Then
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics

If Columbus never sailed the sea
If a major historical event had never occurred

If Longfellow never wrote a rhyme
If an influential poet had never written anything

If leaves have never grown upon a tree
If a basic part of nature had never existed

And if the sands have never told the time
If a common tool for measuring time had never existed

Then I guess I don't love you
If all these impossible things were true, it would somehow mean that the artist doesn't truly love the other person

Love you like I do
The level of love the singer has for the other person

Then I guess I'll have to find me someone new
If the love is not genuine, then the singer will have to move on to someone else

Then I guess this love I feel couldn't possibly be real
The artist doubts the authenticity of their feelings for the other person

If Beethoven never wrote a song
If a famous composer had never created any music

And if Shakespeare never wrote a play
If an acclaimed playwright had never written anything

If a man has never done a wrong
If no one has ever made any mistakes

And if night has never followed day
If a fundamental part of the natural order had never existed

Then I guess this love for you couldn't possibly be true
The singer believes that these impossible scenarios would somehow prove their love for the other person is false

If high is low
If the opposite of what is typically true, is true

And up is down
If another opposite is true

And if love is not considered an emotion
If the very definition of love were different or non-existent

If yes is no
If yet another opposite is true

And square is round
If another concept is opposite to what it should be

And if waves had never rode across the ocean
If a basic element of nature didn't exist or follow its usual pattern

If Michaelangelo could never paint
If a famous artist had never created any art

And if Jezebel was a saint
If a notorious sinner was considered a saint

Then I guess this love is wrong couldn't possibly be strong
If these impossible situations were true, then it would somehow indicate that the artist's love is not real or strong

Then I don't love you
A repetition of the idea that the singer's love is not genuine

Then I guess I'll have to find me someone new
A repetition of the idea that the artist will move on to someone else

Then I guess this love I feel couldn't possibly be something true
A repetition of the idea that the singer's love is not genuine