If I Should Lose You
Carmen McRae and George Shearing Lyrics
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The stars would fall from the skies
If I should lose you
The leaves would wither and die
The birds in Maytime
Would sing a lonely refrain
And I would wander around
With you beside me
No wind in winter would blow
With you beside me
A rose would bloom in the snow
I gave you my love
But I was living a dream
And living would seem in vain
If I lost you
The lyrics to Carmen Mcrae & George Shearing's song, If I Should Lose You, are a profound expression of one's fear of losing the person they love. It presents the idea that the absence of the one they love would cause the entire world to lose its light and colors- such a loss would bring darkness, the stars would fall from the skies, and the leaves would wither and die. Furthermore, it expresses how, without the one they love, the world would become a bleak and melancholy place, with nothing but endless tears, loneliness, and the painful sound of rain.
The song continues with the hopeful thought that if the person they love remains by their side, love can conquer anything, even the harshest winters. The presence of the person they love could bring warmth to the coldest winters, and beauty to the lifeless snow, and create a brilliant rose in the midst of the white winter. The last line of the song is particularly telling; it embodies the fear of living without the one they love, making life itself futile if they were to be lost.
Overall, the song is a poignant ode to the power of love, both in its presence and absence. It highlights the importance of true love and the fear of losing it, encouraging us to hold onto the love we have.
Line by Line Meaning
If I should lose you
Expressing the fear and sadness of losing someone important
The stars would fall from the skies
A metaphorical way of saying that life would lose its brightness and wonder
If I should lose you
Repeating the intensity of the fear of losing someone important
The leaves would wither and die
A metaphorical way of saying that everything would lose its vitality and color
The birds in Maytime
Imagery of a joyful and lively spring season
Would sing a lonely refrain
Reflecting the emptiness and desolation of life without the one who was lost
And I would wander around
Feeling lost and aimless without direction
Hating the sound of rain
Even the sound of rain, which can be calming and peaceful, becomes a source of pain and discomfort
With you beside me
Expressing the comfort and safety of being with the one you love
No wind in winter would blow
A metaphorical way of saying that everything would be okay and that there wouldn't be any troubles or hardships
With you beside me
Repeating the comfort and safety of being with the one you love
A rose would bloom in the snow
Everything would be possible and even the impossible would be achievable
I gave you my love
Expressing the depth of love that was given to the person who was lost
But I was living a dream
Realizing that everything was based on illusions and that reality was much harder
And living would seem in vain
Feeling that there's no point in living without the one who was lost
If I lost you
Repeating the fear and sadness of losing someone important
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RALPH E GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind