I think anyone should be allowed to wonder what could have been without it being about reincarnation or regret... eh?

I think it's important to look at the connotations of the things that he could have been... while I agree with all the interpretations here, they are very surface-level. I don't think he's referring to a literal alternative life (or carnation) but more contemplating metaphorically the fact that life is a series of choices that lead us to be who we are. With this specific person he could have been very different, things could have gone differently. But he wasn’t, and they didn’t. Even though he could try put things back together now… it’s too late. He should have been these things first, before the relationship ended.

In the first verse he looks at what kind of person he could have been in general. “First” here refers to before he met the person in verse 2.

He could have been an explorer (a sailer), a provider (a cook), a lover, someone who spent their time gaining knowledge about the world (a book). He could have been simply something to show others the direction they should go in (a sign post), he could have been simply something to show others the stage of their life they were at (a clock). He could have been simple and unremarkable (a kettle), he could have been strong and reliable (a rock). He could still be any of those things but doesn’t know how to change.

In the second verse he looks at what kind of a person he could have been during a specific relationship. Here “first” refers to before the relationship ended.

He could have been the person’s support (a pillar), an escape route from something else, or entrance into something different (door), could have been the unchanging constant that reflected what the other person was and belonged to the other person completely without taking anything from the relationship himself (your statue), could have just remained a friend (as difficult to be as all these other things). Then their relationship would have lasted a lifetime. He could have been, he should have been… before the relationship ended.

In the final verse deals with the end of the relationship. The “first” here refers to before he had the experiences he had. Before he had had certain experiences, he would have had the choice to do either of these things (which are complete opposites). However after the experiences, the choice is no longer his. He could have been the one pointing out the problems, annoying and controlling (a whistle), he could have been the opposite, singing all the praises of the other person, trying to please them (a flute). He could have just kept giving and giving (a real live giver) or he could have ended it by just kicking the other person out of his life (a boot). He repeats that he could have been a signpost and a clock but this time meaning specifically to the other person – he could have been their warning sign, could have told them where they were heading, could have told them who they were. He could have made them aware of the days that passed, the commitments in life, time running out, kept them busy in between other things. Could have just been simple and unremarkable to the person, could have been a strong and reliable thing in that person’s life.

Even now, divided by time and/or physical distance, he can still be those things to the person. But he should have been those things before they broke up… now it’s too late. The choices he made defined him and there is no way that he could be something other than what he is, there is no way the relationship could have gone any way other than how it did.

2 Replies

Quite honestly, I agree with the reincarnation idea concerning this song. However, I also like to look at the different objects has having some sort of symbolism, such as (an obvious one) the pillar showing him as a support for his lover. It makes for a very interesting interpretation of the song.

this is one of the very few songs that I like because of its music and not because of its lyrics. the form dominates the content, if you will. which is not usually my way of doing and seeing things, but i think the lyrics are quite clear in this song and also not that impressive concerning their imaginative power, so i concentrated on the music, which is great and light and always a pleasure to listen to.

To me this song is full of tender regret. There are many things he could have been, but he regrets not being there for someone he loves.

I could have been a real live lover,
as steady as a rock
I could be here and now.
I would be. I should be, But how?

I could have been your pillar,
I could have stayed beside you,
could have stayed for more
Could have been your friend
A whole long lilfetime
Could have been the end
I could be yours so true
I would be. I should be
Through and through.

I could have been a real live giver,
Could have been as steady as a rock
I could even be here
I would be. I should be so near

Yeah dante23 I had always thought that too when I heard this song. He seems to have a few references to reincarnation or at least hints that he thought about it in his other songs.

Thank you, dante23 for finally getting over Garden State and recognizing the song's true meaning. The song, to me, screams Buddhism and reincarnation; the title gives it away. I'm so glad someone else recognized the song from the album where it came from rather than a from a cliché indie-type movie soundtrack. Nick did have 'lovers' but also had great difficulty establishing relationships. You're right; the vivacity found in the second verse probably came from someone who made him very happy.

hidispenser: Do not believe Wikipedia!

Lots of Nicks lovers have come out of the woodworks when his fame grew. He was had many of them when he was younger living in France and northern Africa

dante23: Nick did not have many lovers. In fact, he barely had a girl"friend" acording to Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake He had awesome singing ability, but that did not translate into having many women as he was a painfully shy person, often recording his vocals facing the wall so the sound techs couldn't look at him.

makes you think what you're doing with your life and what you could have been doing instead. sit back and enjoy the ride of 'life' or you'll get sucked into regret and sit around when you're old and wonder

This song is about reincarnation, Nick held a high opion of Buddists and the Zen religion and their ideas of reincarnation. It also talks about his feelings about his musical career and what he was trying to achieve. I guess he felt he couldnt live up to his own self projection and he 'could have been' something else. I guess a bit of itis about his love for his girlfriend at the time

'A whole long lilfetime could have been the end
I could be yours so true'

It is always very secretive but Nick did have many lovers and one of them made him very happy during the recording of 'Bryter Layter' hence happier songs!!!

Hope this is ok!

you're right, rachael yamagata is great. and however grudgingly i say it, garden state's soundtrack is good.

For the most part, you're an idiot

Please shut up about the garden state soundtrack.

For the most part, it was mediocre at best.

I think this song is just nick contemplating about all the things that he could have been. I know thats a really obvious answer, but its true. The 2nd verse on the other hand is about a girl that didnt want him i think. He says he could have been her lover which implies that maybe she didnt want him to be. Nick Drake is a great talent and is a perfect example of how great musicians die so young. All great musicians are tortured in some way and sometimes, unfortunately, that tortue is too much to handle for some. This is a fantastic song none the less

On a Garden State note... Zach Braff has introduced me to so many great artists. He won a Grammy for his soundtrack for Garden State. He has a blog that is connected to the Garden State website and he recommends a lot of his favorite music.

Rachel Yamagata is someone really worth buying/downloading. You should look up her lyrics to the song "The Reason Why".

Oooooh, the imfamous pentapost.... It's kind of weird that no one posted on this song until they saw Garden State. Oh well, I'm also to blame, great movie, great song.

Garden State Is an Amazing movie, my favorite movie of all time, and without the soundtrack the movie would just be very good, Zach Braff is genious, and he composed the best movie soundtrack in our generation, as well as wrote, directed and starred in the seminal film for our generation.

Nick Drake is a great song Writer, and i am thrilled that people are starting to enjoy his music alot more, 30 years after it was written.

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on this song. It's such a great, peaceful song. It's simple and so happy. I agree with what you say rachelll

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on this song. It's such a great, peaceful song. It's simple and so happy. I agree with what you say rachelll

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on this song. It's such a great, peaceful song. It's simple and so happy. I agree with what you say rachelll

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on this song. It's such a great, peaceful song. It's simple and so happy. I agree with what you say rachelll

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on this song. It's such a great, peaceful song. It's simple and so happy. I agree with what you say rachelll

this song is awesome. the music itself is so light and whimsical, it reminds me of ice skating in a park.

Another reason why the Garden State soundtrack is so damn good.