Dancing Nancies "Could I Have Been" Intro (Lyrics)
Dave Matthews has always used improvised variations on the "Could I have been..." intro, along with a spoken word intros. He has also very frequently changed up the "Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris" to the particular city he is in at the time.
Dancing Nancies Intros
06.16.96
Ya know, when I was like…
When I was like 15 years old
I used to have long hair
And used to have studs coming out of my throat
Used to have…
I used to drink and scream with little dogs
And scare children
I used to listen to the Sex Pistols
I used to listen to…
I used to listen to Iron Maiden
And I used to listen to…
Anything that was too loud to bear
I’d listen to…
And I saw straight up and down that I was gonna scream
And scream
And scream
And scream
And life went on…
But if I looked at myself today, I’d say
“Hey, what a queer little quiet melodic motherfucker that guy is”
Oh my God, I’d turn around and say….
“Hey, you never know…..”
Don’t you ever wonder…..
Maybe if you took a left turn, instead of taking that right
You’d be somebody quite different tonight
Don’t you ever wonder
Man, could have I been somebody quite different from me
Somebody with a different scene
Don’t you ever wonder
Maybe, maybe if the day came up and I rose, instead of sleeping late, I’d be somebody Other than myself
Somebody
Anyone, anyone, anyone….
12.31.96
Don't you ever wonder
maybe if your life
had been slightly changed
and rearranged
you might be somebody other than yourself,
might be somebody else?
Don't you ever wonder,
"could I have been
somebody other than myself?
in a different place that I'm in?"
Don't you ever wonder
"Could I have been?"
don't you ever wonder
"Anyone, anyone, anyone?"
09.01.02
Don't you ever wonder
Watchin' the news at night
Watchin' the world go to shit
Maybe think everything
Could be alright
If we'd just taken one turn
A little bit different
Maybe if we thought one thought
Just a little bit twisted
Don't you ever wonder
Maybe if you'd had a little more
Wine that one time
And had a good time
You would've been alright that night
Lay back and
Rest your weary head
On the pillow tonight
'Cause it's gonna be alright
Don't you ever wonder
Could I have been
Somebody quite different
Somebody in a different place
Than the place I'm in
Don't you ever wonder
Could I have been
On the other side of the world
Could I have been
On the other side of myself
Could I have been somebody else
Could I have been somebody else?
Could I have been
A parking lot attendant
Could I have been
A millionaire in Bel-Air
Could I have been
Lost somewhere in Chicago
Could I have been
Your little brother
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been anyone?
09.07.02
Strange days, don't you think, these days...
Strange days, don't you think, these days...
Like a maze, these days...
Dont you think.
Someone ask you what do you
Well I dont know, can't make up my mind...
Like a maze, these crazy days, dont you think.
Guns and drugs and good times, bad times, wars.
Drop the big one on just a few if we can.
Dont you think, strange days, dont you think.
Is it right? Am I right?
Is it wrong? Am I wrong?
I dont know.
Your hair looks funny...
Maybe you should move along.
Strange days, dont you think.
Dont you ever wonder, maybe...
If I took a left turn...
Instead of taking that right,
I may be someone quite different tonight.
Dont you ever wonder?
Could you have been on the other side?
Dont you ever wonder, anyone...
Well,
Could I have been a parking lot attendant?
Could I have been a millionaire in Bel Air?
Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris?
Could I have been your little brother?
Could I have been anyone other than me?
Could I have been, oh, anyone other than me?
Could I have been anyone other than me?
Could I have been anyone....
03.23.03
just one more before you lock the door
i'll stay in here while you turn the lights out
c'mon give me one more
i'm walking home tonight
i can't fucking drive
i'm not an idiot
i'm an idiot drunk,
but i'm not an idiot
i won't misbehave
i just was wondering maybe
looking at myself when i woke up this morning
in the mirror and thought
jesus
what the hell went wrong here?
you can't even..shit...you can't even pick that straight
just one more to fill it up
more liquid less ice for god's sake
i was thinking, you know....
once i was gonna be a doctor
once i was gonna be an actor
shit, i could have run the 3 ring circus....
