She appeared in the September edition of Now! Magazine. She also appeared on the LOLA 2007 line-up, using her lush instrumental back-ups to accompany her reedy voice. Her first album has been hailed in the Exclaim! monthly newspaper and on several online publications.
Basia was nominated in 2010 for a Polaris Music Prize and nominated in 2011 for a Juno in the Best New Artist category.
If Only You
Basia Bulat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sorry suit, no substitute, I've never been so tired
I've tried before, I wanted more, no matter what you had
If only you would have the heart to take it back
If only you would ever have the heart to ask.
And now you've said, too many times,
That trouble's walking by.
I'll stand aside, I'll walk behind, no matter what you had
If only you would have the heart to take it back
If only you would ever have the mind to ask.
No, don't I know, that I've been this way before.
I'd find my way out of any game of yours.
You can't deny when it's me you're thinking of
And I'll play along just to give it up.
So now i know I've said hello to Jekyll and to Hyde
The trouble is I still can't say who I want by my side
Truth be told I love them both, and I'm no better half.
If only you would have the heart to take it back.
If only you would ever have the heart to ask.
The song "If Only You" by Basia Bulat is a heart-wrenching ballad about a relationship that has reached its end. The singer in the song has given up on the relationship and is ready to leave their partner behind. The singer is tired and has tried to make the relationship work before, but nothing seems to be enough. The central message of the song is that the singer wishes that their partner would have the heart to take them back, but they doubt that their partner ever will.
The first verse of the song describes the singer's decision to leave their partner. They are tired and feel that their partner is not a suitable substitute for their love. The singer has tried before, but their efforts have not been enough. The phrase "If only you would have the heart to take it back" shows that the singer still loves their partner and wants to be with them. However, they doubt that their partner still cares about the relationship.
The second verse talks about how the partner is constantly looking for trouble, and the singer is ready to step aside and let them do as they please. Again, the singer wishes that their partner would have the heart to ask to start the relationship again. The bridge is a reflective moment where the singer admits that they have been in this situation before and how they will always find a way out. The final verse has the singer admitting that they love their partner, but they cannot choose between their partner's good and bad sides, which are represented by Jekyll and Hyde, respectively. The song ends with the singer still wishing that their partner would have the heart to ask for love again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm giving up, I'm going home, I'm leaving you behind
I am done with this relationship and am going to end it by going back to my own place and leaving you behind.
A sorry suit, no substitute, I've never been so tired
I am inadequate and can in no way replace what you need. I have tried before but it has only made me exhausted.
I've tried before, I wanted more, no matter what you had
I have tried my best before to make this relationship work but I always wanted more, no matter how much you gave.
If only you would have the heart to take it back
It would be better if you had the kindness and compassion to apologize and make things better between us.
If only you would ever have the heart to ask.
I wish you would take initiative and ask for forgiveness from me.
And now you've said, too many times, that trouble's walking by.
You have said many times that there are problems in our relationship and that trouble is on the horizon.
I've met them once or twice before, but never so unkind.
I have dealt with problems before, but this time it feels very harsh and unkind.
I'll stand aside, I'll walk behind, no matter what you had
I will let you lead and take a backseat, no matter what you decide to do.
No, don't I know, that I've been this way before.
I am aware that I have found myself in this situation before.
I'd find my way out of any game of yours.
I have found a way out of situations that you have created before.
You can't deny when it's me you're thinking of
You cannot deny that you still think about me.
And I'll play along just to give it up.
I will go along with the game just to give up and end things.
So now I know I've said hello to Jekyll and to Hyde
I have experienced both good and bad times with you and our relationship is confusing and uncertain.
The trouble is I still can't say who I want by my side
My problem is that I don't know who I really want to be with and have by my side.
Truth be told I love them both, and I'm no better half.
Honestly, I have love for both sides of this situation and I can't claim to be the better person in this situation.
If only you would have the heart to take it back.
Once again, I wish you had the kindness and empathy to make things better between us.
If only you would ever have the heart to ask.
I hope that you will take initiative to ask for forgiveness or to make things right between us.
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.