Melissa Etheridge
"I Could Have Been You"

(M. Etheridge, J. Shanks)

Take, take a look at the sky 
Sometimes your heaven seems so far away
Take, take a look under here 
Where deprivation turns into decay 
I've stood under this rain 
Felt it seep into my brain 

I've shut my eyes and crawled around this mud 
I'm scared of growin' old
I shiver when I'm cold
Don't you think I bleed the same blood

I, I could've been you
You could've been me 
One small change that shapes your destiny 
If you want the proof 
Cut me and you'll see 
I could've been you
You could've been me 

Wait, wait before you turn off 
Maybe there's a chance we can relate 
Wait everybody turns on 
Why deny a fact that's so innate
It's not so easy anymore 
The way you used to keep score
Not so black and white the color of your sin 
Take a walk inside my shoes 
A path I didn't choose 
Spend the night inside of my skin

I, I could've been you 
You could've been me 
One small change that shapes your destiny 
If you want the proof |
Cut me and you'll see
I could've been you 
You could've been me 

Change is turning into fear
Fear is melting into hate 
With hate you justify your crime
A crime compassion can erase 
Erase erase 

Touch, touch what I feel 
And know I believe everything I say
So go, go if you must
Remember one thing as you walk away

I, I could've been you
You could've been me 
One small change that shapes your destiny
If you want the proof
Cut me and you'll see 
I could've been you