Daniel Powter released his debut album, I'm Your Betty, in 2000. The album, limited to a very small print, contains ten songs, two of which—"More Than I" and "Negative Fashion"—were featured on the television show Higher Ground. Powter has a music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing for France.
Daniel Powter's first piano pop single, "Bad Day," debuted not in his home country of Canada, but rather in Europe in mid-2005. It was chosen by Warner Brothers as a submission for commercial production and was subsequently chosen by Coca-Cola as the theme song for an ad campaign in Europe. Additionally, "Bad Day" is currently being used extensively by American Idol in its fifth season. Powter sang the song live at the end of the penulimate show of that season. The song achieved heavy airplay in most European countries, and made it as high as number three on the overall European airplay chart. It did best in Germany, where it peaked at number one in national airplay, Ireland where it peaked at #1 on the Singles Chart, and in the UK, where it peaked at number two in the singles chart and stayed in the top 10 for 13 weeks. In the United States the song peaked at number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 seven weeks after it was released. In Australia, it peaked at number three. The song reached top five in Canada and is now a top 10 hit at Adult Top 40 radio. It was fifth place in the British Record of the Year 2005.
On July 2, 2005, Powter performed at the Berlin installment of Live 8, a simultaneous group of concerts in nine countries intended to raise awareness of poverty in Africa and put pressure on world leaders for aid.
On April 1, 2006, he was named the best new artist at the Canadian Juno Awards.
In March 2008, a song by Japanese singer Haru featuring Powter, "Find My Way", was released. In September, Powter released his third album, Under the Radar.
Powter also performed piano on tracks for what was scheduled to be Marcy Playground frontman John Wozniak's solo album, Leaving Wonderland...in a fit of rage, but the album will now be released under the band's name. Powter will still be given credit for his contributions to the album, particularly the album's single "Good Times".
What I Meant To Say
Daniel Powter Lyrics
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All I can do is look away
The silence's screaming out from the night before
From everything that we didn't say
We might fall apart
We might come undone
But there's something on the tip of my tongue
I told you I would be okay
I said I won't stand in your way
But I should have said I love you
I just want you to stay
That's what I meant to say
We never said a word through the weekend
Now Monday comes in like a storm
Never put the words to the feelings
So what is this apology for
If you're not with me
Won't know who to be
Never thought that you'd really leave
I told you I would be okay
I said I won't stand in your way
But I should have said I love you
I just want you to stay
That's what I meant to say
That I want you
Won't make it through this
Tongue tied and twisted
And close to alone
I hope it's not too late
To say what I meant to say
I told you I would be alright
I told myself the same old lies
But I should have held you closer
I just need you to stay
I told you I would be okay
I said I won't stand in your way
But I should have said I love you
I just want you to stay
That's what I meant to say
That's what I meant to say
That's what I meant to say
That's what I meant to say
That's what I meant
The lyrics of Daniel Powter's "What I Meant To Say" depict a story of a failed relationship where two individuals have difficulty expressing their feelings towards each other. The opening lines of the song set the stage for the unresolved conflict between the couple. The singer sees a taxi at the front door of his/her partner's house, implying that the latter is leaving. The singer, however, cannot muster the courage to confront the issue, and instead, chooses to look away. The silence, which was present during the weekend, has now transformed into unutterable screams.
The chorus section of the song reveals the singer's regret and longing to rekindle the relationship. He/she accepts that their relationship may be fragile, but something remains unsaid, "on the tip of my tongue." The singer reflects on their failure to speak the words that would have changed the course of the relationship. Despite making promises that he/she would be okay, it's clear that the singer knows they were not. The use of the phrase "that's what I meant to say" is reminiscent of the regret that we all feel not to have said what we meant during an emotional encounter.
The second and final verses continue the theme of regret, "Never put the words to the feelings, So what is this apology for." The singer realizes that an apology may not be enough to mend the relationship, that they need to rectify their mistake of not expressing their feelings sooner. The end section of the song emphasizes the singer's vulnerability and the desire to salvage their relationship. The singer acknowledges that they are tongue-tied, a metaphor for the difficulty in speaking the words they so desperately want to say.
Line by Line Meaning
Taxi's pulling up at the front door
Someone is arriving at the person's home.
All I can do is look away
The person is feeling discomfort and is avoiding eye contact.
The silence's screaming out from the night before
The person can feel the tension from their previous argument.
From everything that we didn't say
Both people regret not expressing their true feelings during the argument.
We might fall apart
There is a possibility that the relationship may end.
We might come undone
There is a possibility that things could go horribly wrong.
But there's something on the tip of my tongue
There is something important that the person wants to say but is struggling to express themselves.
If you're not with me
Without the other person, the person will feel lost.
Won't know who to be
The person's identity is tightly tied to the relationship.
Never thought that you'd really leave
The person was caught off guard by the possibility of the other person leaving.
That I want you
The person wants the other person to stay.
Won't make it through this
The person is unsure if they can handle the relationship ending.
Tongue tied and twisted
The person is struggling to find the right words to say.
And close to alone
The person feels lonely without the other person.
I hope it's not too late
The person is worried that they may have missed their chance to express their true feelings.
To say what I meant to say
The person wants to express their true feelings before it's too late.
But I should have held you closer
The person wishes they had been more physically affectionate during their time together.
I just need you to stay
The person is expressing a desperate desire for the other person to remain in their life.
That's what I meant to say
The person did not express their true feelings during the argument, but they want to do so now.
Contributed by Aiden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.