I Know We Could Be So Happy
Jeff Buckley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's no easy answer
None to blame or forgive
Two cripples dancing
To the end we live

I'm not with you not of you
Not with you, not of you
You are soft and young to me
I am the ghost who comes and goes
And I hope I'll catch you
In the throws of one last look at the wonder
One last look at the wonder

O, God, I love you
And all the past we once knew
Some other love becomes you
Whatever else we come to
I know we could be so happy, baby
If we wanted to be

You are soft and young to me
I am the ghost who comes and goes
I'm hoping that I'll catch you in the throws
Of one last look at joy that we've become

But there's no easy answer, none to blame or forgive
We were two cripples dancing
To the bitter end we live
I'm not with you, but of you
I'm not with you but of you

O, God, I loved you
And all the past we once knew
Some other love becomes you
Whatever else it comes to
I know we could be so happy, baby
If we wanted to be

We had a birthplace in common
We had separate beds and lives

I'll just sit here and glow
Break out the oldest pictures
Hand your ruined letters out to dry
We had a birthplace in common
And separate beds and lives
And lives, and lives
I know that we could be so happy, baby
If we wanted to be




I know that we could be so happy, baby
Yeah oh.

Overall Meaning

In Jeff Buckley's song "I Know We Could Be So Happy Baby," he reflects on a past relationship that was not easy to navigate. The lyrics express a feeling of loneliness and detachment from the person he was once with. He acknowledges that there is no easy answer and no one to blame for their failed relationship, they were like "two cripples dancing." The use of this metaphor implies that they were both struggling in their own ways, and even though they tried to be together, it was difficult for them. Despite feeling disconnected, Buckley still has love for this person and hopes to catch them in one last moment of wonder before they part ways.


He repeats the phrase "I'm not with you, not of you" to emphasize the idea that even though they were together, he never fully committed to the relationship. He sees this person as young and soft, while he is a ghost that comes and goes. The past they shared is something he holds dear, and even though they have moved on to other relationships, he believes there is an opportunity for them to be happy if they wanted to be.


Line by Line Meaning

There's no easy answer
It's difficult to find a solution


None to blame or forgive
No one is responsible or at fault


Two cripples dancing
We are both struggling in our relationship


To the end we live
Our relationship will continue until we die


I'm not with you not of you
I don't belong to you or your world


Not with you, not of you
I am separate from you


You are soft and young to me
You are innocent and inexperienced


I am the ghost who comes and goes
I am elusive and transient


And I hope I'll catch you
I wish to connect with you


In the throws of one last look at the wonder
During a moment of reflection on the beauty of life


O, God, I love you
Expressing deep affection


And all the past we once knew
Remembering our shared history


Some other love becomes you
You change when you're in love with someone else


Whatever else we come to
Regardless of what happens


I know we could be so happy, baby
Our relationship has the potential to be fulfilling


If we wanted to be
If we made the effort


We had a birthplace in common
We come from the same place


We had separate beds and lives
We were not close despite our shared origin


I'll just sit here and glow
I'll bask in the warmth of our memories


Break out the oldest pictures
Revisiting old memories


Hand your ruined letters out to dry
Moving on from the past


And lives, and lives
Our separate lives continue


Yeah oh.
An expression of emotion




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF BUCKLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

JohnyS

"There's no easy answer 
None to blame or forgive 
Two cripples dancing 
To the end we live 

I'm not with you not of you 
Not with you, not of you 
You are soft and young to me 
I am the ghost who comes and goes 
And I hope I'll catch you 
In the throws of one last look at the wonder 
One last look at the wonder 

O, God, I love you 
And all the past we once knew 
Some other love becomes you 
Whatever else we come to 
I know we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 

You are soft and young to me 
I am the ghost who comes and goes 
I'm hoping that I'll catch you in the throws 
Of one last look at joy that we've become 

But there's no easy answer, none to blame or forgive 
We were two cripples dancing 
To the bitter end we live 
I'm not with you, but of you 
I'm not with you but of you 

O, God, I loved you 
And all the past we once knew 
Some other love becomes you 
Whatever else it comes to 
I know we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 

We had a birthplace in common 
We had separate beds and lives 

I'll just sit here and glow 
Break out the oldest pictures 
Hand your ruined letters out to dry 
We had a birthplace in common 
And separate beds and lives 
And lives, and lives 
I know that we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be ..."



katherinaJee55

O, God, I loved you 
And all the past we once knew 
Some other love becomes you 
Whatever else it comes to 
I know we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 

We had a birthplace in common 
We had separate beds and lives 

I'll just sit here and glow 
Break out the oldest pictures 
Hand your ruined letters out to dry 
We had a birthplace in common 
And separate beds and lives 
And lives, and lives 
I know that we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 
I know that we could be so happy, baby 
Yeah oh. ..... ♥ ♥ ♥



All comments from YouTube:

stella

Finding a "new" Jeff Buckley song i haven't heard is literally the best birthday present yay

calibanjr

i have to say, as an old guy of 48, same age as Jeff, and having loved him since the '90s and having seen him live in Chicago in 95, I like what you've done.  I'm a bit old school and sometimes get a bit of whiskey in me and listen to the original tracks.  I do believe the "Sketches"  were going to be more developed, and nobody knows what he'd have done, but I do think, I my mind, he'd be happy with "theories", and "what if is?", if the were rational and well done, which I think this is.

Julz Nixon

I love old guys that like Jeff Buckley! Lol.

Cayetano Gálvez

His music will evolve, transform, and transcend in the hearts of the crippled, the dreamers and wanderers.

Sana K.

and it does

Jay Coburn

I wish Buckley had been able to record a version of the song like this. I can imagine a choir singing it behind him.

JohnyS

"There's no easy answer 
None to blame or forgive 
Two cripples dancing 
To the end we live 

I'm not with you not of you 
Not with you, not of you 
You are soft and young to me 
I am the ghost who comes and goes 
And I hope I'll catch you 
In the throws of one last look at the wonder 
One last look at the wonder 

O, God, I love you 
And all the past we once knew 
Some other love becomes you 
Whatever else we come to 
I know we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 

You are soft and young to me 
I am the ghost who comes and goes 
I'm hoping that I'll catch you in the throws 
Of one last look at joy that we've become 

But there's no easy answer, none to blame or forgive 
We were two cripples dancing 
To the bitter end we live 
I'm not with you, but of you 
I'm not with you but of you 

O, God, I loved you 
And all the past we once knew 
Some other love becomes you 
Whatever else it comes to 
I know we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be 

We had a birthplace in common 
We had separate beds and lives 

I'll just sit here and glow 
Break out the oldest pictures 
Hand your ruined letters out to dry 
We had a birthplace in common 
And separate beds and lives 
And lives, and lives 
I know that we could be so happy, baby 
If we wanted to be ..."

The 2nd Coming

For all us hopeless romantics out there✍🏻

JohnyS

different version, different pulses..but always into the subject..love it

Paula Crawford

So impressive. I love it. Thank you so much. It feels amazing to hear this.

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