That Should Be Me

"That Should Be Me" is a poignant ballad that delves into the complex emotions of heartbreak, jealousy, and regret. The song's narrative centers around a young man who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his former girlfriend has moved on with someone new. He is tormented by the thought of her with another person, engaging in the intimate and affectionate acts that they once shared. The lyrics express a deep sense of loss and a desperate longing to turn back time and rectify the mistakes that led to the relationship's demise. The repeated phrase, "That should be me," serves as the song's central theme, encapsulating the protagonist's feeling of being unjustly replaced and his conviction that he is the one who truly deserves to be with her. The song captures the universal experience of seeing an ex-partner happy with someone else and the painful internal conflict that ensues.

The narrator is engulfed in a whirlwind of emotional turmoil, haunted by rumors and the laughter of others that echo in his mind. These whispers are about his former love and a new man who has taken his place. He is plagued by questions, wondering if she engages in the same intimate activities with her new partner as she did with him. He questions if this new person can love her with the same depth and intensity that he can. The memories of their shared plans and dreams now serve as a painful reminder of what he has lost, and he clings to the fact that, unlike her, he has not forgotten their promises.

The chorus becomes a mantra of his heartache, a repeated lament that it should be him by her side. He visualizes the new couple, and with each imagined scene, the pain intensifies. He believes it should be his hand she is holding, his jokes that make her laugh. The reality that it is someone else fills him with a profound sadness. He yearns to be the one feeling her kiss and buying her gifts. The situation feels fundamentally wrong to him, an injustice he cannot accept, and he feels he cannot move on until she acknowledges that he is the one who rightfully belongs with her.

He reflects on their breakup, recalling her request for space and time to forgive his mistakes. He now sees a bitter irony in her words, as she used that time not for reflection, but to find his replacement. The sting of this betrayal is made sharper when he sees them together in public, at the movies, and visiting places that were once special to them as a couple. He feels as though she is deliberately trying to break his heart, and he admits that her actions are succeeding because she knows the depth of his feelings for her.

Caught in a state of confusion and despair, the narrator questions his next move. He is unsure whether he should fight for their lost love or accept defeat and try to let go. The emotional burden is becoming increasingly difficult to bear, and the pain in his heart feels exposed and vulnerable. The chorus repeats, reinforcing his unwavering belief that he is the one who should be with her, sharing in the simple yet profound moments of a loving relationship.

"That Should Be Me" was written by Justin Bieber in collaboration with Nasri Atweh and Adam Messinger of the production team The Messengers, and Luke Boyd. The Messengers also handled the production of the track. The song was recorded in 2010 at NH Studios in North Hollywood, California. It was released on March 19, 2010, as the tenth and final track on Bieber's debut studio album, My World 2.0. A remixed version of the song, featuring the American country band Rascal Flatts, was later included on Bieber's 2011 remix album, Never Say Never: The Remixes. This collaboration came about after Bieber expressed an interest in working with the band. A music video for the remix, featuring both Bieber and Rascal Flatts, was subsequently released.

"That Should Be Me" follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, which is typical for pop ballads. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and consistent, often employing AABB or ABAB patterns within the verses, which contributes to the song's memorability and sing-along quality. The rhythm of the song is slow and deliberate, with a tempo of approximately 140 BPM, which allows the emotional weight of the lyrics and vocals to take center stage. The song is in a 4/4 time signature. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical accompaniment is seamless, with the phrasing of the vocals aligning closely with the melodic contours. This creates a sense of natural flow and enhances the song's emotional impact. The consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme provide a sense of structure to the raw emotions being expressed in the lyrics.

Musically, "That Should Be Me" is a pop ballad with orchestral elements, which enhances its emotional and dramatic tone. Justin Bieber's vocal delivery is filled with emotion, conveying a sense of vulnerability and sincerity that was a hallmark of his early work. The production by The Messengers is polished and creates a powerful backdrop for Bieber's vocals. Lyrically, the song employs direct and relatable language, making the emotions expressed easily accessible to a wide audience. The use of rhetorical questions, such as "Does he love you the way I can?", directly engages the listener in the protagonist's inner turmoil and jealousy. The repetition of the titular phrase is a key stylistic choice, functioning as a hook and reinforcing the central theme of the song. The narrative structure of the lyrics, moving from hearing rumors to seeing his ex with her new partner, creates a clear and compelling story of heartbreak.

Upon its release, "That Should Be Me" was a fan favorite from the album My World 2.0. The song debuted at number ninety-two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Its popularity was further boosted by a remixed version featuring the country group Rascal Flatts, which was included on the Never Say Never: The Remixes album. This collaboration introduced Bieber to a country audience and resulted in a music video that received significant airplay. The song resonated with Bieber's young fanbase due to its relatable theme of teenage heartbreak. In recent years, "That Should Be Me" has experienced a resurgence in popularity, going viral on the social media platform TikTok, where users have incorporated it into various video trends. This renewed interest has introduced the song to a new generation of listeners and solidified its status as one of Justin Bieber's memorable early ballads.

While not heavily reliant on complex symbolism, "That Should Be Me" effectively uses common experiences as metaphors for the protagonist's emotional state. The act of seeing his ex at the movies with her new boyfriend symbolizes the public nature of his heartbreak and the inescapable reality of her new relationship. The places they "used to go" become symbols of their shared history and the pain of seeing that history being rewritten with someone else. The recurring phrase "That should be me" functions as a powerful motif, symbolizing his inability to let go of the past and his deep-seated belief that their love story was not supposed to end this way. The internal conflict of whether to "fight for love or disarm" serves as a metaphor for the struggle between hope and acceptance in the aftermath of a breakup.

The most prominent recurring phrase in the song is the title itself, "That should be me." This phrase is repeated eight times in the chorus and serves as the central lyrical and emotional hook of the song. Its repetition emphasizes the protagonist's obsessive longing and his inability to accept the reality of his situation. Each time the phrase is repeated, it is followed by a specific action he wishes he were doing with his ex-girlfriend, such as "holding your hand," "making you laugh," "feeling your kiss," and "buying you gifts." This lyrical device effectively paints a vivid picture of his jealousy and regret. The motif of being replaced is also central to the song, highlighted in the line, "It's funny how you used that time to have me replaced." This recurring idea reinforces the theme of betrayal and the pain of seeing someone else take his place in his former lover's life.