"Couldn't Make It Up" by Ben Howard appears to be a song about the struggle to communicate with someone about personal struggles and the fear of giving up. The first verse describes a sense of confusion and detachment. The protagonist is sitting in a garden, listening to the radio and watching ashes form great clouds. The lyrics suggest that something is wrong, as the protagonist wishes he knew how to express the mess he is in, and wonders if love is the final sound.

The chorus features a repeated question asking "what's with the face with the half mast frown?" which could be directed either inwardly or at the person they are trying to communicate with. The protagonist questions whether giving up is the best way forward, as they feel lost and frustrated.

The second verse describes a sense of impending danger, with shifting colors and the fear in someone's eyes. The bridge features a series of repetitions of "whistling wind" which could suggest a feeling of emptiness and aimlessness.

The final verse echoes the confusion of the first, with the protagonist again mumbling the words to a song and wishing they knew what to do. Overall, "Couldn't Make It Up" seems to be a song about feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and others, struggling to find the words to express personal struggles, and the fear that giving up may be the only solution.