Well I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And I oughta, wanna, gotta,
but I don’t know how
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And it’s far too late to turn back now
I should have studied harder—
should have applied myself
I should have paid more attention,
aah, to something else
besides where I was headed,
‘cause I was glory bound
Like ev’ry kid that’s had a dream
that soon came crashin’ down and
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And I oughta, wanna, gotta,
but I don’t know how
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And it’s far too late to turn back now
I could have been much kinder,
now at second look
I should’ve given back
much more than what I took
I should have listened harder—
spoken a whole lot less
I wasn’t as important
as I would have liked to guess and
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And I oughta, wanna, gotta,
but I don’t know how
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And it’s far too late to turn back now
Oh, you know, it ain’t no use,
and man, that’ such a fine excuse
When I look back a year from now,
I’ve made myself a simple vow
To take a new step each new day
and never, ever, have to say—
never have to say
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And I oughta, wanna, gotta,
but I don’t know how
I coulda, woulda, shoulda,
but I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t
And it’s far too late to turn back now