If Only
Dave Mathews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some days it's so easy
Sometimes I forget how
Much I want you back again
Back again
Well maybe it's a game
You win some and you lose some
Don't you let her get away
Don't let her go
Oh yeah
If only I could have you
Just the way I want you
Oh, to have you back again
Back again baby
Oh, I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me find my way back to you
Back to you
Walking past your window
You used to smile and throw
Your sweet kisses back to me
Back to me
Oh yeah
Remember when I asked you
If you'd be my one true
it seems like yesterday
Just like yesterday
Oh yeah, and I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
Back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back my baby
If only I could have you
Just the way I want you
Yeah
I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose babe
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back my baby
If only I could have you
Just the way I want to
Just the way I was
Yeah
The Dave Matthews Band's song "If Only" is a song about regret and longing for lost love. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of missing someone who he once loved deeply, and wishing he could have them back. The first verse says "Sometimes I forget how much I want you back again", which shows how the singer sometimes pushes their feelings down, but they always resurface. The second verse mentions how finding a good partner is rare and shouldn't be taken for granted. The chorus repeats the phrase "If only I could have you just the way I want you", indicating how the singer's longing for their lost love is very specific and intense.
The bridge of the song reveals the singer's regret for leaving the relationship, as they acknowledge that they were foolish to think they had nothing to lose. The mention of walking past the window of their lost love and remembering sweet moments together shows how memories of the lost love still linger. The last verse of the song reinforces the theme of regret, as the singer begs for their love to take them back. The final phrase "Just the way I was" shows that the singer recognizes the value of the past relationship and wishes to have it back.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement.
Some days it's so easy
Some days are easy to navigate and deal with.
Sometimes I forget how
Occasionally forgetting certain pieces of information.
Much I want you back again
Strong desire to have someone back in their life.
Back again
Repetition of the desire to have someone back.
Well maybe it's a game
Relationships may resemble games with winning and losing.
You win some and you lose some
Sometimes people win in relationships and sometimes they lose.
But when you've found a good one
Not losing a chance with someone special.
Don't you let her get away
Making sure to not lose someone special.
Don't let her go
Not wanting to lose someone special.
Oh yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement.
If only I could have you
A wishful thought to have someone special back.
Just the way I want you
Desiring to have someone in a specific way.
Oh, to have you back again
Desiring someone back in their life again.
Back again baby
Repetition of the desire to have someone back.
Oh, I'm just a fool baby
Admitting to mistakes and foolishness in regards to the relationship.
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Trying to act cool and collected despite the situation.
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
Acting recklessly despite the potential consequences.
But I know you and you know me
Understanding each other well.
And I know you can see
Realizing that the other person can understand the situation clearly.
So help me find my way back to you
Favoring assistance in finding a way to reconcile.
Walking past your window
Reminiscing a past routine.
You used to smile and throw
Recalling a past behavior towards each other.
Your sweet kisses back to me
Recollecting a past romantic gesture.
Back to me
Reminiscing a past romantic gesture.
Remember when I asked you
Recalling a past memory.
If you'd be my one true
Asking for commitment in the past.
it seems like yesterday
Feeling as though the memory is fresh.
Just like yesterday
Reemphasizing the feeling of the memory being fresh and recent.
I want you so take me back please
Expression of strong desire to reconcile.
If only I could have you
A wishful thought to have someone special back.
Just the way I want to
Desiring to have someone in a specific way.
Just the way I was
Desiring to return to the past and feelings at that time.
Yeah
Casual acknowledgement or agreement.
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Avilitox
Oh yeah, Some days it's so easy
And sometimes I forget her
But I want you back again
Back again
Maybe it's a game
You win some and you lose some
Oh, when you've found a good one
Don't let her get away
Don't let her go
Oh yeah, If only I could have you
Just the way I want to
Oh, to have you back again
Back again
Oh, I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
Back to you
Walking past your window
Used to smile when you'd throw
Your sweet kisses back to me
Back to me
Oh yeah, remember when I asked you
If you'd be my one true
Oh, it seems like yesterday
It's yesterday
Oh yeah, I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
Back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back, my baby
If only I could love you
Just the way I want to
Yeah
I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back, oh baby
If only I could have you
Just the way I want to
Just the way I want, yeah
José Araújo
1. "Broken Things" Matthews, John Alagia 3:48
2. "Belly Belly Nice" Matthews, Rashawn Ross 3:53
3. "Mercy" 4:28
4. "Gaucho" Stefan Lessard, Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Ross 4:25
5. "Sweet" 4:12
6. "The Riff" Matthews, Ross 5:35
7. "Belly Full" Matthews, Alagia 1:43
8. "If Only" 5:38
9. "Rooftop" 4:12
10. "Snow Outside" Carter Beauford, Lessard, Matthews, Boyd Tinsley, Jeff Coffin, Reynolds, Ross 6:11
11. "Drunken Soldier"
Owlguardian
This was the only song downloaded on my phone for the longest time. So while I was traveling I would listen to it on repeat on the plane. This song brings back so many memories of places I’ve been. It brings me peace
Shaun Maglone
I find it amazing that after all these years, Dave sounds just as good as he did when he first started DMB
Dani Sullivan
Perfect Song for 3 AM . Can't sleep so I'm jamming .
Renato Coelho
03:31 am - check
mike hunt
Currently lol
kingdraveyt
Same
Neto dos Dallagnol
And for 7:15 AM("Brasília hour") too
*Sorry about my poor english ^^
Jason Vogue
No doubt
marcelo moraes rocha
Música boa... Você deixa entrar na mente eo coração se encarrega do resto!
Avilitox
Oh yeah, Some days it's so easy
And sometimes I forget her
But I want you back again
Back again
Maybe it's a game
You win some and you lose some
Oh, when you've found a good one
Don't let her get away
Don't let her go
Oh yeah, If only I could have you
Just the way I want to
Oh, to have you back again
Back again
Oh, I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
Back to you
Walking past your window
Used to smile when you'd throw
Your sweet kisses back to me
Back to me
Oh yeah, remember when I asked you
If you'd be my one true
Oh, it seems like yesterday
It's yesterday
Oh yeah, I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
Back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back, my baby
If only I could love you
Just the way I want to
Yeah
I'm just a fool baby
Playing Mr. Cool baby
Rolling round like I got nothing much to lose
But I know you and you know me
And I know you can see
So help me get my way back to you
I want you so take me back please
Take me back, oh baby
If only I could have you
Just the way I want to
Just the way I want, yeah