Oh, oh, oh
I, I was a city boy
Riding to danger's where I'd always run
A boy who had his fun
But I wouldn't have done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you'd come
Now, baby (now, baby), now, baby (now, baby)

Oh, oh, oh, I, I know it breaks your heart
To picture the only one you wanna love
In someone else's arms, but I wouldn't have done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you'd come
Now, baby (now, baby), now, baby (now, baby)

Oh, baby, please
let's leave the past behind us, behind us
So that we can go where love will find us
Yeah, will find us
I know once girls would leave me
But I know that you believe me

Baby, I, I wish we were seventeen
So I could give you all the innocence
That you give to me
No, I wouldn't have done
All the things that I've done
If I knew one day you'd come
If I knew one day you'd come


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by hplssrmantcxox

If I Knew Lyrics as written by Peter Gene Hernandez Ari Levine

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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If I Knew song meanings
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1 Comment

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This wonderful song addresses a rarely-admitted affliction called retroactive jealousy. Even more unusual, it comes from the perspective of the partner NOT afflicted by it, yet he empathizes and wishes he could change his own past so that his lover wouldn't have to be haunted by it.

    He even calls one of the hallmark issues with RJ, which is mental images: "I know it breaks your heart / To picture the only one you wanna love / In someone else's arms"

    I have searched for YEARS for songs on this topic. This seems to be the only one that satisfies, a beautifully song with high production value. There may be other examples but they are either vague or dodge the topic a bit (John Lennon - "Jealous Guy"), or are just C-grade spotify backfill.

    Hope to be proven wrong with some other songs.

    talkaboutsongson August 28, 2022   Link

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