[Intro]
When I'm by myself, I'm quite the magician
With the turn of the phrase and the juxtaposition
But give me a crowd and watch me go fishin'
Turn up the heat, and I'm out of the kitchen
[Verse 1]
Bob got in a good one at my expense
He had 'em all laughing at my weak-kneed defense
On the bus going home, I could only resort
To imagine a comeback, some snappy retort
[Chorus 1]
But my chance is over, it's a play in my head
Where I really nail him
With what I should have said
[Verse 2]
Friday night at the party, Sue was quite the wit
She got in some zingers 'bout my politics
Like a frog on a hot rock, my brain squirmed around
For the perfect rejoinder, which I never found
[Chorus 2]
Now my chance is over, it's a play in my head
Where I turn the tables
With what I should have said
[Bridge]
With what I should have said, I would know in advance
I'm the master of banter, the king of romance
The guy in the center who's leading the dance
Not the kid in the corner in the big pair of pants
And now I'm in bed
With what I should have said
[Verse 3]
Today at the bus stop, a man read the news
Shook his head, and he asked me my religious views
But the answers he needed somehow wouldn't come
From the back of my brain to the tip of my tongue
[Chorus 3]
Well, now that that's over, it's a play in my head
'Bout how I convinced him
With what I should have said
[Outro]
And most nights I'm in bed
With what I should have said