It Should've Been You
Brendan Ryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A single-sided highway
Where I find the constant sight
From left and right
Ain't there
Cause I live each week on the chances
That you've got no better plans and
I never even think to show I care
And same thought comes to me
No matter where
It should've been you
Sitting by me
It should've been you
On the phone
It should've been you just rockin'
While riding shotgun
On that night's long way home
It should've been you
'Cross the table
It should've been you
'Cross my way
But it never was and yet every time, I say
It should've been you
Always just one seat left on to the right
Just an invisible reservation sign
That is just right for you
And yet, you just have no clue
And that void will stay on since
I rely entirely on coincidence
That those between us
Will fill in all the ties
But how rare those tears will tie
It should've been you
Sitting by me
It should've been you
On the phone
It should've been you just rockin'
While riding shotgun
On that night's long way home
It should've been you
'Cross the table
It should've been you
'Cross my way
But it never was and yet every time, I say
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
Sitting by me
It should've been you
On the phone
It should've been you just rockin'
While riding shotgun
On that night's long way home
It should've been you
'Cross the table
It should've been you
'Cross my way
But it never was and yet every time, I say
It should've been you
Tagging along now
It should've been you
To make this pair
It should be probably somebody else
But there's nobody else
So why the hell aren't you here?
It should've been you
Instead of the others
It should've been you
Fancy or plain
Cause at the end of the night
I always find myself saying
Oh, cause at the end of the night
I always find myself saying
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
It should've been you
Brendan Ryan's song "It Should've Been You" delves deep into the theme of longing and regret, capturing the poignant reflection of a person who grapples with the absence of a significant someone in their life. The opening lines introduce a metaphorical single-sided highway, suggesting a solitary journey where the singer finds themselves continually navigating feelings of unfulfilled potential. The idea of a "constant sight" emphasizes the repetitiveness of their situation, indicating a cycle of yearning time and again. There's a sense of resignation in their acknowledgment that they live week by week, entrusting fate to chance encounters, hoping the person they desire might show up without realizing they should actively seek them out. This duality of unnoticed feelings highlights a central conflict in the singer's life: they care deeply yet remain paralyzed by indecision or fear of rejection, leading to a perpetual state of 'what ifs.'
As the song progresses, the chorus reverberates with the haunting refrain of "It should've been you." This line acts as a mantra for the singer, encapsulating both the joy and pain of the “what could have been.” The chorus paints a vivid picture of the intimate moments they envision sharing with the person — from sitting next to them to engaging in mundane activities that are amplified by the presence of someone special, like being on the phone, rocking out to music, or driving home together. This daydreaming underscores the emotional weight of absence; each lyric imbues mundane activities with a sense of loss. The repetition of the phrase serves not only as a lament but as a way of reconciling the gap between reality and desire, indicating an ongoing struggle to accept the truth that this person is not part of their life, despite their constant thoughts about them.
In exploring the imagery of seats with "an invisible reservation sign," the song conveys a feeling of expectation mixed with disappointment. The singer holds a palpable longing for someone who remains oblivious to their emotional landscape. This figurative language emphasizes both a personal yearning and the inevitability of unfulfilled connections, revealing the inherent sadness of leaving spaces open for someone who does not seem to understand that they are meant to occupy them. The reference to relying "entirely on coincidence" to bridge the distance between them speaks to the unpredictability of relationships and fortuitous reunions that often never come to fruition. The lines infer that the singer’s hopes depend too heavily on fate rather than mutual initiative or engagement, suggesting an imbalance that leaves them feeling even more isolated.
Toward the end, the realization that “it should be probably somebody else” solidifies the singer's internal conflict: they recognize the need for companionship but still find themselves fixated on this particular person. This paradox results in poignant self-awareness, as the singer navigates through various emotions, including frustration and yearning. The concluding repetition of the refrain amplifies their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. Ultimately, the unresolved tension in the song reveals an overarching theme of waiting—waiting for someone who has yet to arrive and hoping against hope that perhaps, in some twist of fate, it could still be them. Ryan’s lyrics resonate deeply with anyone who has ever grappled with unreciprocated feelings or the silent ache of lost possibilities, creating a vivid tapestry of hope laced with melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, take a look at my way
Hey, glance in my direction and see what my perspective is.
A single-sided highway
My path feels lonely and one-dimensional, lacking shared experiences.
