Andrew Lloyd Webber (born March 22, 1948) is the composer of The Likes of U… Read Full Bio ↴Andrew Lloyd Webber (born March 22, 1948) is the composer of The Likes of Us, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Evita, Variations and Tell Me on a Sunday later combined asSong & Dance, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game, The Woman in White and Love Never Dies. He composed the film scores of Gumshoe and The Odessa File and a setting of the Latin Requiem mass.

His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship and the Kennedy Center Honor.

He currently owns six London theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium.

If Only
Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics

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It's all gone to rack and ruin
'Cause we don't know what we're doin'
It's all gone down the pan no! It has!

Things would be less distressful
And we might be more successful

If we only had a plan

Bet the witch would make a beeline
For a scarecrow, and a feline
And an overgrown tin-can
That's all I am- No, you're more than that!

But I feel such a coward
I'd be easily overpowered
If we only had a plan

But we haven't, so

Look there's Toto!
Toto! He's come to take us to Dorothy!

Oh-ee ah! Yo ah! Oh-ee ah! Yo ah!
Oh-ee ah! Yo ah! Oh-ee ah! Yo ah!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Andrew Lloyd Webber's song "If Only" convey a sense of chaos and disarray, highlighting the lack of direction and purpose in the situation described. The opening lines, "It's all gone to rack and ruin 'Cause we don't know what we're doin'," indicate that there is a lack of understanding and control, leading to a state of confusion and downfall. The repetition of the phrase "It's all gone down the pan" further emphasizes the chaotic nature of the situation.

The lyrics suggest that if there were a plan in place, things would be less distressful and possibly more successful. This could imply that having a clear strategy or purpose would provide a sense of order and guidance, ultimately leading to better outcomes. The line "If we only had a plan" reflects a sense of longing or frustration, highlighting the inability to navigate the current circumstances effectively.

The song also references characters from "The Wizard of Oz," with the mention of the scarecrow, feline (referring to the Cowardly Lion), and overgrown tin-can (the Tin Man). This allusion adds depth to the lyrics, suggesting that even these iconic characters lacked direction until they were united with Dorothy and set on a path towards their goals. The repeated chant of "Toto! He's come to take us to Dorothy!" further reinforces the theme of needing a plan or guidance to find a way forward.

Overall, "If Only" expresses the need for clarity, purpose, and direction in order to overcome chaos and achieve success.

Line by Line Meaning

It's all gone to rack and ruin
Everything is in a state of chaos and decay

'Cause we don't know what we're doin'
Because we lack direction or understanding

It's all gone down the pan no! It has!
Everything has gone horribly wrong

Things would be less distressful
Life would be less difficult or troubling

And we might be more successful
And we could achieve greater accomplishments

If we only had a plan
If we simply had a well-thought-out strategy

Bet the witch would make a beeline
I am confident that the witch would quickly target

For a scarecrow, and a feline
The witch would go after a scarecrow and a cat

And an overgrown tin-can
And a large metallic container covered in rust

That's all I am- No, you're more than that!
That's how I perceive myself, but you are greater than what you think