George Ryan Bingham (born March 31, 1981 in Hobbs, New Mexico) is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴George Ryan Bingham (born March 31, 1981 in Hobbs, New Mexico) is an American folk rock/Americana singer/songwriter. In addition to his solo albums, Bingham recorded two albums as Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses.

Bingham dropped out of school at 17 and was introduced to rodeo bull riding. He learned the emotional aspect of pain early in life, when shuttling between small towns and family members in the hardscrabble ranching communities of West Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico -- and became well-acquainted with the physical facets of pain during his years on the Southwestern rodeo circuit.

That ache is palpable in the grooves of Mescalito, Ryan Bingham’s Lost Highway debut, but what’s even more plain is the steely strength needed to overcome it -- a tenor that’s evident in both the singer-songwriter’s preternaturally wizened voice and his remarkably poignant songs, which resonate with roadhouse wisdom and rough-and-ready border-town piquancy.

The Beg For Broken Legs Songfacts reports that Bingham's fourth album, Tomorrowland, was recorded in Malibu, California with producer Justin Stanley and self-released through Bingham's new independent record label Axster Bingham Records on September 18, 2012.

He has won an Oscar for the best film song (Crazy Heart - The Weary Kind) in 2010.

Influences include Bob Dylan among others.

What Would I've Become
Ryan Bingham Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
NEVER HAD TO FIGHT AND STAND
WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
HADN'T RUN WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
HAD NEVER LEFT MY COUNTRY HOME
WOULD I HAVE DARED TO BEND MY MIND

AND JUMP OFF INTO THE WORLD

WOULD I FIND LOVE
WOULD I LOSE MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD
WOULD I FIND TRUTH
WOULD I TEST MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
NEVER HAD TO PAY MY DUES
WOULD I HAVE DARED TO SAY GOODBYE
IF I HAD HAD A LITTLE MORE TO LOSE

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
HAD NEVER STRUCK OUT ON MY OWN
WOULD I BE STANDIN' HERE TONIGHT
SINGIN' IN A HONKY TONK

WOULD I FIND LOVE
WOULD I LOSE MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD
WOULD I FIND TRUTH
WOULD I TEST MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
NEVER HAD TO FIGHT AND STAND
WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
HADN'T RUN WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I
HAD NEVER LEFT MY COUNTRY HOME
WOULD I HAVE DARED TO BEND MY MIND
AND JUMP OFF INTO THE WORLD

WOULD I FIND LOVE
WOULD I LOSE MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD
WOULD I FIND TRUTH
WOULD I TEST MYSELF
MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD

WOULD I FIND TRUTH
WOULD I TEST MYSELF

MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN
WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD

Overall Meaning

In "What Would I've Become" by Ryan Bingham, the lyrics explore the idea of self-discovery and the potential outcomes of different choices and experiences in one's life. The song poses a series of hypothetical questions about the singer's identity and path in life, imagining who they would have become if certain events had not occurred.

The opening lines "What would I've become if I never had to fight and stand / What would I've become if I hadn't run when I had the chance" suggest that the singer's resilience and determination have shaped their identity. They question whether they would have become the same person if they hadn't faced these challenges and made those choices.

The song also reflects on the impact of leaving one's comfort zone and venturing into the unknown. The lyrics "Would I have dared to bend my mind and jump off into the world / Would I find love, would I lose myself" highlight the potential for personal growth and the discovery of love and truth that comes from taking risks and exploring new paths.

The repetition in the lyrics emphasizes the importance of these questions and suggests a lingering uncertainty about the singer's identity and the road they have chosen. Ultimately, the song raises introspective questions about the different versions of oneself that might have existed if not for these formative experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I NEVER HAD TO FIGHT AND STAND
What would I have become if I never had to face challenges and stand up for myself

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I HADN'T RUN WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE
What would I have become if I didn't take risks and seize opportunities

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I HAD NEVER LEFT MY COUNTRY HOME
What would I have become if I never ventured beyond the familiarity of my hometown

WOULD I HAVE DARED TO BEND MY MIND AND JUMP OFF INTO THE WORLD
Would I have had the courage to open my mind and explore the vastness of the world

WOULD I FIND LOVE
Would I have experienced love and all its complexities

WOULD I LOSE MYSELF
Would I have gotten lost along the way, losing sight of who I am

MAYBE I'D NEVER KNOWN WHAT WAS LAID UPON THAT ROAD AHEAD
Perhaps I would have remained oblivious to the challenges and opportunities that awaited me on my journey

WOULD I FIND TRUTH
Would I have discovered the truths and insights that shape the world

WOULD I TEST MYSELF
Would I have pushed myself to the limits, embracing challenges to grow

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I NEVER HAD TO PAY MY DUES
What would I have become if I never had to work hard and face the consequences of my actions

WOULD I HAVE DARED TO SAY GOODBYE IF I HAD HAD A LITTLE MORE TO LOSE
Would I have found the strength to say goodbye if I had more at stake

WHAT WOULD I'VE BECOME IF I HAD NEVER STRUCK OUT ON MY OWN
What would I have become if I never took the initiative to pursue my own path

WOULD I BE STANDIN' HERE TONIGHT SINGIN' IN A HONKY TONK
Would I have ended up in this moment, standing here tonight, singing in a honky tonk