If you leave, don't leave now
Please don't take my heart away
Promise me just one more night
Then we'll go our separate ways
We've always had time on our sides
But now it's fading fast
Every second
Every moment
We've got to, we've gotta make it last

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I needed you then
You always said we'd still be friends someday

If you leave
I won't cry
I won't waste one single day
But if you leave, don't look back
I'll be running the other way
Seven years went under the bridge
Like time was standing still
Heaven knows what happens now
You've got to, you've gotta say you will

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again

(Oh)

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd still be friends

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again someday

If you leave
Oh, if you leave
Oh, if you leave
Don't look back
Don't look back


Lyrics submitted by numb

If You Leave Lyrics as written by Paul David Humphreys Martin Handsley Cooper

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

If You Leave song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song is definitely sung by Duckie lamenting as he sees Andie walking out of his life forever for another guy. He has spent years adoring her (Seven years went under the bridge) and loved every minute of it (Like time standing still). She had obviously told him they would be friends forever and ever no matter what ever happened (You always said we'd still be friends) but he now realizes he is too heartbroken to be her friend anymore. He has to walk away from her. So he's telling her if she is going to leave not to "look back" during her relationship with Blaine (ie contact Duckie) because he will just be reminded of his deep love for her all over again. He has to forget about her and it will be tough.

    The really sad thing is the movie was supposed to end differently. She was supposed to realize at the prom that she really really liked Duckie and Blaine was not as special as she thought. The ending had this song playing as she ran to Duckie on the dancefloor and danced with him saying she had made a mistake.

    Unfortunately the movie was prescreened and the audiences were upset that it did not have a Cinderella ending. So they changed it to have her run off with Blaine and of course they had to rewrite something for Duckie and they added that ridiculous part about meeting some other cute single girl on the dance floor.

    peterc42on September 29, 2010   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    CLASSIC! They just don't make awesome songs like this anymore. Great words, great melody, and great vocals by Andy and Paul!

    miyagyion May 26, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think what the song writer is trying to say with his lyrics is that he doesn't want his relationship to end, but if she does leave, then they can't be friends. They crossed a line that they cannot cross back and act like nothing big happened other than friendship. This is so very true and I can definately relate!

    dsctazon August 11, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Man this song really speaks to me. Reminds me of the breakup of my engagement and is very close to what I was saying and feeling.

    P_Eon May 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Awesome song!

    bee_happyon July 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow. you're so right about that

    rose.paradeon July 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song was written for pretty in pink, so i'm guessing it's about the andie/blane situation.

    koolestlozerevaon June 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song. About that time when you know the relationship is over but you don't want it to end just yet (Promise me just one more night).

    feyaertson October 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    Question

    I touch you once I touch you twice . ?? Meaning anyone

    Justasongon November 22, 2017   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    dsctaz : I agree! How can you just stay friends and act like nothing happened at all.. -sigh- I know I couldn't..

    I mean... if your such good friends in the beginning how can you ruin it by a relationship.. I agree that you should just be friends for a long enough time and take it slow.. but does that mean that your in the same situation?

    This song is amazing. I love it. <3

    Anyone wanna add me and talk its psycho.kitten6669@hotmail.com

    AutumnAutopsy13on September 28, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.