(in circus ringleader voice)
'ladies and gentelmen this fucking show is great!'
jesus....
but now as it turns out i'm just a f...bum
a drunk, lonely bum
the kind of people that people cross the street to avoid walking next to
bum
and i wonder could i have been some kind of princely
whatever it is that you might be when you're princely
well...
see ya.
03.28.03
This God is... if God is paying attention to me, then maybe he'll
answer my prayer, then. Just lock the door and turn off the lights and
give me another drink. Okay, um, it's just a shot in the dark, I
dunno.. what're you gonna do if I'm, if I, if I, if I'm not it's. You
could just, you could just, you could just pour it, pretend I wasn't
here when you locked the door, and then you could sit down, count your
money. Look at the—okay okay I'm leavin, no I'm not driving, give me
my fuckin keys. Just wanted another one to finish me off you
know—noooo. So I don't... fit the description of somebody you'd like
to stay late with here at the bar. Sorry... I'll be quiet, just...
Thank you, more—more liquid than ice, if you'd be so kind; yes, that
was really nice of you. Thank you, I... no, no, no, I wasn't always
gonna be a hopeless drunk, I was... some big plans. I can't remember
them, though, now, I can't... I know they were big, though. That's the
whole problem, with that sh–sh–shot a little lower, but who gives a
fuck anyway? So what if I... just gimme... thank you, I won't talk to
you, I won't say anything. Count your money, mister tip boy, what are
you gonna do? Thank you! Thank you very much for being so pleasant.
03.29.03
what time is it
doesn't feel that late
one more and i'll be on my way
more liquid than ice
please
more liquid than ice
please
thank you
well open another one if that one's finished
oh no, i'm just trying to prolong the time between
me and a headache
i may have had one too many
but it wouldn't be the first time
i was
but at least i won't remember what a fool i make of myself tonight
well what's it's gonna hurt while you count your tips
and figure out all...whatever...you know
what's it gonna hurt if i'm sitting here drinking while you do it
just lock the door and turn out the lights
and i'll pretend i'm part of the furniture
please, good god
what have i ever deserved to be thrown out for
no i wasn't planning on being a drunk fool
i had other plans
i had big big big plans
and look at me now
oh yeah
i'll drink to that, you know
holes in my shoes
at least there's a hole in my head to fill me with booze
did you always want to be a bartender?
that's a stupid question...i guess not
probably not, anyway
that's where you are isn't it?
well, here's where i am across from you
wasn't part of my plan either
(...?...)
it's a good day...we turn up..
we turn up what we can
but then, oh....
gotta leave it in the hands...gotta leave it in the hands...
and then we...
so
well, anyway...
i'm sorry i digress
but i just...
i assure you i'll apologize in the morning
but right now
i'd just like to have my glass filled
and forget about what a fuck up i am.
03.31.03
Thank god spring is here.
Could I borrow a dollar please
Fifty cents, fine.
Homeless, hungry.
And so, uh, anyways, in the spring it gets a little easier then summer comes and some nights it's a little hot but... I can take it
I mean, I mean, I mean, I may not look like much, but I, uh, I've had my day. I mean.
Yea. I might - I might smell a little too much but wasn't always this way.
And who the fuck are you to judge me?
You never can tell, maybe it's a broken heart, maybe it's... bad luck, maybe you just get really fucking embarassed one day, but I tell yea, things can turn out kinda, well... unexpectedly so-to-speak.
I mean, you know. Look at me - look it, I smell like liquor, and in specific whatever it is that I can get my f' hands on and...
Everyday all day if that's what I can get. I smell like liquor every minute if that's what I can get then that's me. That's me, and you can walk by in your fancy shoes and step over me like I'm a piece of shit but I don't care much of anything.
And I'll tell you what, though, when your day comes and if I'm so lucky as to be staring at you from inside of this dumpster and someone steps over you and I'll be the first one to point at you and... laugh, out loud.
Anyway, I was wondering if you could spare some change.
Gimme....whatever you got, I don't want anything in specific. Pennies are good, you know, I mean... bills are better but i mean you could... Thank you so much for your loose change that you couldn't even buy crumbs with but as it will give me a potato...
Anyway, I apologize, No I was gonna be a doctor and than I thought... then I.... Then I thought... mmmm... then somehow I don't know, there's a blurry section in the middle there and then the next thing you know I'm sitting out here smelling like whatever booze I can get my hands on.
But you never know, do you? How things are gonna turn out or if..... you know, you could be.... different.
04.03.03
[spoken]
...Man, you'd be amazed how much good food you can find,
i mean,
good food that people throw away.
You can...
You can get a good buzz from Listerine if you drink enough...
...The first time you say "can I spare some change?", you feel like a gutless whore.
But after a hundred times it feels like that's what you're for,
it feels like,
that's what you were meant to be
"That's me, that's me.
'scuse me, could you spare a dollar sir, I need uh, I need a bus ticket,
or... 'scuse me sir.
Mamn, I hope tomorrow is as beautiful as you, can you spare some change?"
Well it was not in my plan,
it was not in my plan
this,
this is sortof a,
of a spontaneous evolution
has put me here by this dumpster
with the hope on my shoulders
and a thousand- man I tell ya I could, uh, I could, uh, I could, uh, survive just about anything
just as long as I
as long as I, you know, I don't have to impress anyone with how I spell.
Yea. mmhmm.
I'm not much of a shaver anymore
this one big dreadlock in my head has become somewhat of a pillow for me, mmhmm.
Sometimes people give me money just to get me to leave them alone.
You can tell those people are coming
so you sing a song to 'em,
"Hey, you know this song?
Can I sing you a song for a dollar?
You know this song?
Can I sing you a song for a.."
and they come up with the cash,
and then they come up with the cash quickly,
just to 'get your stinky ass away from me'.
Yea...
I thrived.
Loving mother, loving father,
and my sweetheart and me, we were gonna ride into the sunset.
But who could've seen that train coming?
Hell no.
And so the sunset will be enjoyed by me alone and hopefully with a big fat buzz on.
Yea..
Yea...
I'm not gonna be a doctor
but I woulda been
I'm not gonna be a lawyer
but I coulda been
I'm not gonna be the envy of the world
but I shoulda been
Yea, that's what I shoulda been
Grey, oh...
04.04.03
Well, well, well
If it isn't another
Shiny, glorious, sunny... day
And all the happy people
Walking, walking in their doors
Through their doors, revolving
Up their elevators, down the shaft
Off they go
Makin' it, makin' it, oh it's a good life
And then, whoopee
We're all gonna die in the end
And they celebrate
And they look at me like I'm a dog
Cause I'm sittin' by a dumpster
Not doin' a damn thing
All I'm doin' is growing a beard
I've been workin' on it for about a year now
And it's a little stinky, but
That's because it's my beard
Sure, once I... was under the impression
That I... was gonna make an effort
So that I might become somebody that
Someone might become impressed by
Then I found my certain someone
And she was oh, so fine
But in my infinite wisdom
I managed to screw that up too
So now here I am, and I wonder why
I wonder why, I wonder...
It's not easy being green
There's so many colors I'd rather be
It's not easy bein' me
Hello, how are you? Yea, good day to you too
If I sing a song, will you give me a quarter?
Thank you so much, I don't even need to sing
God bless you, have a wonderful day, walk safely
I'll just sink back here to my dumpster
Oh, chicken. In a garbage can. I'll eat it, it's
delicious
Still warm, still warm, still warm
It's not easy bein' green
There's so many color's I'd rather be
06.18.03
i know you might think
watching me sit here
drink after drink after drink
that this was
this was what i dreamed for me
no no no no no no no no no
this is not what i expected to be
dont you ever wonder
maybe if you took a left turn
instead of taking that one right that night
you'd be someone quite different right now
don't you ever wonder
if just one
breeze changed and
don't you ever wonder maybe
someday in this life
somebody should have twisted you just right
you'd be someone quite different
dont you ever wonder
could i have been anyone?
dont you ever wonder?
dont you ever wonder?
could i have been?
dont you ever wonder?
could i have been?
don't you ever wonder?
anyone?
anyone?
anyone?
