It Could Happen to You
Oscar Peterson and His Orchestra Lyrics

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Hide your heart from sight,
Lock your dreams at night,
It could happen to you.
Don't count stars
Or you might stumble,
Someone drops a sigh
And down you tumble,
Keep an eye on spring,

Run when church bells ring.
It could happen to you
All I did was wonder

How your arms would be
And it happened to me

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are a cautionary tale of falling in love. The first two lines urge the listener to protect themselves from vulnerability by hiding their heart from sight and locking their dreams at night. The singer warns that falling in love can happen unexpectedly and warns not to count stars, suggesting that one shouldn't count on a perfect outcome as it may lead to disappointment. The image of stumbling evokes the idea that falling in love can be dangerous and unexpected.

The lyrics also suggest that love is connected to the changing of the seasons and religious rituals. The singer warns the listener to keep an eye on spring, a season of renewal, and to run as the church bells ring, which could symbolize the danger of love's intensity. The final lines suggest that the singer was once in the same position as the listener, merely wondering about the possibility of love with someone, and it happened to them. This line is a reminder that love can happen to anyone, even those who try to protect themselves from it.

Line by Line Meaning

Hide your heart from sight,
Don't let anyone see or have access to your deepest emotions and vulnerabilities.

Lock your dreams at night,
Keep your aspirations and goals to yourself and don't share them with others.

It could happen to you.
Anything can happen to anyone, even the unexpected, so be prepared for anything.

Don't count stars
Don't get lost in daydreaming or unrealistic fantasies.

Or you might stumble,
If you focus too much on unrealistic dreams, you might miss out on real opportunities.

Someone drops a sigh
Someone shows a hint of interest or affection towards you.

And down you tumble,
You might fall in love or get hurt emotionally.

Keep an eye on spring,
Be aware of new beginnings and opportunities that come with each season.

Run when church bells ring.
Act on your intuition and follow your instincts.

It could happen to you
Anything, good or bad, can happen to you at any time in your life. Be ready for the unexpected.

All I did was wonder
I simply thought about something or someone that interested me.