What I Meant to Say
Daughtry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wounded by the same old shots you take
It's easier to kick me when I'm low
And I just thought that you should know
That I've been holding on while you've been letting go
Well, it's not too late to say it right this time
'Cause I know I said I'm sorry but that's not what I meant to say
I'm strong enough to say that I don't wanna take the high road now
This is so typical of you to walk away
When your perfect little world is burning down
And I just thought that you should know
That I've been holding on while you've been letting go
Can I be so bold?
'Cause all this sucking up to you is just getting old
Well, it's not too late to say it right this time
Cause I know I said I'm sorry but that's not what I meant to say
What I really meant to say with every little breath I take
I'm not the only one who makes mistakes
Just think of all the ones you've made
And I just thought that you should know
That I've been holding on while you've been letting go
Can I be so bold?
'Cause all this sucking up to you is just getting old
Well, it's not too late to say it right this time
Cause I know I said I'm sorry but that's not what I meant to say
Not what I meant to say
Can I be so bold?
'Cause all this sucking up to you is just getting old
Well, it's not too late to say it right this time
'Cause I know I said I'm sorry but that's not what I meant to say
"What I Meant to Say" by Daughtry is a powerful song about a falling-out between two people. The lyrics speak about the hurt that the singer feels, and the frustration with the other person's behavior. They open by saying that they woke up feeling the weight of the hurtful words and actions taken against them. They feel as if they're being kicked when they're already down, and it's becoming too much to handle. The singer is holding on to the relationship while the other person seems to be letting it go.
The song is a message to the other party to set things right. The singer acknowledges that they've apologized, but they didn't say what they meant to say. They're brave enough to say that they don't want to take the high road anymore. They're tired of the other party walking away when things get tough. They want them to know that they're not the only one who makes mistakes, and the singer has been holding on while the other person has been letting go. They're tired of sucking up and want to set things straight.
Overall, the song showcases the frustration and pain that can come with a severed relationship. The singer wants to let the other person know that they're not alone in making mistakes and that they're willing to make things right. It's a reminder that it's never too late to fix things.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up today sinkin' like the stones that you have thrown
I feel crushed by your insults and negativity
Wounded by the same old shots you take
Your words hurt me deeply and I feel like you're attacking me repeatedly
It's easier to kick me when I'm low
You take advantage of my vulnerability and use it to make me feel even worse
And I just thought that you should know
I want you to be aware of how your actions are affecting me
That I've been holding on while you've been letting go
I've been trying to keep our relationship together while you've been giving up on it
Well, it's not too late to say it right this time
There's still a chance for us to make things right and communicate effectively
'Cause I know I said I'm sorry but that's not what I meant to say
I apologized before, but I didn't really mean it because I need to express my true feelings
I'm strong enough to say that I don't wanna take the high road now
I refuse to continue pretending that everything is okay and I'll take a more honest approach
This is so typical of you to walk away
You have a history of avoiding difficult conversations and running away from problems
When your perfect little world is burning down
You only pay attention to our relationship when everything else in your life is falling apart
Can I be so bold?
Is it okay for me to speak my mind and challenge you on your behavior?
'Cause all this sucking up to you is just getting old
I'm tired of trying to please you and make you happy when it feels like you don't even care
What I really meant to say with every little breath I take
I have a lot to confess and express, and my words are coming straight from my heart
I'm not the only one who makes mistakes
I'm not perfect and I'm willing to admit my own faults and shortcomings
Just think of all the ones you've made
I want you to take a moment to reflect on your own mistakes and how they've impacted our relationship
Not what I meant to say
I want to make sure that my words are true to my own feelings and intentions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS DAUGHTRY, BRIAN HOWES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Julie Phillips
still love his sound... still remember the first day i heard his voice.....wow i said with cold chills all over me
Nathan Chang
The early Daughtry songs were all so iconic and recognizable, not saying his new songs are bad but they’re definitely not as good and iconic as the old ones, literally almost all his songs from 2007-2013 are songs I like and listen to all the time and I rarely like a lot of songs by the same singer/band even if I like that band alot.
Sun Virtuosity
I agree, even the B-Sides are some of his best work
trevor dabek
great band,keep on making those great songs
Aneriduplessis 802
I love his songs so deep and true words..keep going its AMAZING!!
Asfar Tasnim
How come people dont know him when I grew up listening to him. Still listening to him everyday..
Elafi Milo
This is a great album that I'd almost completely forgotten.
TheShape_1031
All of Daughtry's song's should have millions, no wait, BILLIONS of views.
The Black Stone Desert
I can't to say how i can feel,i passed my teenage time listening Daughtry musics,i learned to play acoustic guitar,i started to play Daughtry musics and it made part of my teenage time.
Jean-François Hébert
It s getting me back in time..strong song...