'if you were me' sittin' around with a couple friends waxing philosophically on how it was life used to be. i brought up edgar allen poe and what if he lived mine and i lived his life long ago. oh, what would he do if he were me? would he be living my life differently? would he reach the corners of my mind? or would medication make the masterpiece too hard to find? would he let my smile be his guide? or would he keep it all bottled up inside? walkin' the road with a friend of mine he said, i'm gettin' old and that perfect love's so hard to find and... i'm a little afraid of growing old alone. so, i'm asking your advice on how i might find someone nice. what would you do if you were me? would you be living my life differently? the harder i look the less i see. should i start pretending that this is how life's meant to be and... should i let my smile be my guide? or should i keep it all bottled up inside? layin' on the ground lookin' at the cloulds... i could see happy things, but my friend complained, it looked like rain. he said, how can i smile knowing what i know? i said a life of pain doesn't mean i can't get up again and... what would you do if you were me? would you be living my life differently? would you be waiting for the end? and if you met me would you even think of me as friend and... would you let my smile be your guide? or would you keep it all bottled up inside?