If I Only Had a Heart
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg/Harold Arlen Lyrics
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Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consulting with the rain;
And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts are busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel ev'ry riddle for my
In trouble or in pain
With the thoughts that you'll be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Oh, I, could tell you why
The oceans near the shore
I could think of things I'd never
Thunk before,
And then I'd sit down and think some more.
I would not be just a muffin',
My head all full of stuffin',
My heart all full of pain;
And perhaps I'd deserve you and be
Even worthy even you
If I only had a brain.
In the song "If I Only Had a Heart," the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz laments his lack of a heart. He imagines what he would do if he had a functioning brain, such as pondering the mysteries of the universe and solving problems. He also imagines that if he had both a heart and a brain, he would be more deserving of love and companionship.
The lyrics use a whimsical and imaginative tone to convey the sadness and longing of the Tin Man. Lines such as "conferrin' with the flowers" and "unravel ev'ry riddle for my individdle" suggest a childlike curiosity and a desire to explore the world. At the same time, lines like "my heart all full of pain" and "perhaps I'd deserve you" hint at deeper emotional issues.
Overall, "If I Only Had a Heart" captures the complexity of the Tin Man's character and speaks to universal themes of love, identity, and self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I could while away the hours Conferrin' with the flowers, Consulting with the rain; And my head I'd be a scratchin' While my thoughts are busy hatchin' If I only had a brain.
If I possessed a brain, I would spend my time talking to flowers and seeking counsel from the rain. My mind would constantly be working and coming up with new ideas.
I'd unravel ev'ry riddle for my Individdle In trouble or in pain With the thoughts that you'll be thinkin' You could be another Lincoln If you only had a brain.
With a brain, I could solve any problem or mystery that comes my way. I could use my thoughts to become a great leader, like Abraham Lincoln.
Oh, I, could tell you why The oceans near the shore I could think of things I'd never Thunk before, And then I'd sit down and think some more.
With my intellect, I could explain the mysteries of the world, like why the ocean meets the shore. My mind would constantly be generating new ideas and questions to ponder.
I would not be just a muffin', My head all full of stuffin', My heart all full of pain; And perhaps I'd deserve you and be Even worthy even you If I only had a brain.
If I had a brain, I would not be just a foolish person with no real understanding of the world. With my newfound intelligence, I could become more deserving of love and connection with others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E HARBURG, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind