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If I Could Start Today Again Lyrics

All the kings and queens
of the bible
they could not turn back time
so what chance have I
of a miracle
in this life of mine?

I only want one day
So unsay the things I said
undo the thing I did
24 little hours
oh God please wipe them all away
and I promise I will change

If I could start today again

I know I'm not the milk and honey kind
today I proved it true
but when the red mist falls around my eyes
I know not what I do
please give me back today
and I won't say the things I said
or do the thing I did
every minute every hour
the replays just the same
and I can't stand the shame

let me start today again

I only want one day
one lousy day
that's all
of every day that's been before
since time began
I know my prayer's in vain
but for a second i'll pretend
that I can start today again
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Cover art for If I Could Start Today Again lyrics by Paul Kelly

Lots of obvious biblical imagery in this song, including the line "I know not what I do" a paraphrase of Jesus' words from the cross about his enemies - "forgive them Father for they know not what they do..."

You can only imagine the pain and anguish behind this song - pain that the writer feels, and has caused to someone he loves (I'm not the milk and honey kind, today I proved it true). Betrayal perhaps?

Anyway, the song has that wonderful spare beauty about its accompaniment, and Paul's honest, raw Aussie-bloke voice. Just gorgeous, but so sad...

Cover art for If I Could Start Today Again lyrics by Paul Kelly

It's a song of despair, but somehow it's also constructive, it's not just wallowing around in depressing regret.

This song is particularly meaningful to me because once when I was a teenager, with some depression and also Christian beliefs, I realised the same thing, that no one in the bible had ever been able to turn back time to make up for the things they wish they didn't do.