If Only
Andy Duncan Lyrics


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What do you do when they turn on the light?
You guard your heart, so they steal your sight
You reach out in blindness, touch the alone
His icicle fingers chill you to the bone

What do you do when the cat gets ya tongue?
No way to tell it's all going wrong
Mouth out the words on the telephone
Nobody answers, nobody's home...

What's done has been done, and I won't be the one
Who despairs in the wheelchair, resigned to "If only"
No, I'll stand up again and I'll run
I'll jump up till I touch the sun
Because I won't be the one to be bound
By the sound of "If only, if only, if only"

Well, I reach out in blindness now, but what do I care?
I'll walk into walls and I'll stumble downstairs
I'll laugh like a fishwife, I'll cry like a clown
Up is the only way to go when you're down

When I reach a mountain top, then I start to climb
I'll walk on the water, I'll turn water to wine
Hope is the one thing we got on our side
Hope can be salvaged when all else has died

What's done has been done, and I won't be the one
Who despairs in the wheelchair, resigned to "If only"
No, I'll stand up again and I'll run
I'll jump up till I touch the sun
Because I won't be the one to be bound
By the sound of "If only, if only, if only"

What's done has been done, and I won't be the one
Who despairs in the wheelchair, resigned to "If only"
No, I'll stand up again and I'll run
I'll jump up till I touch the sun




Because I won't be the one to be bound
By the sound of "If only, if only, if only"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Andy Duncan’s “If Only” are a powerful reflection on the human condition and the difficulties we face in our lives. The song describes the feeling of being blinded by the light, the loss of speech when something goes wrong, the pain of being alone, and the despair that can come with it all. However, even in the midst of all these struggles, the song is filled with a sense of hope and determination.


The opening lines of the song set the stage for the rest of the lyrics, with the suggestion that when things are difficult or confusing, we often find ourselves stumbling blindly through life. The image of icicle fingers chilling to the bone creates a sense of danger and foreboding, indicating that the person is in a difficult and possibly dangerous situation. Later, the mention of the cat getting one’s tongue is an apt metaphor for a situation where one cannot speak due to fear or anxiety, leaving them helpless.


Despite these struggles, the repeated refrain of “What’s done has been done” signifies a certain level of acceptance and forgiveness. The song encourages listeners to not give up hope and resign to “If only” but rather, to stand up again and run towards the sun. The sense of determination and perseverance conveyed throughout the lyrics is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit.


Line by Line Meaning

What do you do when they turn on the light?
When confronted with a harsh reality, protect yourself emotionally to avoid being hurt.


You guard your heart, so they steal your sight
By closing off your emotions, you risk losing your ability to see things clearly.


You reach out in blindness, touch the alone
When you're emotionally isolated, it's difficult to feel connected to others.


His icicle fingers chill you to the bone
The coldness of others can be physically and emotionally painful.


What do you do when the cat gets ya tongue?
When you're unable to speak up for yourself, you feel powerless.


No way to tell it's all going wrong
It's difficult to recognize when things are going south, especially when you're emotionally guarded.


Mouth out the words on the telephone
Even if you try to express yourself verbally, you may go unheard and unnoticed.


Nobody answers, nobody's home...
When you feel lonely and isolated, it's easy to feel like nobody cares about you.


What's done has been done, and I won't be the one Who despairs in the wheelchair, resigned to "If only"
I refuse to be stuck in a rut and wallow in regret over past mistakes, even if it would be easier to give up.


No, I'll stand up again and I'll run I'll jump up till I touch the sun
I will keep persevering and pushing my limits to achieve my goals, even when it seems impossible.


Because I won't be the one to be bound By the sound of "If only, if only, if only"
I refuse to be held back by the weight of regret and missed opportunities.


Well, I reach out in blindness now, but what do I care? I'll walk into walls and I'll stumble downstairs
Even if I make mistakes and get hurt, I will continue to take risks and pursue my dreams.


I'll laugh like a fishwife, I'll cry like a clown Up is the only way to go when you're down
When you're feeling low, the only way to go is up, and emotions like laughter and tears can help you get there.


When I reach a mountain top, then I start to climb I'll walk on the water, I'll turn water to wine
Once I accomplish one goal, I will set my sights even higher and achieve even greater things.


Hope is the one thing we got on our side Hope can be salvaged when all else has died
Even when everything else in life seems lost, hope can keep us going and help us find a way forward.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAZEL THEREASA O'CONNOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@justinmraap

There's only room for one Andy I guess

@LordSuperAstro

That's a bit of a harsh response. Straight to the point though haha

@Jaydoggy531

I appreciate the honesty.

@soggeywaffle6865

Love these little Q and A😂

@matanm2923

my favorite ok go video

@toniaherbert9448

I love you guys candidness it's worth it keep em coming

@SerenityPeaceTree

I'm slow on catching up! This is a fabulous response! Thanks Andy! 🤣

@cabarettaximan6592

slightly threatening vibes

@shanefite6001

cab you're right

@SlyHikari03

There can only be one Andy!

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