I Might Have Been Queen
Tina Turner · Private Dancer
I'm a new pair of eyes
Every time I am born
An original mind
Because I just died
I'm scanning the horizon
For someone recognizing
That I might of been queen
For every sun that sets
There is a new one dawning
For every empire crushed
There is a brand new nation
Let the waters rise
I have ridden each tide
From the gates of the city
Where the first born died
Chorus:
And I might have been queen
I remember the girl in the fields with no name
She had a love
Oh, but the rivers won't stop for me
No, the rivers won't stop for me
I'm a new pair of eyes
An original mind
With my senses of old
And the heart of a giant
And I'm searching through the wreckage
For some great recollection
That I might have been queen
For every sage that falls
There is an ancient child
Chorus
I look up to the stars
With my perfect memory
I look through it all
And my future's no shock to me
I look down but I see no tragedy
I look up to my past
A spirit running free
I look down, I look down and I'm there, in history
Oh, I'm a soul survivor
Every time I am born
An original mind
Because I just died
I'm scanning the horizon
For someone recognizing
That I might of been queen
For every sun that sets
There is a new one dawning
For every empire crushed
There is a brand new nation
Let the waters rise
I have ridden each tide
From the gates of the city
Where the first born died
Chorus:
And I might have been queen
I remember the girl in the fields with no name
She had a love
Oh, but the rivers won't stop for me
No, the rivers won't stop for me
I'm a new pair of eyes
An original mind
With my senses of old
And the heart of a giant
And I'm searching through the wreckage
For some great recollection
That I might have been queen
For every sage that falls
There is an ancient child
Chorus
I look up to the stars
With my perfect memory
I look through it all
And my future's no shock to me
I look down but I see no tragedy
I look up to my past
A spirit running free
I look down, I look down and I'm there, in history
Oh, I'm a soul survivor
I Might Have Been Queen
Released on Tina Turner's 1984 album Private Dancer, 'I Might Have Been Queen' stands as a defining moment in her career, blending R&B and rock influences with her signature powerhouse vocals. The track explores themes of ambition and the desire for power, reflecting Turner's own journey to the top of the music industry. With its driving rhythm and confident delivery, the song showcases her evolution as an artist, moving beyond her earlier soul roots into a more polished, contemporary sound that resonated globally. It remains a staple of her discography, celebrated for its energetic performance and enduring appeal.