Their music initially featured many influences from 60s psychedelia, played with a rough lo-fi abandon. They self-released several EPs and albums between 2007 and 2011, including "30 track space opera" Jurassic Exxplosion Philippic, most of which are by now scarcely available. In 2011, they met producer/songwriter Richard Swift after handing him one of their EPs, and Swift would go on to work with them for some subsequent albums. After being signed to Jagjaguwar Records, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released as their debut album on July 24, 2012. On January 22, 2013, they released their second album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. This album was produced by Richard Swift and recorded at his National Freedom studios.
For each album Foxygen 'chooses' a different era in music history to focus themselves on. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic is based on the sixties, ...And Star Power was seventies and their newest release Hang is based on the forties.
Album discographyJurrassic Exxplosion Phillipic (2007)Take the Kids Off Broadway (2011)We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (2013)...And Star Power (2014)Hang (2017)Seeing Other People (2019)
Coulda Been My Love
Foxygen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(If I do what you want)
(You can do what you want) You can do it all the time
(You can do what you want)
But I won't ask you why about the time before
You coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
(You can do what you want) I can take it from you
(If I do what I want) Will my feelings show through?
(We can do what we want) If you don't got a clue
(We can do what we want) Well, that's just what we do
(We can do what we want) Me and you
But I won't ask you why, I know why you're not low anymore
And it's not my love (Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
How am I gonna make it with you, baby?
When all we do is get high
How am I gonna make it with you?
Cry
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my
love
The lyrics to Foxygen's song "Coulda Been My Love" touch on themes of missed opportunity and regret, with a sense of longing and uncertainty throughout. The opening lines, "If I do what you want, could I make it with you?" express a desire for connection and closeness. This is followed by the repeated notion that "you can do what you want" and "we can do what we want," suggesting a sense of freedom and independence in the relationship. However, there is also a sense of resignation with lines like "But I won't ask you why about the time before" and "I know why you're not low anymore," hinting at past mistakes and missteps.
The chorus, "Coulda been my love," embodies the entire sentiment of the song. It's a lamentation about what could have been, a yearning for something that never came to fruition. The repetition of this line underscores its importance and conveys the feeling of the missed opportunity lingering on.
The bridge of the song adds another layer of complexity with the questioning of how the relationship can move forward. "How am I gonna make it with you, baby?" is a plea to figure out a way to make the relationship work, but it's followed by the realization that "all we do is get high" and the despairing "cry." This all underscores the central theme of the song: the sadness of missed opportunity and the lingering ache of what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
(If I do what you want) Could I make it with you?
Asking if doing what the other person wants would result in a successful relationship
(If I do what you want)
Reinforcing the importance of doing what the other person wants
(You can do what you want) You can do it all the time
Encouraging the other person to continue doing what they want
(You can do what you want)
Giving permission to the other person to do whatever they want
But I won't ask you why about the time before
Choosing to not dwell on past mistakes or events
You coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Expressing regret that the other person could have potentially been their romantic partner
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Reiterating the missed opportunity for a romantic relationship
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Continuing to express regret over not pursuing a romantic relationship
(You can do what you want) I can take it from you
Offering to tolerate the other person doing whatever they want, no matter the consequences
(If I do what I want) Will my feelings show through?
Wondering if expressing personal desires will lead to the other person understanding their feelings
(We can do what we want) If you don't got a clue
Suggesting that both parties can make their own decisions without involving the other's input
(We can do what we want) Well, that's just what we do
Explaining that both parties are comfortable making decisions without consulting each other
(We can do what we want) Me and you
Emphasizing that both parties have the freedom to do whatever they want without constraints
But I won't ask you why, I know why you're not low anymore
Choosing not to question the reasons behind the other person's behavior because they already understand them
And it's not my love (Coulda been my love)
Realizing that love was not the reason for the missed opportunity at a romantic relationship
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Repeating the longing for a missed opportunity at a romantic relationship
Coulda been my love (Coulda been my love)
Continuing to express regret over not pursuing a romantic relationship
How am I gonna make it with you, baby?
Questioning the feasibility of having a successful relationship with the other person
When all we do is get high
Acknowledging the role that drug use plays in their relationship
How am I gonna make it with you?
Reiterating the doubts of a successful relationship between the two
Cry
Expressing the emotional pain caused by the missed opportunity for a romantic relationship
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my love
Continuing to lament the missed opportunity for a romantic relationship
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my love
Repeating the regret over not pursuing a romantic relationship
(Coulda been my love) Coulda been my love
Continuing to express sorrow over the missed opportunity for a romantic relationship
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Jonathan Rado, Sam France
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rararararasputin
(If I do what you want)
Could I make it with you?
(If I do what you want)
(You can do what you want)
You can do it all the time
(You can do what you want)
But I won’t ask you why
About the time before
You coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
(You can do what you want)
I can take it from you
(If I do what I want)
Will my feelings show through?
(We can do what we want)
If you don’t got a clue
(We can do what we want)
Well, that’s just what we do
(We can do what we want)
Me and you
But I won’t ask you why, I know
Why you’re not low anymore
And it’s not my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
How am I gonna make it with you, baby?
When all we do is get high
(How am I gonna make it with you?)
Cry
[?]
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my love
(Coulda been my love)
Coulda been my
[Spoken Outro]
@lilscrappyfella
Foxygen deserves more credit for their music. This is an awesome song
@maryhyland
These guys never cease to amaze. Just when they've got psychedelia down to a science they pull off some early R&B grooves that can vie with any of the best. I saw them in Philly last week and they were crazy good. Their new Star Power is great.
@domestrada4678
I was there ! And yes amazing show!
@hippiecheezburger5457
I was there I thought it was a disaster and a waste of money
@Jasondurgen
@@hippiecheezburger5457 thanks for sharing
@harryjones84
this and you and I best on this album and some of the best songs of the millenia!
@EgyptParis
The singer of this band is so dope, he serving serious Bowie vibes
@frognapsss
+Codi Maddox my thoughts exactly!
@MsWaldkind
+Codi Maddox I luv this type XXD very get into this XD
@yahstino
Wow, a rare positive comment regarding Sams style. Yeah i agree i fuckin love it.