Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada (on November 16, 1964). She began learning the piano at the age of four. In high school, she started playing in a small jazz group. At the age of fifteen, she started playing regularly in several Nanaimo restaurants. She also spent some time in Toronto studying with Canadian Jazz great, Don Thompson (Bass/Piano) and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts she moved to the U.S to continue studies and develop her career.

Her playing attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown, who brought her into touch with influential teachers and producers. At the age of seventeen, she won a scholarship from the Vancouver Jazz Festival to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After three terms she moved to Los Angeles to study with Jimmy Rowles, with whom she also began to sing. In 1990, Krall relocated to New York. She is married to British musician Elvis Costello.

If I Had You
Diana Krall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you

I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you

I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned

Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do

Overall Meaning

Diana Krall's song "If I Had You" is a romantic ballad about the transformative power of love. The song's lyrics express the idea that having someone special in your life can make even the most difficult challenges seem conquerable. The song's upbeat tempo and Krall's smooth vocal delivery add to the feeling of joy and optimism that permeate the lyrics.

In the first verse, Krall sings, "I could show the world how to smile, I could be glad all of the while." These lines suggest that being in love would make her so happy that she could spread joy to others. The second verse continues along the same theme, as she sings, "I could leave the old days behind, Leave all my pals, I'd never mind, I could start my life all anew." These lines express the notion that love could help her leave behind past regrets and start fresh.

The third verse is the most poetic, as Krall sings, "I could climb the snow-capped mountains, Sail the mighty ocean wide, I could cross the burning desert, If I had you by my side." These lines suggest that love would give her the courage to take on even the most formidable challenges. The final lines of the song, "I could be a king, dear, uncrowned, Humble or poor, rich or renowned, There is nothing I couldn't do, If I had you," express the idea that love would make her feel invincible and capable of achieving anything.

Overall, "If I Had You" is a feel-good song that celebrates the transformative power of love. It suggests that having someone special in our lives can give us the inspiration and courage to overcome any obstacle.

Line by Line Meaning

I could show the world how to smile
I would be so happy and content that I would be able to spread positivity and happiness to the world

I could be glad all of the while
I would be happy all the time and never have a reason to be sad or upset

I could change the grey skies to blues
I would have the power to turn any sad or gloomy situation into a joyful and happy one

If I had you
The above mentioned happiness and contentment can only be achieved if I have you with me

I could leave the old days behind
I would be able to forget all the negative memories and things from my past and start fresh

Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I would be willing to let go of all my friends and social life to achieve this level of happiness

I could start my life all a new
I would be able to start my life with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor

I could climb the snow capped mountains
I would be able to achieve any goal or dream, even if it is as difficult as climbing a snow capped mountain

Sail the mighty ocean wide
I would be brave enough to face any challenge or obstacle, even if it is as vast and unpredictable as the ocean

I could cross the burning desert
I would be able to conquer any adversity or hardship, even if it is as taxing and exhausting as crossing a burning desert

If I had you by my side
All these achievements and successes can only be possible if I have you supporting me and standing by my side

I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
If I have you, I would feel like royalty, even if I don't have a crown or regal status

Humble or poor, rich or renowned
My financial or social status would not matter, as long as I have you

There is nothing I couldn't do
With you by my side, I would be able to accomplish anything and everything that I set my mind to

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ted Shapiro, James Campbell, Reginald Connelly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS