If Only
Hanson Lyrics


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Cause I need you.
Cause I need you.

Every single time I see you
I start to feel this way
It makes me wonder if I'm ever
Gonna feel this way again
There's a picture
That's hanging at the back of my head
I see it over and over

I want to hold you, love you.
In my arms and then.
I want to need you,
Cause I need to
Be with you 'til the end.
Then I hear myself reply
You've got to hold it in.
This time, tonight.

[Chorus]
If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Cause I need you

I sit here waiting wondering,
Hoping, gotta make this right.
Cause all I think about
Is your hands, your face,
And all these lonely nights.
There's a feeling, screaming,
In the back of my head.
Saying over and over.

Gonna hold you, love you.
In my arms and then.
Don't want to leave you,
Cause I need to
Be with you 'til the end.
Then I hear myself reply
She'll never let you in.
This time, tonight.

If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Please don't go, 'cause I need you now.

I want to hear you say,
It'll always be this way.
We'll be hand in hand
For ever night, and ever day.
I want to scream and shout.
Cause I'm losin' any doubt.
Cause all I care about is
You and me, and us, and now.

Oh yeah.

If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Please don't go.
Cause I need you now, yeah
Cause I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you now.
(if only)
Cause I need you
I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you
(if only)




(if only)
Cause I need you now, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "If Only" by Hanson is a heartfelt love song that details the longing and desire the singer feels towards another person. The opening lines of "Cause I need you" repeated twice highlight the urgency and importance of the relationship to the singer. The singer talks about this person they long for and how every time they see them, they feel a certain way that makes them wonder if they will ever feel this way again.


The lyrics that follow convey the singer's desire to hold and love the person in their arms. However, they find it hard to confess their feelings since they are afraid of rejection. The chorus highlights this reluctance to express their true feelings, wishing that they had the courage to tell their love interest how they feel and hoping that the person might reciprocate the feelings.


The second verse continues the theme of the first, with the singer waiting and hoping to make things right with the person they long for. The bridge of the song expresses the singer's innermost thoughts and feelings, wanting to be forever with the love of their life, screaming and shouting, and losing any doubt that might be holding them back. Ultimately, the chorus repeats, with the singer's plea for the love of their life not to leave them because they need them.


Line by Line Meaning

Cause I need you.
The singer acknowledges their dependence on someone, implying that their happiness and emotional stability is tied to this person's presence.


Every single time I see you I start to feel this way
The singer feels a strong emotional response every time they see the other person, indicating that they have strong feelings for them.


It makes me wonder if I'm ever Gonna feel this way again
The singer worries that they may never experience these intense emotions again if they lose this person.


There's a picture That's hanging at the back of my head I see it over and over
The singer cannot stop thinking about a particular memory with this person, suggesting that it holds great significance to them.


I want to hold you, love you. In my arms and then. I want to need you, Cause I need to Be with you 'til the end.
The singer expresses a deep desire to be with this person and to care for them, indicating a strong emotional attachment.


Then I hear myself reply You've got to hold it in. This time, tonight.
The singer acknowledges that the other person may not feel the same way, and tries to restrain their emotions as a result.


If only, I had the guts to feel this way. And if only, You'd look at me and want to stay. And if only, I'd take you in my arms and say, I won't go, 'cause I need you. Cause I need you
The singer wishes they had the courage to be vulnerable and express their feelings to the other person, in the hope that they will reciprocate and stay with them.


I sit here waiting wondering, Hoping, gotta make this right.
The singer is anxious and uncertain about their relationship with this person, and is determined to fix things.


There's a feeling, screaming, In the back of my head. Saying over and over.
The singer has a persistent feeling of desire and urgency that they try to ignore, but cannot shake.


Don't want to leave you, Cause I need to Be with you 'til the end. Then I hear myself reply She'll never let you in. This time, tonight.
The singer acknowledges that the other person may not feel the same way, and tries to suppress their emotions again.


I want to hear you say, It'll always be this way. We'll be hand in hand For ever night, and ever day.
The singer longs for reassurance from the other person that they will always be together and committed to each other.


I want to scream and shout. Cause I'm losin' any doubt. Cause all I care about is You and me, and us, and now.
The singer is so overwhelmed with their feelings that they want to express them loudly and freely, as they are confident about their priorities and desires.


