The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Well you got your reasons
And you got your lies
And you got your manipulations
They cut me down to size
Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Seems the road less traveled
Shows happiness unraveled
And you gotta take a little dirt
To keep what you love
That's what you gotta do
Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
Stretching out your arms for something that's just not there
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
You're sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
(But she won't)
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Well you got your reasons
And you got your lies
And you got your manipulations
They cut me down to size
Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Seems the road less traveled
Shows happiness unraveled
And you gotta take a little dirt
To keep what you love
That's what you gotta do
Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
Stretching out your arms for something that's just not there
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
You're sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
(But she won't)
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can
If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by cammohajerin
If You Could Only See Lyrics as written by Emerson Hart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is about a 15 year old girl who was in love with an older man (a lot older 30+). Obviously it's told from the POV of the man. The manipulators are her parents, her father is a well respected judge. The lyric "you gotta take a little dirt to get why you love" is referring to dealing with her parents and the law, etc. If you watch the video it becomes clearer. It's a hidden love affair that comes to the notice of her parents, she sits with them in the police station as the band plays from the interrogation room. This was also stated by mollarwow21. It's interesting how everyone is set on the "two loves" or leaving his love meaning, when it's so clear from the video.
The truth is that the song was directed at Emerson's parents - regarding his wife who was about 5 years older. By the time the song went to #1, they had broken up,