If
Flaming Lips Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

People are evil, it's true
But on the other side they can be gentle too
If they decide
But they don't always decide
We live on the impulses
Love is powerful

But not as powerful as evil
People are evil, it's true
But on the other side they can be gentle too




If they decide
They decide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "If" by the Flaming Lips highlight the duality of human nature - the capacity for both good and bad. The opening line, "People are evil, it's true," is a bold statement that acknowledges the harsh reality of the world we live in. However, the second line offers a glimmer of hope - people can be gentle too. It's up to them to make a conscious decision to act in a kind way.


The third line, "But they don't always decide," suggests that sometimes people may be influenced by external factors beyond their control or may simply choose to act on their worst impulses. The following line, "We live on the impulses," speaks to the idea that human behavior can be unpredictable and based on instinct rather than logic or reason.


The final lines of the chorus, "Love is powerful, but not as powerful as evil," reinforce the theme of duality. Love may be a strong force for good, but it is not always enough to overpower the darker parts of human nature.


Line by Line Meaning

People are evil, it's true
It's a fact that human beings can do cruel things.


But on the other side they can be gentle too
On the flip side, people can also be kind and compassionate.


If they decide
It's ultimately up to the individual to choose whether to act with kindness or cruelty.


But they don't always decide
Unfortunately, people don't always make the choice to be gentle and loving.


We live on the impulses
Our actions and behaviors are often driven by our emotional reactions rather than rational decision-making.


Love is powerful
Love has the ability to inspire compassion and kindness in people.


But not as powerful as evil
However, the negative impact of evil and cruelty can often overshadow the positive influence of love.


They decide
Once again, it's up to each individual to make the choice of how they want to treat others.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WAYNE COYNE, STEVEN DROZD, MICHAEL IVINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@plzdnthurtmeimsosry9

This is where I come to cry

@moris5262

The sweetest way to express a sad and undeniable truth. Pure art.
Innocent those who dont see

@SLUMBERWELLYOUTUBE

I've known this song since the album came out and it still makes me cry as much as I did then

@empresacotagua6308

2 minutes of greatest art

@moris5262

High art

@BlueRidgeParkway

I hope the boys don't mind I used this great song for a parody video I made about how evil Google is! "Google is Evil" a parody karaoke based on The Flaming Lips "If" from the album "Embryonic"

@abbeyfriday5936

<3

@anbeesmiler2394

Miley Cyrus ❤️

@natidellacqua7487

Me da sueño jaja

@themayashow1

Miley brought me here

More Comments

More Versions