09.24.03
Bartender, please
I know it's late
I know your last call has come and gone
Why don't you fill me up with one more long, long drink
And then I'll go home
Come on - hook me up
Bartender hook me up
Lock the door and start counting the money if you need to - but
Come on - come on - come on - come on
Hook me up
Bartender please, won't you
I wasn't planning on getting drunk tonight - but
It seemed like the right decision tonight
As luck would have it
She stood me up
I'm not myself - I was wondering if - I was wondering if -
I was wondering if I might hae been somebody other than myself
If I could have been somebody other than myself -- anyone
Could I have been a parking lot attendant
Could I have been a millionaire up there on Fifth Avenue
Could I have been lost late at night somewhere in Central Park
Could I hae been on the stage?
Could I have been anyone other than me.......
12.15.03
I said God, if your really up there,
why dont you fly out the sky
and land down on my lap and tell me
everything is going be just fine.
Why dont you dress up in a red and white fuzzy suit and sit below my christmas tree.. and say Boy.. its all going be just fine
and if you dont.
I'll just make my way slow but set it to the bottom of this bottle well sometimes I find faith I find good will.. with slurred words
Oh look its fillest man
could you, if you can
could you spare me some change
so I could go to the ABC store
and get myself another bottle
to take the edge off the last bottle
to take the edge off the last bottle
that took the edge off uh
nawwww man
I wasnt planning on being here
Its like a slow surprise.. yeah
no, i thought i was going to be.. the king of the world yeah, the disco king.. or the Burger King or the.. some kind of fucking thing
but instead im sucking on this bottle
thinking "this aint so bad,
as long as it doesnt get too fucking cold out"
12.20.03
It's the same old fucking story every god damn day
I gotta watch people step over me every god damn day
Spare change man, hard luck story man,
hook me up man. Thank you.
Hey you gotta dollar you can spare man?
I gotta get a bus back to North Dakota Thank you.
Hey man I hope tomorrow is beautiful as you are
Can you spare some change man, no no.
I take it back you're ugly on the inside.
Yea I had big dreams I had big plans
I'm not exactly sure went wrong
but now I just wanna get a fucking drink.
06.27.04
Well sometimes don't you wonder maybe
if I been somebody ended up like me?
What is it so sure
Do you buy fate?
I don't know man, do i feel?
My darks correct deeply
Do I fill,
the place I was supposed to fill?
Am I what I'm supposed to be?
Am I?
Don't you ever wonder maybe
if you took that right turn instead of takin that right
You'd probably be in a different place
Don't you ever wonder could I have been anyone other than me, could I have been
Anyone?
Could I have been
a parking lot attendant?
Could I have been
a millionaire in Bell Air?
Could I have been
lost somewhere in Pennsylvania?
Could I have been
your little brother?
Could I have been
anyone other than me
06.29.04
quite a few of us in here tonight
not much room to move
sometimes i like to be in an empty room...
sometimes when i'm in an empty room i like to be in a crowded room
the grass is always greener on the other side
i watch this all
sitting alone...trying to get to the bottom of the bottle
sitting alone...trying to finish off just one more pack of cigarettes
sitting alone...trying to stay up and watch nothing on tv
wondering... oh what the hell happened to me?
don't you ever wonder what could i have been?
don't you ever wonder what would i have been?
don't you ever wonder could i have been?
don't you ever wonder anyone anyone?
well could i have been...
06.16.06
it goes to show, don't it?
don't it goes to show?
look at the big talker, you're always
did he mean everything that he said?
can't trust that man as far
as you can throw that man
don't it make you wonder?
06.28.06
you know what they say?
it's good for you
it's good for me
you know what they say?
do your best
leave the rest to God
It's been so long since
the bottom of this bottle
the bottom of this glass
makes me wonder could I have been anyone?
07.02.06
could I
-scat-
wonder if I could
I look at the other man
and I
put myself in the place he stands
and I wonder
would I be more
graceful, oh would I be more ugly
I look at the man sittin at the top of the hill
looking down on us as we work to thrill
oh I wonder if I was up that high
if I could be better than he can
10.27.06
Always trust those who have power over you...
I was drinking...
03.24.07
It started, started all the same
It started all the same, the golden day
When I was a boy, I was a boy
I used to dig oh [?]
The dream come true, you know they do, they do
You know your dream come true, you know they do, they do
When I was a boy, you know the stars and the moon
Used to chase me through the woods
They used to when I was a boy, I was a boy