What Would Happen

Song Meaning

Meredith Brooks's "What Would Happen" captures the intoxicating, nerve-wracking tension of forbidden desire. The song meaning orbits around a central, almost primal question: what if? Brooks doesn't just present simple attraction; she dissects the internal battle between longing and consequence. The opening lines, "Electricity, eye to eye, Hey don't I know you? I can't speak," immediately establish a potent, almost overwhelming connection. This isn't a casual flirtation; it's a magnetic pull that strips away defenses and leaves the speaker vulnerable. The inability to speak underscores the disorienting power of the moment, a paralysis induced by raw, undeniable chemistry. This initial encounter, charged with unspoken possibilities, sets the stage for the lyrical exploration that follows. The chorus acts as the emotional core, a series of escalating questions fueled by uncertainty and risk. "What would happen if we kissed?" isn't just a query; it's a desperate plea and a fearful anticipation rolled into one. The subsequent lines, "Would your tongue slip past my lips? Would you run away? Would you stay?" reveal the speaker's vulnerability and anxiety. The repeated emphasis on physical intimacy ("Mouth to mouth, lust to lust, spontaneously combust") hints at the overwhelming power of the potential encounter, a fear of losing oneself in the intensity of the moment. The line "Or would I melt into you?" reveals the potential loss of self, the dissolution of boundaries in the face of overwhelming desire. This isn't simply about physical connection; it's about the potential for complete emotional merging, a prospect both terrifying and alluring. Further complicating the situation is the acknowledgement of external constraints: "Forbidden fruit, ring on my finger, You're such a moral, moral man." These lines introduce a layer of guilt and societal expectations. The "ring on my finger" suggests commitment to another, while the description of the object of desire as a "moral man" implies a conflict between personal desire and societal norms. The internal struggle intensifies, as the speaker grapples with the temptation to abandon those norms. The repetition of "What would happen if we kissed?" throughout the song underscores the obsessive nature of this desire, a relentless internal debate fueled by both longing and fear. The final lines, "I struggle with myself again, quickly the walls are crumblin', Don't know if I can turn away," encapsulate the speaker's wavering resolve, the imminent collapse of self-control in the face of overwhelming temptation.