“Shoulda Woulda Coulda,” Are The Last Words Of A Fool

Jim Adams, aka Newepicauthor, the creator of A Unique Title For Me, is hosting SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY and this week he has chosen the theme: COULD/MIGHT/SHOULD/WOULD

When I saw Jim’s chosen theme for this week, the song that popped straight into my head was Beverley Knight’s “Shoulda Woulda Coulda”. In fact I found it hard to see past that song, although there are many many other songs that fit the theme just as well. But listening to Beverley Knight singing the lyrics started to bring a few tears to my eyes.

I always feel choked up about the thought of perhaps not doing enough in past relationships. I haven’t had that many. I was courted for years by my best friend. He was a couple of years older than me. I thought we would end up marrying, everyone did. But there came a point when I realized there was an aspect of his character that was causing me to dislike his company. It upset me a lot. But I could not get past it. I realized that too much cynicism, criticism, and superiority is something I cannot live with. But in every other way, he was wonderful.

Although, I genuinely feel it was the right decision to end the courtship, and I don’t regret it, I have at times looked back and thought I should woulda coulda done some things differently. But at the time, I was too young, too inexperienced to see ways I could have lovingly made it clear he was going to need to work on that flaw (because it was a flaw in his character) so that he would be a better man.

I didn’t have a proper relationship after him really. I went on dates – lots of them. I get on with most people, but nothing clicked with any of the men I dated. Then along came “Jack” – it is hard to explain how excited he made me…but, it went terribly wrong. I spent years thinking I shoulda woulda coulda done things differently.

After the crime that knocked the course of my life sideways, it took a long time to feel comfortable with the idea of male attention. I tried with one man, who had been a friend for years. It didn’t work. Then very briefly there was someone else, who turned out to be an eeeed-yat! With both of them perhaps I coulda done things differently, but I have not wasted too much time worrying about those situations.

Then Goldfinch came along! Yayyyyyyyy! No regrets! I loved him. I don’t feel I would have done much differently. Goldfinch allowed my loving heart to flourish and I felt no reason to hold back in any way when it came to love. My only regret is that Australia is such an annoyingly inconvenient distance from England 😦

But life through a curveball at me…or more like a boomerang. For one day, I was walking randomly, simply to exercise my legs and let my mind wander, and boom – there was Jack! I floated past hoping he had not seen me. But he had! Within two weeks I had a phone-call.

Since then…well, you know what has happened! Perhaps Jack and I shoulda woulda coulda done things differently years ago. We both made regrettable mistakes. But incredibly, we have another chance to try harder. And so far, we are both making a much better job than we did last time. Hurray for second chances!

But don’t take any risks! If you realize there is something you need to do – do it! Perhaps you need to make a change in your outlook, or work on a character flaw. Just do not hold back when it comes to being a more loving person. Because at the end of the day, you will forget a lot of what seems to matter now…but it is hard to get over all the should woulda couldas when it comes to love. Just love! Love with gusto!

People say that together we were both sides of the same coin
That we would shine like Venus in a clear night sky
We thought our love could overcome the circumstances
But my ambition wouldn’t allow for compromise

I could see in the distance all the dreams that were clear to me
Every choice that I had to make left you on your own
Somehow the road we started down had split asunder
Too late to realise how far apart we’d grown.
How I wish I, wish I’d done a little bit more

Now ” Shoulda woulda coulda,” means I’m out of time
Coz “Shoulda woulda coulda”, can’t change your mind
And I wonder, wonder, wonder what I’m gonna do
“Shoulda woulda coulda” are the last words of a fool

People ask how it feels to live the kind of life others dream about
I tell them everybody gotta face their highs and their lows
And in my life there’s a love I put aside, cause I was busy loving something else
So for every little thing you hold on to, you’ve got to let something else go

Now ” Shoulda woulda coulda,” means I’m out of time
Coz “Shoulda woulda coulda”, can’t change your mind
And I wonder, wonder, wonder what I’m gonna do
“Shoulda woulda coulda” are the last words of a fool

Fool if I would now forsake the opportunities are fate
I know I’m right where I belong
But sometimes when I’m not so strong I..

Now ” Shoulda woulda coulda,” means I’m out of time
Coz “Shoulda woulda coulda”, can’t change your mind
And I wonder, wonder, wonder what I’m gonna do
“Shoulda woulda coulda” are the last words of a fool

Written By: Beverley Knight and Craig Wiseman