Kirk Franklin - Could've Been Lyrics
Lyrics
Hook: Trio Unison
It could've been me with no clothes no shoes and no food to eat, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
It could've been me, without Your love Lord, tell me where would I be? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it could've been!
V1:
Me in the cold with everything gone.
No house, no job, outside all alone.
Sitting trying to figure out where I went wrong, can somebody help me, tell me what do I do?
Can't feed my kids need, money for the rent.
Bills after bills but everything spent.
The enemy telling me you might as well quit, with tears in my eyes crying , "Lord please get me through."
See that's the reason!
Pre-Chorus
I just can't thank You enough.
No matter how hard I try, Jesus I realize!
Hook
Repeat 1st Verse
v2
See it's easy to complain bout material things, when you don't have to worry bout whatever life brings.
But somebody here tonight, don't know what they gonna eat.
So I got to be careful, cause it could've been me.
See, y 'all, that's the reason.
Pre-Chorus
Hook: 2x
Breakdown: oh oh
Vamp 1:
Thank You, thank You, I thank You it could've been me! repeat
You didn't have to do it no, You didn't have to do it no.
You didn't have to do it, no, thank You! repeat
Breakdown: oh oh
Vamp 1
Music Break
Vamp 2:
Too good to stop now Father, I want to give You thanks some more.
All the things I've been through now, I see, I'm better than I was before.
When I think about all You've done and how You've opened up every door.
I can't help but say thank You & if you want to help me get up on the floor.
Repeat Vamp 1 & 2 until end
Video
Could've Been
Meaning & Inspiration
Kirk Franklin's powerful anthem, "Could've Been," released in 2014, serves as a profound reminder of grace and gratitude, urging listeners to reflect on the precariousness of their own circumstances without divine intervention. The song’s narrative plunges directly into the stark reality of destitution, painting a vivid picture of a life stripped bare – no shelter, no sustenance, and the crushing weight of despair. This imagery resonates deeply with the scriptural warnings against pride and the constant need for humility before God, echoing passages like Deuteronomy 8:3, which states that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Franklin masterfully articulates the internal struggle, the whisper of doubt and the temptation to surrender when faced with overwhelming hardship, a sentiment found in many Psalms where David cries out in distress. The core message of "Could've Been" is undeniably rooted in the acknowledgment of God’s protective hand, emphasizing that even the most dire predicaments could have been one's own reality. This understanding directly aligns with the Christian understanding of God's mercy, as described in Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." The song’s relentless repetition of the titular phrase, "It could've been me," transforms the hook into a meditative plea, a constant recalibration of perspective that shifts focus from personal complaint to profound thankfulness. Verse two expands this contemplation, contrasting the comfort of those who don’t face immediate existential threats with the stark realities of hunger and homelessness, reinforcing the idea that such struggles are not inherently distant but a constant potential. This theme is beautifully captured in Proverbs 19:17, which states, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Franklin’s call to be mindful, that "it could've been me," is an invitation to empathy and a rejection of complacency, urging a recognition of shared vulnerability under God’s overarching providence. The extended vamps offer an opportunity for extended reflection and exultation, with the recurring lines of gratitude, "Thank You, thank You, I thank You it could've been me," becoming a liturgical expression of profound relief and unwavering devotion. The acknowledgement that "You didn't have to do it, no," further underscores the voluntary and undeserved nature of God's blessings, a concept central to the doctrine of grace, as exemplified in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The final vamp elevates this sentiment to a joyful proclamation of transformation, recognizing that through hardship and God’s enduring presence, one is "better than I was before." This spiritual growth and opened doors, as the lyrics suggest, are direct affirmations of divine favor, bringing to mind passages like Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Ultimately, "Could've Been" is not merely a song but a theological declaration, a gospel-infused reminder to never take for granted the grace that shields us from potential desolation and empowers us to live lives of thanksgiving and compassion.