If Shakespeare Were Here Lyrics – Alec Benjamin

[Verse 1]
Alec opens by referencing the famous love tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, setting the tone for the comparison between his relationship and Shakespeare’s works. He reflects on how tragic and dramatic their love story was, filled with despair and beauty. In contrast, Alec feels that his own relationship lacks that same level of beauty or meaning, despite the similar pain and heartache.

[Pre-Chorus]
Alec admits that there is nothing graceful about his relationship, unlike the romanticized versions in stories. There is no dignified or beautiful ending in his situation—only hate, deceit, and the pain of losing someone. This section underscores his frustration at the lack of closure and the absence of any redeeming qualities in his heartbreak, making it feel empty and meaningless.

[Chorus]
Alec questions the idea that heartbreak can be turned into art or that there is beauty in suffering. He wonders why he can't find the beauty in his own pain, asking where the story is that ends with him finding true love again. This chorus highlights Alec's longing for meaning in his emotional turmoil, as he searches for a way to frame his suffering in a more poetic or significant way, just like in classic literature.

[Verse 2]
Alec imagines what Shakespeare might say if he were present. He envisions Shakespeare forcing him to face his pain and accept that there is no turning back or saving the relationship. This verse deepens Alec's sense of hopelessness, reinforcing the idea that, unlike in Shakespeare's stories, there may be no chance for redemption or healing in his situation.

[Pre-Chorus]
Repeating the pre-chorus, Alec again emphasizes the lack of grace and beauty in his relationship’s demise. He contrasts this with the often idealized or romanticized versions of heartbreak found in literature, where even the most tragic endings still have a sense of beauty or meaning.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats, driving home the point that Alec is struggling to find any artistic or redeeming value in his heartbreak. He questions the commonly held belief that there is beauty in suffering, feeling as though his own pain is devoid of such meaning. His frustration grows as he wonders why his own heartbreak lacks the poetic resolution often found in stories.

[Bridge]
Alec considers the possibility that Shakespeare might have been able to rewrite his story, offering a redemption arc or finding a way to make his relationship beautiful. Alec expresses a faint hope that perhaps he could still find a way to make sense of his pain, to create beauty out of it, but he remains doubtful, unsure if that is possible.

[Chorus]
In the final chorus, Alec repeats his central question, still searching for the meaning behind his pain and heartbreak. He wonders whether Shakespeare would have been able to make sense of it or if the beauty and art that people claim exists in suffering will ever reveal itself to him. The song ends on this unresolved note, reflecting the emotional turmoil and lack of closure Alec feels.