You Coulda Told Me :: Pat Grigadean

This is the story of how I learned that my boyfriend was seeing another woman. It was the third of three songs about that break-up, written over a six-day period. We began to call them “The Heartbreak Trilogy”. I guess it took me a long time to heal, because about a year later, a fourth song was added to the set, which we now refer to as ‘The Heartbreak Quatrain”.

You coulda told me it was coming down to this
You coulda told me you were looking for some other lips to kiss
I couldn’t see it coming; I can only watch you go
You coulda told me it was coming down to this.

I stopped by to see you in the middle of the day
Just to hold you in my arms and see you smile
But you were with another; you were walking hand-in-hand
And I never saw it coming all the while.

You coulda told me you were coming on to her
You coulda told me you were leaving; you coulda told me where you were
You say you never left me, but I’m lying here alone
You coulda told me you were coming on to her.

I know you need your freedom, just like I need mine
And I never meant to keep you tied to me
But I thought I was enough for you to keep you satisfied
You coulda told me what I was too proud to see.

[Kazoo break]

It wasn’t that you left me. I knew someday you would
I knew I’d have to share you by and by
But you know I hate surprises, or by now I guess you should
So don’t be surprised if you should see me cry.

(Written Nov. 24, 1983)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

YOU COULDA TOLD ME

(November 24, 1983)

You coulda told me it was coming down to this

You coulda told me you were looking for some other lips to kiss

I couldn’t see it coming; I can only watch you go

You coulda told me it was coming down to this.

I stopped by to see you in the middle of the day

Just to hold you in my arms and see you smile

But you were with another; you were walking hand-in-hand

And I never saw it coming all the while.

You coulda told me you were coming on to her

You coulda told me you were leaving; you coulda told me where you were

You say you never left me, but I’m lying here alone

You coulda told me you were coming on to her.

I know you need your freedom, just like I need mine

And I never meant to keep you tied to me

But I thought I was enough for you to keep you satisfied

You coulda told me what I was too proud to see.

[Kazoo break]

It wasn’t that you left me. I knew someday you would

I knew I’d have to share you by and by

But you know I hate surprises, or by now I guess you should

So don’t be surprised if you should see me cry.

You coulda told me it was coming down to this

You coulda told me you were looking for some other lips to kiss

I couldn’t see it coming; I can only watch you go

You coulda told me it was coming down to this.

You Coulda Told Me

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