The pop song is an emotional piano ballad with lyrics describing the heartbreak and regret Mars felt from letting his lover get away , and his expressed hope that her new man will give her all the love and attention that he failed to provide . It features Mars singing and a piano accompaniment as the sole instrumentation . " When I Was Your Man " received mostly positive reviews from music critics , who generally praised Mars ' vocal prowess ; calling it a " vulnerable and emotional ballad " . The song won " Favorite Hit " at the 2013 Premios Juventud and was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards . " When I Was Your Man " topped the US '' Billboard '' Hot 100 singles chart , and reached the top ten on the singles chart of Australia , Canada , Denmark , Ireland , Netherlands , New Zealand , and the United Kingdom . It was certified eight times platinum in the US , as well as six times platinum in Australia and in Canada . " When I Was Your Man " was the worlds eighth best selling digital single of 2013 , with sales of 8.3 million copies ; joining an elite group of the best-selling singles worldwide
56th Annual Grammy Awards
56th Annual Grammy Awards
When I Was Your Man