He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.
I Don't Believe In If Anymore
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you fix your bayonet so
And if you kill that man my friend
The one we call the foe
And if you do it often lad
And if you do it right
You'll be a hero overnight
You'll save your country from her plight
Remember God is always right
If you survive to see the sight
A friend now greeting foe
[Chorus]
No you won't believe in If anymore
It's an illusion
It's an illusion
No you won't believe in If anymore
If is for children
If is for children
Building daydreams
If I knew then what I know now
(I thought I did you know somehow)
If I could have the time again
I'd take the sunshine leave the rain
If only time would trickle slow
Like rain that melts the fallen snow
If only Lord if only
If only Lord if only
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to Roger Whittaker's song "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" describe the dangers of blindly following authority, especially when it comes to war. The first verse talks about the process of military indoctrination, where soldiers are taught to prepare their weapons and view their enemies as "foes" to be killed. The song suggests that this type of thinking can turn anyone into a hero, revered for their ability to take lives, but it also comes at a great cost. The chorus repeats the line "No you won't believe in If anymore," suggesting that war takes away people's beliefs in the possibility of alternative futures and dreams. Instead, the horrors of war create an illusion that there is no longer any other option.
The second verse adds a personal note, with the singer regretting the choices they made in life. They wish they could turn back time and make different decisions, with the lines "If I knew then what I know now" and "I'd take the sunshine leave the rain." The song expresses a sense of longing for a different life, one where time moves slowly like melting snow, rather than rushing by. The repeated refrain of "If only Lord if only" emphasizes the idea that regrets can haunt us forever, and that once we make a choice, we cannot change the consequences.
Overall, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" is a poignant commentary on the costs of war, both on the larger scale of society and in individuals' lives. It suggests that war destroys our ability to dream and hope for the future, while also taking away our sense of agency and control over our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Now if you load your rifle right
If you properly prepare your weapon for battle
And if you fix your bayonet so
And if you properly attach your sharp weapon to the end of your rifle
And if you kill that man my friend
And if you successfully take the life of the enemy soldier
The one we call the foe
The person on the opposing side of the conflict
And if you do it often lad
And if you continue to succeed in this act, young man
And if you do it right
And if you do it with skill and precision
You'll be a hero overnight
You will immediately be celebrated as a courageous figure
You'll save your country from her plight
Your actions will help rescue your nation from its difficult situation
Remember God is always right
Keep in mind that divine forces support your actions
If you survive to see the sight
If you are fortunate enough to witness the success of your efforts
A friend now greeting foe
A person who was previously considered an ally is now seen as an adversary
No you won't believe in If anymore
You will no longer be swayed by the power of hypothetical possibilities
It's an illusion
The concept of 'If' is a deceptive idea
If is for children
The concept of hypotheticals is a childish notion to hold onto
Building daydreams
They only serve to distract and create unrealistic expectations
If I knew then what I know now
If I had possessed the knowledge at an earlier time that I possess now
(I thought I did you know somehow)
(Although at the time, I believed I was adequately informed)
If I could have the time again
If I was given an opportunity to go back in time
I'd take the sunshine leave the rain
I would opt for the good times and avoid the negative experiences
If only time would trickle slow
If only the passage of time could slow down and allow for more meaningful moments
Like rain that melts the fallen snow
Like the precipitation that softens and dissolves the freezing snow
If only Lord if only
If only the divine powers could bestow upon me such a gift
[Chorus: x2]
Repeat the aforementioned refrain twice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER WHITTAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nigel
on Jenny
I'm not sure by any means, but I wonder whether taking the midnight train is ultimately a metaphor for a more final journey. I also wonder if RW had someone specific in mind whose fate prompted this powerful song. I like it very much.