Where I find the constant sight
In this solitude, I constantly notice the emptiness around me.
From left and right
The absence of companionship is evident from every angle.
Ain't there
No one is present to share this journey with me.
Cause I live each week on the chances
I spend my days hoping for the possibility of connection.
That you've got no better plans and
Hoping that you are free and available to be with me.
Though I never think to ask
Despite my longing, I fail to summon the courage to reach out.
I never even think to show I care
I hide my feelings, never demonstrating how much I truly value you.
And same thought comes to me
This recurring feeling arises in my mind repeatedly.
No matter where
It doesn’t matter the situation; the sentiment persists.
It should've been you
You ought to have been the one by my side.
Sitting by me
You should have been the companion sharing my space.
It should've been you
You are the person I keep wishing was here.
On the phone
You should have been the one I could call and talk to.
It should've been you just rockin'
You should have been the one enjoying life with me.
While riding shotgun
You ought to have been my co-pilot during our life's adventures.
On that night's long way home
You were meant to be the one with me on those lengthy journeys.
It should've been you
Again, I reflect on how you belong in my experiences.
'Cross the table
You should have been the one sharing meaningful moments over dinner.
'Cross my way
You should have intersected my life more prominently.
But it never was and yet every time, I say
Despite the reality of our separation, I can't help but express that this isn’t how it should be.
It should've been you
The deep sense of loss over what could have been consumes me.
Always just one seat left on to the right
There's always an empty space beside me, symbolizing your absence.
Just an invisible reservation sign
It feels as if there’s a special spot there meant for you alone.
That is just right for you
This space feels tailor-made for your presence.
And yet, you just have no clue
You seem unaware of the significance of this empty space.
And that void will stay on since
This emptiness will linger because of your absence.
I rely entirely on coincidence
I find myself depending on random circumstances to bring us together.
That those between us
The people or events in our lives that connect us.
Will fill in all the ties
I hope these connections will bridge the gap between us.
But how rare those tears will tie
But such genuine emotions and connections seem few and far between.
It should've been you
I continually wish that you were the center of my experiences.
It should've been you
My reflection on our unfulfilled potential remains steadfast.
It should've been you
The nagging feeling of absence always persists.
It should've been you
The conclusion is always the same in my heart.
It should've been you
Reaffirming the idea that you are the one I long for.
It should've been you
This sentiment echoes endlessly within me.
Sitting by me
The desire for your company by my side remains unfulfilled.
It should've been you
I consistently feel your absence in my life.
On the phone
I wish you were the voice I could speak to at any moment.
It should've been you just rockin'
You ought to have been enjoying life alongside me.
While riding shotgun
You should have been my companion during all of my travels.
On that night's long way home
You were meant to be there on those lengthy drives back.
It should've been you
This feeling of yearning for you repetitively arises.
'Cross the table
You should have been the one sharing moments with me face-to-face.
'Cross my way
You should have crossed my path more meaningfully.
But it never was and yet every time, I say
Despite the reality that it's not how it is, I continue to express this wish.
It should've been you
The continuation of this unfulfilled hope burdens my heart.
Tagging along now
I hope for you to accompany me in my life journey.
It should've been you
You should have been the one sharing this experience with me.
To make this pair
I envisioned us as a perfect match or duo.
It should be probably somebody else
Logically, I know I could be with someone else instead.
But there's nobody else
Yet, no one else holds the same significance to me as you do.
So why the hell aren't you here?
I can’t understand why you are not a part of my life.
It should've been you
This longing reiterates my belief you belong with me.
Instead of the others
You should have taken the place of those who Are not as important.
It should've been you
The constant refrain of my heart speaks your name.
Fancy or plain
Regardless of the situation, it should always have been you.
Cause at the end of the night
At the conclusion of our moments together.
I always find myself saying
I can't help but repeat this thought.
Oh, cause at the end of the night
Ultimately, at day's end, the same realization strikes me.
I always find myself saying
This thought resonates consistently within my mind.
It should've been you
The longing for what could have been continues to echo.
It should've been you
This sentiment remains steadfast and unchanging.
It should've been you
Once more, I express this feeling of loss.
It should've been you
I cannot escape the truth of this sentiment.
It should've been you
The ultimate realization remains clear: it should have been you.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Brendan Ryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
teleted3000
that's awesome!