Can We Go Back
Kelly Clarkson Lyrics


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You're complicating things
I need some room to breathe
I gotta get back to simplicity
If you want more than this
Then tell me what it is I gotta do
Oh, this is killin' me

I need you to see
That something's gotta change

Can we go back to the way we used to be?
Back to the butterflies
Starin deep in your eyes
Can we go back to how we used to be
When livin' and lovin' was easy
We gotta find a way to fool reality
Can we go back to the way we used to be?

When did we mess it up
What happened to love
We had it good, but it wasnt enough
We shouldnt let it fade all the way
Were over-thinkin' this way too much

I want you next to me
But somethins gotta change

Can we go back to the way we used to be?
Back to the butterflies
Starin' deep in your eyes
Can we go back to how we used to be?
When livin and lovin was easy
We gotta find a way to fool reality
Can we go back to the way we used to be?

(Can we go back?)
(Can we go back to the way we used to be?)
(Can we go back?)


Oh, I'm getting tired of the fight
We can't pretend that it's alright
I'm slowly losing hope
Baby can we try

Can we go back to the way we used to be
Back to the butterflies
Starin deep in your eyes
Can we go back to how we used to be
When livin and lovin was easy

We gotta find a way to fool reality
(Can we go back?)
We gotta find a way to fool reality
(Can we go back?)




We gotta find a way to fool reality
Can we go back to the way we used to be?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kelly Clarkson's song "Can We Go Back" analyze the complexities in a relationship and the desire to return to simpler times when things were easy. The song is a plea from one partner to the other to restore their relationship to the way it used to be, when love was effortless and carefree. The singer emphasizes the importance of simplicity in their relationship, to take a step back from the complications and overthinking that brought them to this place.


The idea of "going back" is repeated throughout the song, underscoring the idea of restoring what was lost in their relationship. The lyrics suggest a longing for the past, for the simple things that made their relationship special. The singer is wary of losing hope but is determined to try to find a way to restore their relationship to its former state. The song is written with a creative use of metaphors, where the return to how things used to be is compared to the butterflies in her stomach from the past.


The final repetition of "Can we go back to the way we used to be?" is a question that highlights the clearest theme in the song, which is the wish for simplicity and a return to the effortless love the relationship used to provide. Overall, the song 'Can We Go Back' is a soulful and authentic ballad that speaks to the hearts of those who deeply resonate with its theme.


Line by Line Meaning

You're complicating things
You are making things more difficult than they need to be


I need some room to breathe
I need some space or time to think


I gotta get back to simplicity
I need to return to a simpler time and way of life


If you want more than this
If you want something more than what we currently have


Then tell me what it is I gotta do
Please let me know what I can do to make things better for us


Oh, this is killin' me
This situation is very difficult and painful for me


I need you to see
I need you to understand


That something's gotta change
We need to make some changes in order to improve our relationship


When did we mess it up
When did our relationship start to go wrong


What happened to love
What happened to the love we used to share


We had it good, but it wasn't enough
We were happy before, but something changed and it wasn't enough to sustain us


We shouldn't let it fade all the way
We should try to save our relationship before it's too late


We're over-thinkin' this way too much
We're analyzing and worrying about our relationship too much


I want you next to me
I want to be close to you


But somethin's gotta change
But we need to make changes in order for that to happen


Can we go back to the way we used to be?
Can we return to a happier time in our relationship


Back to the butterflies
Back to the feeling of excitement and happiness


Starin' deep in your eyes
Looking into your eyes with love and affection


When livin' and lovin' was easy
When life and love were uncomplicated and stress-free


We gotta find a way to fool reality
We need to find a way to escape the difficulties of our current situation and return to a happier time


Oh, I'm getting tired of the fight
I am exhausted from the conflict and struggle in our relationship


We can't pretend that it's alright
We can't ignore the problems in our relationship and pretend that everything is fine


I'm slowly losing hope
I am losing faith in our ability to save our relationship


Baby can we try
Can we make an effort to save our relationship


(Can we go back?)
Can we return to a happier time in our relationship


We gotta find a way to fool reality
We need to find a way to escape the difficulties of our current situation and return to a happier time


Can we go back to the way we used to be?
Can we return to a happier time in our relationship




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Comments from YouTube:

Igor Santiago

Oh my God. I love Kelly Clarkson ♥

Amanda Smith

This would make a perfect music video if the song was released onto it's original album: All I Ever Wanted

Tatiana Roberts

I love kelly Clarkson so much

Noel Haynes

Noel Haynes II Poems of Love 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are on YouTube. Look them up.

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