When I Was Your Man
Max Lyrics


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Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name

It all just sounds like ooh
Ooh too young, too dumb to realize
That I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man

My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
'Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, oh oh
And it haunts me every time I close my eyes

It all just sounds like ooh
Ooh too young, too dumb to realize
That I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man

Although it hurts
I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
I know I'm probably much too late
To try and apologize for my mistakes
But I just want you to know

I hope he buys you flowers
I hope he holds your hand
Give you all his hours
When he has the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man




Do all those things I should have done
When I was your man

Overall Meaning

Max's song "When I Was Your Man" is a poignant tale of regret and lost love. The lyrics express the pain of heartbreak, the realization that one has missed out on something special, and the desperate desire to make things right.


The song opens with Max singing about the tangible ways in which the relationship has changed since his love has left, such as the bed feeling bigger and the song they once shared no longer sounding the same. He then moves on to the emotional toll that hearing about her through mutual friends takes on him, emphasizing the pain that comes from hearing her name spoken aloud. Max delves into his regrets and recognizes that he should have treated his love better, acknowledging that he was "too young, too dumb to realize" how much he should have treasured her. He specifically mentions buying her flowers, holding her hand, giving her all his time, and taking her to every party, all the things he should have done but neglected to do.


A key shift in the song's tone comes when Max takes responsibility for his actions and recognizes that it was his pride, ego, and selfishness that caused his love to leave. He acknowledges that he can never fully clean up the mess he made and that his mistakes haunt him every time he closes his eyes. In the end, Max hopes that his former love is happy and cherished by someone else, hoping that her new partner will do all the things that Max should have done when he was her man.


Line by Line Meaning

Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
The bed where the singer and the person he is singing about used to sleep together now seems bigger because of the emptiness after they parted ways.


Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When the singer hears their song being played on the radio, it reminds him of the person he lost and the song doesn't sound as good.


When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
The singer finds it unbearable when his friends mention the person he used to be with because thinking about them causes him emotional pain.


'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name
Hearing the name of the person he lost is painful for the singer and his heart hurts a little every time he hears her name.


It all just sounds like ooh
The whole experience of losing the person he loved and thinking about what could have been is reduced to a simple sound, which conveys the singer's feelings of regret.


Ooh too young, too dumb to realize
The singer admits that he was too young and naive to understand how to properly treat the person he lost, which led to their breakup.


That I should have bought you flowers
The singer realizes that he should have shown the person he loved more attention and affection, like buying her flowers or taking her out on romantic dates.


And held your hand
The singer wishes that he had been more physically affectionate with the person he lost, like holding her hand and showing her more love and care.


Should have gave you all my hours
The singer realizes that he should have spent more quality time with the person he loved and made her feel valued and appreciated.


When I had the chance
The singer acknowledges that he had many opportunities to show the person he lost how much he cared for her, but he didn't take them at the time.


Take you to every party
The singer wishes that he had taken the person he lost to every party and social event, and had given her the chance to have fun and be happy.


'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
The person he lost loved to dance and have fun, and the singer wishes that he could have given her the chance to do so more often.


Now my baby's dancing
The person he lost is now moving on with her life and finding ways to be happy, even if it's without him.


But she's dancing with another man
The singer is heartbroken to see the person he lost moving on with someone else, and watching her dance with another man makes him feel even more regretful for not treating her better.


My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
The singer recognizes that his own personal flaws and shortcomings were the reason he lost the person he loved.


'Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
The person he lost was a strong and independent woman, but the singer's behavior led to her leaving his life.


Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, oh oh
The singer knows that he caused damage to the relationship that he can never make up for, and he will always regret not being able to undo the harm he caused.


And it haunts me every time I close my eyes
The singer is tormented by thoughts of what could have been and how he could have done better every time he tries to sleep or rest.


Although it hurts
Although the thought of losing the person he loved is painful, the singer still wants to talk about his feelings and apologize for his mistakes.


I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
The singer takes full responsibility for his mistakes and wants to admit that he was wrong and apologize for his behavior that led to the breakup.


I know I'm probably much too late
The singer realizes that it may be too late to make things right with the person he lost, but he still wants to try and express his remorse and regret.


To try and apologize for my mistakes
The singer wants to make amends and apologize for his past behavior, knowing that he may never fully make up for the harm he caused the person he lost.


But I just want you to know
The singer wants the person he lost to know how he feels and that he still thinks about her, even though they are no longer together.


I hope he buys you flowers
The singer hopes that whoever the person he lost is with now treats her better than he did by buying her flowers and showing her love and affection.


I hope he holds your hand
The singer wants the person he lost to be happy and have someone who shows her physical affection and care.


Give you all his hours
The singer hopes that the person he lost is with someone who makes time for her and values her presence in his life.


When he has the chance
The singer hopes that whoever the person he lost is with now takes every opportunity to show her how much he cares for her.


Take you to every party
The singer wants the person he lost to have fun and enjoy life by going to every party and social gathering she wants to attend.


'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
The person he lost loved to dance, and the singer wants the new person in her life to remember that and give her the chance to dance and have fun.


Do all the things I should have done
The singer wishes that he had treated the person he loved better, and hopes that the new person in her life will do all the things he didn't do.


When I was your man
The singer reflects on his failed relationship, realizing all the things he should have done differently and wishing he could have another chance to be the person he should have been before, when he was with the person he loved.




Lyrics © DistroKid, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Wyatt, Ari Levine, Peter Gene Hernandez, Philip Martin II Lawrence

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Der Mamfred

Is there an instrument, that Kurt can't play?
Seriously this guy is the definition of being a multitalent.

Katrina Trinidad

i do wonder if he can play that korean instrument: http://site.soundofasia.com/pictures/KY04.JPG a gayageum that would be pretty cool! 

Der Mamfred

***** I think e can :D

chianna shah

***** Buy 22 instruments, learn how to play all of them expertly and then come and say that: )

8 More Replies...

Karee Erie

His versions are always so wonderful!  So much feeling put into them and OMG his voice!  

Zack Trahan

you are right! he does put so much feeling into all of his songs and that's what makes his songs better than the origiginal

Hugh Janus

Max and Bruno would make a legendary duet.

Elijah Cruz

True add Sam Tsui and it's an awsome group.

heartofdtiger25

True that

Niloo M

Definitely

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