story of a man who missed the opportunity to be with the love of his life. The song begins with the singer discovering that his former flame has recently gotten married and gone on a honeymoon. He laments the fact that he wasn't invited to the wedding, but he imagines the ceremony and reception in his mind each night. He learns from a friend that his ex looked beautiful and appeared to be deeply in love with her new husband. The preacher even asked if anyone objected to the union, and the singer's friend considered speaking up until he ultimately decided against it.


The second verse reveals that the singer had purchased an engagement ring for his beloved and had been carrying it around in his pocket, waiting for the right moment to propose. However, he never got the chance because he waited too long to make his move. The diamond on the ring has lost its shine, much like the singer's hope for a future with his former flame. He realizes that he should have acted sooner and regrets missing his chance to be with her.


The refrain of "It could've been me" is a powerful reminder of the missed opportunity and the what-ifs that will haunt the singer forever. The song is a cautionary tale about the importance of seizing the moments that matter and taking risks in the pursuit of love.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear you just got married
I am aware that you recently got married.


Took a month long honeymoon
You took a month-long vacation with your husband to celebrate your new marriage.


A new love smiles at the wedding
You were smiling at your wedding, excited for your new love.


You cried when you kissed the groom
You were emotional when you kissed your groom.


I got no invitation
I did not receive an invite to your wedding.


I guess the mailman didn't bring it to me
I assume the mailman did not deliver the invitation to me.


But I see the whole thing in slow motion
Every night, I replay your wedding in my mind.


Every night as I try to sleep
Every night when I attempt to sleep, I see your wedding.


My buddy John said you looked real pretty
My friend John mentioned that you looked very beautiful.


And you acted like you were in love
John advised that you appeared to be in love.


He said the preacher asked for objections
John informed me that the preacher asked the audience to object to the marriage.


And he thought about standing up
John thought about objecting to the marriage.


I told John he must've been crazy
I informed John that he must have been insane.


Cause you were just about to say I do
I believed that you were on the verge of saying your vows.


He just gave me a wink and said all he could think
John winked at me and stated that all he considered was the fact that he could have been in my position.


Was it could've been me with you
He was implying that he could have been the one standing next to you.


I don't guess I ever told you
I do not believe that I ever mentioned to you.


That I went out and bought you a ring
I purchased a ring for you.


I even carry it around in my pocket
I carry the ring in my pocket at all times.


Waiting to say the right thing
I am waiting to say the right thing to you before giving you the ring.


I pulled it out the other day
Recently, I took out the ring.


But the diamond had lost it's shine
However, the diamond on the ring had lost its brightness.


Well I know how it feels cause my eyes grow dim
I understand how the ring feels since my eyes become blurry when I think about the possibility of being with you.


When I think you could've been mine
Whenever I think about it, I realize that you could have been my partner.


I know I called just in time a bit too late
Although I acknowledge that I've called at the appropriate moment, I'm aware that it's a bit late.


You know dreams move on if you wait too long
Dreams vanish if you wait for too long.


It took me 'til now to see that
It has taken me this long to realize it.


It could've been me
I could have been the one.


Standing there with you
I could have been the one standing next to you.


And my dreams coming true
My dreams could have come true.


But those dreams move on
However, those dreams deteriorate over time.


If you wait too long
If you procrastinate or wait too long, those dreams vanish.


It took me 'til now to see
It wasn't until now that I realized this.


It could've been me
It could have happened to me.


It could've been me
I could have had that opportunity.


It could've been me
I could have been the lucky one.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Reed Nielsen, Monty Powell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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LYRICS:


I hear you just got married
Took a month long honeymoon
A new love smiles at the wedding
You cried when you kissed the groom
I got no invitation
I guess the mailman didn't bring it to me
But I see the whole thing in slow motion
Every night as I try to sleep
My buddy John said you looked real pretty
And you acted like you were in love
He said the preacher asked for objections
And he thought about standing up
I told John he must've been crazy
Cause you were just about to say I do
He just gave me a wink and said all he could think
Was it could've been me with you


It could've been me
Standing there with you
It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see
It could've been me


I don't guess I ever told you
That I went out and bought you a ring
I even carry it around in my pocket
Waiting to say the right thing
I pulled it out the other day
But the diamond had lost it's shine
Well I know how it feels cause my eyes grow dim
When I think you could've been mine


It could've been me
Standing there with you
It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see


It could've been me
I know I called just in time a bit too late
You know dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see that
It could've been me
Standing there with you


It could've been me
And my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on
If you wait too long
It took me 'til now to see
It could've been me
It could've been me
It could've been me
It could've been me
It could've been me



All comments from YouTube:

FaithHillFANatic

Songs like this one will never die out or get old. The words still remain true 20 years later. As long as there is love, loss and regret.....this song will be played.

nemo skull

the older i get the more i realize this is his fault. the song hits different as an old guy. dude had a chance, and was too chicken to take the shot.

Barbara

OPINIONS 😮

Gary Edwards

Love this song Billy Ray doesn't get near the credit he deserves he's alot more than a 1 hit wonder like some people think very talented artist

Barbara

YOU CAN SAY THAT AHAIN. HE WASN'T REALLY TREARD RIGHT
I'M LITTLE BIT OLDER BUT NOT DUMM THANKS TO GARTH BROOKS AND HIS BUDDIES THEY PUT HIM DOWN. 😊

Vinny Vega

Damn I miss the late 80’s early 90’s. The world was a much better place in those days. To whoever reads this, I hope everything is well with you and your families during all this mess we’re going through as a nation!!

Dom Friesen

Your a gem! I assume you've drank something, if so let that out more often! What you say DOES matter!!

Cynthia Martin

Hope you and your family healthy and safe 😊

Maggie Clemmons

BeckyBoo DALE

Mandy Thompson

@Cynthia Martin lm0

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