Could've Been
H.E.R. Lyrics

Please, allow me to show you something
The singer is asking the listener for permission to share something with them.

Somebody give me, yeah
The singer is asking for someone to give them something.

Somebody give me, uh
The singer is asking for something again.

Somebody tell me the answers
The artist is requesting answers from someone.

Me and you isn't the answer, uh Me and you isn't Maybe I'm tellin' myself that But there ain't nothin' that'll change that
The artist knows that being with the addressee is not the solution to their situation, even if they are trying to convince themselves otherwise.

What good would it be, if I knew how you felt about me? (yeah)
The singer is questioning what knowing the addressee's feelings towards them would actually accomplish.

It could've been right but I was wrong Only think 'bout you when I'm alone Part of me that cared just know it's gone And I know, that I can't, get caught up
The singer acknowledges that they made a mistake and that they only think about the addressee when they are alone. They no longer have feelings for the addressee and don't want to get involved with them again.

We could've been And we try to pretend Every now and again We don't dream about, don't think about what We could've been Though I'm holding again 'Cause I know in the end You dream about, I think about what We could've been We could've been, yeah We could've, damn
The artist and the addressee both know that they could have had something special, but they try to act like it doesn't matter to them anymore. However, they both still think about what could have been.

Remember? Remember the night in Miami First time you put your arms around me I'm up reminiscin' (ooh yeah) Thinking 'bout you isn't helping Thinking 'bout you doesn't tell me What good it would do, if I decide to face the truth
The artist is reminiscing about a moment they shared with the addressee, but realizes that thinking about them is not helping. They question what facing the truth would accomplish.

It could've been right but I was wrong Only think 'bout you when I'm alone You only hit me up when she's not home And that's why, I can't, get caught up
The artist acknowledges that they were wrong and still think about the addressee sometimes. However, they realize that the addressee only contacts them when they are in a situation where they can't talk to their significant other.

What we could've been, we could've been
The singer is again reflecting on what could have been between them and the addressee.

If I wasn't, if I wasn't With somebody, if you gotta hide it what's the point of trying? I ain't just your friend, no, what's the point of lying? Tryna sell a story ain't nobody buyin' Look me in my eyes, don't that feel nice? Why should it end? Baby I could've been I could've been him, more than your friend Just say where and when, where to make a trip Baby make a wish, be the one I'm with Should've been a, should've, could've, would have been, ay Yeah I would have been (damn) Yeah I would have been (yeah)
The artist is saying that if they were single, they could have been with the addressee. The artist confronts the addressee about hiding their true feelings, and tells them that they could have been more than just friends. The artist even invites the addressee on a trip and expresses regret that things didn't work out between them.

Damn, damn (could've been) Yeah, we could've been (oh no) (easy as hell)
The singer realizes how close they were to being with the addressee, and expresses regret once more.