Meaning of "You Could've Been The One" by America

The lyrics of "You Could've Been The One" by America delve into themes of missed opportunities, regret, and longing. The speaker describes encountering someone who catches their eye in a bar, but the person chooses not to engage with them. This leads to a sense of what could have been, and the speaker is left dreaming of the potential connection that never came to be. The longing for this missed opportunity lingers, with the speaker questioning what could have happened if things had turned out differently. The lyrics evoke feelings of regret for choices not made and the bittersweet longing for what could have been. It's a reflection on the fleeting nature of encounters that have the potential to be significant but are ultimately left unrealized, leaving behind a sense of unfulfilled potential and nostalgia.