Please don't go, Cause I need you now, yeah Cause I need you (if only) Cause I need you now. (if only) Cause I need you I need you (if only) Cause I need you (if only) Cause I need you (if only) (if only) Cause I need you now, yeah
The singer pleads with the other person not to leave them, as they explain that their emotional well-being depends on the other person's presence.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AMY SKY, WAYLAND HOLYFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@marinaassumpcao4250

'Cause I need you
'Cause I need you

Every single time I see you I start to feel this way
It makes me wonder if I'm ever gonna feel this way again
There's a picture that's hanging at the back of my head
I see it over and over

I want to hold you and love you in my arms and then
I want to need you 'cause I need to be with you 'til the end
Then I hear myself reply you've got to hold it in
This time tonight

chorus
If only I had the guts to feel this way
And if only you'd look at me and want to stay
And if only I'd take you in my arms and say
I won't go 'cause I need you
'Cause I need you

I sit here waiting wondering hoping that I'll make this right
'Cause all I think about is your hands
Your face and all these lonely nights
There's a feeling screaming in the back of my head
Saying over and over

I want to hold you love you in my arms and then
I want to need you 'cause I need to be with you 'til the end
Then I hear myself reply she'll never let you in
This time tonight

If only I had the guts to feel this way
And if only you'd look at me and want to stay
And if only I'd take you in my arms and say
I won't go 'cause I need you
Please don't go 'cause I need you now

I want to hear you say
It'll always be this way
We'll be hand in hand for every night and every day
I want to scream and shout
'Cause I'm losing any doubt
And all I care about is you and me and us and now

Oh yeah

Yeah

If only I had the guts to feel this way
And if only you'd look at me and want to stay
And if only I'd take you in my arms and say
I won't go 'cause I need you
Please don't go 'cause I need you now
Yeah
'Cause I need you
(if only...)
'Cause I need you now
(if only...)
'Cause I need you
I need you
(if only...)
'Cause I need you
(if only...)
'Cause I need you
(if only...)
(if only...)
'Cause I need you now
Yeah



@dayflaubert

Cause I need you.
Cause I need you.
Every single time I see you
I start to feel this way
It makes me wonder if I'm ever
Gonna feel this way again
There's a picture
That's hanging at the back of my head
I see it over and over
I want to hold you, love you.
In my arms and then.
I want to need you,
Cause I need to
Be with you 'til the end.
Then I hear myself reply
You've got to hold it in.
This time, tonight.
If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Cause I need you
I sit here waiting wondering,
Hoping, gotta make this right.
Cause all I think about
Is your hands, your face,
And all these lonely nights.
There's a feeling, screaming,
In the back of my head.
Saying over and over.
Gonna hold you, love you.
In my arms and then.
Don't want to leave you,
Cause I need to
Be with you 'til the end.
Then I hear myself reply
She'll never let you in.
This time, tonight.
If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Please don't go, 'cause I need you now.
I want to hear you say,
It'll always be this way.
We'll be hand in hand
For ever night, and ever day.
I want to scream and shout.
Cause I'm losin' any doubt.
Cause all I care about is
You and me, and us, and now.
Oh yeah.
If only,
I had the guts to feel this way.
And if only,
You'd look at me and want to stay.
And if only,
I'd take you in my arms and say,
I won't go, 'cause I need you.
Please don't go.
Cause I need you now, yeah
Cause I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you now.
(if only)
Cause I need you
I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you
(if only)
Cause I need you
(if only)
(if only)
Cause I need you now, yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@lindavilmaole5003

These brothers are amazing. They maintain their own personal identity with a type of MUSIC that's DEFINITELY THEIRS.

@MrWierchawsky

What a pretty and wonderful woman hello ,my darling ?

@kelly-qg5et

I'm an adult with a job and a husband and kids..after almost 20 years, that shot with Taylor smiling into the camera during the campfire STILL leaves me all flustered inside like a teenage girl.

@CatherineNoName

Same here!! 💜😍💦

@ileanright7891

My teen introduced their music to me about about 20 yrs ago. I am 50+ years old now and go see them perform every time they are in New Orleans.

@rachelburford5991

Same! I was 14 when I first saw them in concert. I’m 37 now, married, 2 kids but Taylor will always be it for me.

@malindahernandez4765

Omgggg yessss

@helenalove3289

Hahaha same here 😆

56 More Replies...

@franciscoaguilar1067

This song is so underrated, one of my favorite from early 2000's.

@danizoneddd

Literally the best song that started this century! (for me ofc!)

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