If You Go Away
Glen Campbell Lyrics
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All the birds that flew in the summer sky
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the nights were long
And the moon stood still for the night bird's song
If you go away if you go away if you go away
But if you'll stay I'll make you a day like no day has been or will be again
Then if you go I'll understand leave me just enough love to fill up my hand
If you go away if you go away if you go away
If you go away as I know you will you must tell the world to stop turning
'Til you return again if you ever do for what good is love without loving you
Can I tell you now as you turn to go I'll be dying slow to the next hello
If you go away if you go away if you go away
If you go away as I know you might there'll be nothing left in the world to trust
Just an empty room full of empty space like the empty look I see on your face
I have been the shadow of your shadow
If I thought it might have kept me by your side
If you go away if you go away if you go away
But if you'll stay I'll make you a night like no night has been or will be again
I'll sail on your smile I'll glide on your touch I'll talk to your eyes that I love so much
But if you go I know I will cry and all the good is gone from the words goodbye
If you go away if you go away if you go away please don't go away
The lyrics to Glen Campbell's song "If You Go Away" present a bittersweet message about the fragility of love and how its dissolution can leave one feeling empty and lost. The song opens with the singer confronting the reality of a potential breakup, warning their lover that leaving would be "like taking the sun away." They then reminisce about the early days of their relationship, when "our love was new and our hearts were high" and they were "talk[ing] to the trees and worship[ping] the wind."
As the song progresses, the singer makes a plea for their lover to stay, promising to make them a day "like no day has been or will be again" and to "sail the sun" and "glide on the rain" with them. However, they also acknowledge that their partner may inevitably leave, and that this will be a painful and difficult experience. The final verse reveals the singer's desperation to keep their partner close, going as far as to say they would have been "the shadow of your shadow" if it meant they could stay together.
Overall, "If You Go Away" is a poignant exploration of both the highs and lows of romantic love, showcasing the intense emotions that can come with the potential end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If you go away on this summer day then you might as well take the sun away
If you leave on this bright summer day, it will leave me as empty and dark as if you took the very sun with you.
All the birds that flew in the summer sky
All the beauty and joy that this summer has brought us.
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When we first fell in love and our emotions were at their peak.
When the day was young and the nights were long
When we had not yet run out of time and our nights felt endless.
And the moon stood still for the night bird's song
When everything felt so perfect that even nature's rhythms seemed to pause and take notice.
If you go away if you go away if you go away
If you leave me, it will be more than I can bear.
But if you'll stay I'll make you a day like no day has been or will be again
If you stay, I promise to make each day as special and unique as possible.
We'll sail the sun we'll glide on the rain we'll talk to the trees and worship the wind
Together, we will explore, enjoy, and appreciate all the beauty and majesty of nature.
Then if you go I'll understand leave me just enough love to fill up my hand
If you must leave, please leave me with just enough love to sustain me.
If you go away as I know you will you must tell the world to stop turning
If you leave, it will feel as though the entire world has lost its meaning and purpose.
'Til you return again if you ever do for what good is love without loving you
If, by some chance, you decide to come back to me, I will be here, loving you just as deeply and truly as ever before.
Can I tell you now as you turn to go I'll be dying slow to the next hello
As you prepare to leave, I feel like part of me is dying inside, and the thought of saying goodbye is almost too much to bear.
If you go away as I know you might there'll be nothing left in the world to trust
If you leave, everything in the world will seem bleak and hopeless, and I will be unable to trust anything or anyone again.
Just an empty room full of empty space like the empty look I see on your face
Without you, my world will be empty and hollow, just like the expression on your face as you go.
I have been the shadow of your shadow
My entire existence has been shaped and influenced by your presence, and I have always felt like I existed in your shadow.
If I thought it might have kept me by your side
If there was any chance that staying in your shadow would have kept you close to me, I would have done it gladly.
But if you'll stay I'll make you a night like no night has been or will be again
If you decide to stay, I promise to make each night with you a special and unforgettable experience.
I'll sail on your smile I'll glide on your touch I'll talk to your eyes that I love so much
I will always find joy and comfort in your presence, and every moment with you will be treasured.
But if you go I know I will cry and all the good is gone from the words goodbye
Saying goodbye to you will be the most painful experience of my life, and it will feel like everything good and meaningful in the world has ended.
If you go away if you go away if you go away please don't go away
If you must leave, please know that you will be taking a part of me with you, and I will never be the same without you.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jacques Roman Brel, Rod McKuen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind