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If I Had It All Lyrics

Sometimes I can't move my feet it seems
As if I'm stuck in the ground somehow like a tree
As if I can't even breathe
Oh, and my screams come whispering out

As if nobody can even see me
Like a ghost, sometimes I can't see myself
Sometimes, then again, oh

If I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you and I could give you your dreams
If I were giant-sized, on top of it all
Then tell me what in the world would I sing for
If I had it all

Sometimes I feel lost
As I pull you out like strings of memories
Wish I could weave them into you
Then I could figure the whole damn puzzle out
Then again, oh

And if I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you and I could give you your dreams
If I were giant-sized, on top of it all
Then tell me what in the world would I go on for
If I had it all

I could take anything
If I had no greed to bring
Only the poison that's tainting the clean
Oh, then nothing

Remembering times much younger than me now
When my breath was light
When the world raised me up kind

And here mother comforts child
Every moment was waking up
But now I've grown tired... out

If I had it all, you know
I'd fuck it up

If I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you and I could give you your dreams
If I were giant-sized, on top of it all
Then tell me what in the world would I sing for...

If I were a king
If I had everything, piece by piece
If I had you if I could give you your dreams
If I were giant-sized, on top of it all
Then tell me what in the world would I go on for
If I had it all
If I had it all

If I had it all
Song Info
Submitted by
demau Senae On Apr 01, 2001
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Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

Favorite line out of the whole song....

If I had it all, you know I'd fuck it up

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

It sounds like he wants it all but is glad he doesn't have it because he'd fuck it up and if he did have it all there would be nothing left to live for nothing left to obtain. I think it's a great song. His lyrics are amazing.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

i love this song... dave is such a great song writer its crazy... i love every dmb song, especially this one among others... everyone wishes they had it all

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

I LOVE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. This song is amazing. The lyrics are awesome.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

The meaning is simple: happiness cannot be found through material possession alone.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

The meaning of the song is very obvious in the lyrics; I think more interesting is the way it resonates with many of us. I think that Paulo Coelho said it best in his introduction to The Alchemist (pick it up if you haven't read it), that there is a certain fear in realizing the dream(s) which we have been working towards for our lives. To quote:

"Oscar Wilde said: 'Each man kills the thing he loves.' And it's true. The mere possibility of getting what we want fills the soul of the ordinary person with guilt. We look around at all those who have failed to get what they want and we feel that we do not deserve to get what we want either. We forget about all the obstacles we overcame, all the suffering we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far. I have known a lot of people who, when their personal calling was within their grasp, went on to commit a series of mistakes and never reached their goal - when it was only a step away. [note: a lot of people really love the line.. if I had it all, i'd fuck it up]

This is the most dangerous of the obstacles because it has a kind of saintly aura about it: renouncing joy and conquest. But if you believe yourself worth of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here."


There is a certain kind of fear that surrounds truly "having it all". You think to yourself.. "what now? What is there left to strive for? I don't deserve this."

This song is also a commentary on how much easier it is to remain forever a dreamer. Dave mentions that when he thinks of having everything and the awkward guilt and feelings such thoughts bring about, he harkens back to the halycon days of youth when he wasn't troubled with these sorts of thoughts.

The truth is that there is nothing wrong with having it all, but first you must overcome the fear of the dreamer and firmly grasp reality.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

This is a totally awesome song. Dave is so on the money with it. If we did have it all, most of us would fuck it up--I know I would.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

This is a totally awesome song. Dave is so on the money with it. If we did have it all, most of us would fuck it up--I know I would.

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

if he had it all, he'd stuff it up. and his desire for life, want for life, and chasing what he doesn't, but could have, is as important as actually havinbg the things.

whats the quote 'the chase is better than the goal' ? something like that. 2c

Cover art for If I Had It All lyrics by Dave Matthews Band

wonderful song

"...then what in the world would i go on for" i love that.

another amazing DMB song.