Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album.
John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
How Was I to Know
John Michael Montgomery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cried, and I dreamed, wished on every star
But nothin' I'd do got me closer to you
So I locked all my feelings inside
Then one night across a crowded room
You looked my way, your eyes held something new
You walked right up to me and smiled tenderly
Well how was I to know
You never let it show
What a beauty like you might see
In a poor boy like me
How could I have seen
You walk out of my dreams
Shine your light on my sleepin' heart
And into my soul
How was I to know
You took my hand and led me out the door
We talked and we laughed
'Bout all the times before
When two lonely people so much in love
Passed like ships in the night
Well how was I to know
You never let it show
What a beauty like you might see
In a poor boy like me
How could I have seen
You walk out of my dreams
Shine your light on my sleepin' heart
And into my soul
How was I to know
How could I have seen
You walk out of my dreams
Shine your light on my sleepin' heart
And into my soul
How was I
How was I to know
Oh
Oh
Oh oh oh
The song "How Was I to Know" by John Michael Montgomery talks about a man who loved a woman from afar, hoping and praying for a chance to be with her, but was never able to get closer. He locked all his feelings inside until one night, she looked his way and took him by surprise. She smiled tenderly, held his hand and led him out the door, and they talked and laughed about the times before when they passed each other like ships in the night. The man couldn't believe that someone as beautiful as her would see anything in a poor boy like him. He wonders how he was supposed to know that she would walk out of his dreams, shine her light on his sleeping heart, and into his soul.
The lyrics of "How Was I to Know" convey a feeling of hope and unrequited love. The singer had been longing for the woman's attention for a long time and wondered if he would ever get a chance with her. The song shows that sometimes, it takes a surprise chance encounter to bring two people together. It also talks about the insecurities one can feel when someone unexpectedly enters their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I hoped and I prayed, I loved you from afar
I had strong feelings for you, but I never acted on them and kept them hidden.
I cried, and I dreamed, wished on every star
I longed for you and wished for us to be together, even though it seemed impossible.
But nothin' I'd do got me closer to you
Despite my efforts, I couldn't get closer to you.
So I locked all my feelings inside
I kept my emotions hidden and didn't express my love for you.
Then one night across a crowded room
One night, amidst a crowd of people, I saw you and something changed.
You looked my way, your eyes held something new
You looked at me in a way that suggested you felt something different.
You walked right up to me and smiled tenderly
You approached me and greeted me with a warm, gentle smile.
And your words came as such a surprise
What you said next caught me completely off guard.
Well how was I to know
I had no way of knowing what you felt for me before this moment.
You never let it show
You never gave me any hint or indication that you saw something special in me.
What a beauty like you might see
I was surprised that someone as beautiful as you could find something worthwhile in someone like me.
In a poor boy like me
I felt like an unlikely match for someone like you, who seemed to have so much going for you.
How could I have seen
There was nothing I could have done to anticipate this moment happening.
You walk out of my dreams
You were something that I had dreamt about, but never thought could be real.
Shine your light on my sleepin' heart
You woke up something inside of me that had been asleep for a long time - my desire for love and connection.
And into my soul
You penetrated deep into my being and touched a part of me that had been dormant.
You took my hand and led me out the door
You took a chance on me and showed me that you were willing to take a risk on our love.
We talked and we laughed
We shared a special moment together and connected on a deeper level.
'Bout all the times before
We reminisced about all the missed opportunities we had before this moment.
When two lonely people so much in love
We were two people who had been searching for love and finally found it in each other.
Passed like ships in the night
We had crossed paths before, but never had the chance to really connect until now.
How could I have seen
I had no idea how magical our connection could be until it happened.
Oh
Oh
Oh oh oh
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BLAIR DALY, WILL RAMBEAUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind