Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us Lyrics + Chords
Lyrics
Walking round with my head down
But I can't hide with these high heels on
Downtown in a thick crowd
But it's just you that my mind is on
Dressed up, got my heart messed up
You got yours and I got mine
It's unfair that I still care
And I wonder where you are tonight
Thinking it could be different
But maybe we missed it yea
Thinking it could be different
It could, it could
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Back and forth like a tug of war
What's it all for, do I want it back
I still got a little flame for ya
Even though you drove me mad
Now and then, I pretend
That it's you when I close my eyes
You got yours, I got mine
But I wonder where you are tonight
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us, yeah
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Thinking it could be different
But maybe we missed it
Thinking it could be different
It could, it could
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us, yeah
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
You know it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Video
Tori Kelly - Should’ve Been Us (Official Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Tori Kelly's "Should've Been Us," released in the summer of 2015, is a powerful exploration of the lingering ache of what might have been, a sentiment deeply resonant with the human experience and profoundly illuminated by scripture. While not explicitly a Gospel song, its core message of confronting past hurts and finding a path toward healing and future hope aligns beautifully with Christian teachings on forgiveness, redemption, and trust in God's plan. The song delves into the raw emotions of a relationship that ended prematurely, leaving behind a trail of unspoken words and unfulfilled potential. This feeling of regret, of "should have been," mirrors the internal struggles many face when looking back at choices or circumstances that led them astray from a path they believe was intended for them.
The lyrical narrative captures the universal pain of seeing a former love move on and flourish, intensifying the personal sense of loss. This resonates with the biblical concept of grappling with trials and the temptation to dwell on what we perceive as injustices. Proverbs 4:23, for instance, implores us to "guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." While Kelly's song focuses on the heartbreak of a past relationship, the underlying principle of protecting one's emotional well-being and not allowing past disappointments to define the present is a spiritual imperative. The desire for something that was lost, or the wish to have made different choices, can become a heavy burden, much like the Israelites' longing for Egypt after their liberation from slavery, as recorded in scripture. However, scripture also provides a balm for such wounds, reminding us in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has plans for us, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"Should've Been Us", in its raw honesty, invites introspection about how we process endings and disappointments. It encourages a courageous look at our past not to remain trapped in it, but to learn and grow. This is akin to the apostle Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 3:13-14, where he states he is "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead," pressing on toward the goal. The song’s emotional weight, while personal to the narrative, speaks to a broader human yearning for closure and the strength to move forward. It implicitly calls for a surrender of what cannot be changed, a spiritual discipline that allows for acceptance and the embrace of God’s grace. The journey depicted, from reminiscing about lost possibilities to acknowledging the reality of the present, is a path many must walk in their spiritual lives, seeking peace in God's sovereign timing and trusting that even in loss, there is purpose and potential for a future blessed by His design.