If I Could Only Win Your Love
Harris Emmylou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I could only win your love
I'd make the most of everything
I'd proudly wear your wedding ring
My heart would never stray one dream away

If I could only win your love
I'd give my all to make it live
You'll never know how much I give

If I could only win your love

Oh how can I ever say
How I crave your love when your gone away
Oh how can I ever show
How I burn inside when you hold me tight

If I could only win your love
I'd give my all to make it live
You'll never know how much I give
If I could only win your love

Oh how (oh how)
can I ever say (can I ever say)
How I crave your love when your gone away
Oh how
can I ever show
How I burn inside when you hold me tight

If I could only win your love
I'd give my all to make it live

You'll never know how much I give
If I could only win your love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Harris Emmylou's song "If I Could Only Win Your Love" express the singer's desire to have the love of someone and to make the most of it. The first verse states that if she could win the love of her desired partner, she would wear their wedding ring with pride, and her heart would never stray from their love. The second verse follows the same theme, indicating that the singer would give her all to make the love live and that her partner would never know how much she would be willing to sacrifice for the relationship.

The chorus of the song repeats the title phrase, "If I could only win your love," emphasizing the yearning that the singer has for the love of another. The final verse speaks to the singer's difficulty expressing their emotions when the lover is away, and the longing that they feel when they are together. Throughout the song, the singer expresses a deep desire to be loved and to make that love work, despite the challenges and difficulties that may come along.

Overall, the lyrics of "If I Could Only Win Your Love" are a testament to the power of love and the lengths that someone will go to in order to win it. The words convey a sense of vulnerability and longing that is relatable to anyone who has ever desired the love of another.

Line by Line Meaning

If I could only win your love
The singer longs to win the love of the person she desires

I'd make the most of everything
She promises to make the most of their relationship if she could win their love

I'd proudly wear your wedding ring
She envisions a future with the person she loves, as she promises to wear their wedding ring with pride

My heart would never stray one dream away
She assures the person she loves that she will be faithful to them

I'd give my all to make it live
The singer promises to give everything she has to make their love work if she could only win it

You'll never know how much I give
She recognizes that her love might never know the extent of her devotion

Oh how can I ever say
The singer expresses her frustration with being unable to communicate her feelings adequately

How I crave your love when your gone away
She reveals how much she misses the person she loves when they are not around

Oh how can I ever show
She wonders how she can demonstrate the depth of her feelings for the person she loves

How I burn inside when you hold me tight
She expresses the intensity she feels when she is close to the person she desires

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES LOUVIN, IRA LOUVIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Melody Villarreal

44w↑5

I have always loved this song' version by Emmylou. She sings it better than any other version I have heard. Thank you for this beautiful humming bird!🐦💙

Nowhere Man

1y↑4

Emmy Lou is such a beautiful lady and phenomenal talent.This song is pure greatness.It helped me discover The Louvin Brothers

Flim Flannery

3y↑27

Shows how music is an art of the soul.

gretta gip

4y↑36

The voice of angel. There's only one Emmy Lou!

Jt Jones

"If you needed me" speaks to the soul of everyone and what we all wish for. Maybe just what I've always wished for.

I knew her bus driver CB handle "undercover uturn". Emmylou would know who I'm talking about.

Nice guy but he was not worthy, though he did love Emmylou.

MadameC

6y↑19

I grew up on the island of Saint Lucia, and Country music classics like these are what we knew. We knew all the words, how to dance it and today we have country dance competitions across the island. It is part of our culture thanks to the Americans who came to help build the roads ages ago. They left a piece of them with us. Thank you!

Helen Yates

3y↑13

Emmylou has a golden voice of truth and love

Alene Fisher

1y↑1

Its also the song...plus One if these days.

Math? Music!

7y↑9

Such great two voice open harmony!!! Man, this blows me away every time I hear it. It's magic!!!!!!!!!!!

Green Ranger88

2y↑3

My father loved this song. He was a big Emmy fan.

Jay Albert

9y↑48

Absolutely fantastic! This is what country music is all about!!

Paul Lionel Jonior Lanteigne

Enjoy the feeling

DAVID MAIKRANZ

VEERY , VERY TRUE. BUT IT ISN`TLIKEIT ONCE WAS. GOD BLESS EMMY LOU HARRIS. AND CHARLIELOUVIN

gipsyblues1

You cant win Love it is or is not Simple

todd canton

7y↑14

Harmonies and Emmy Lou Harris go together nicely!

Gregory Margaritis

2y↑3

Love this song and the rhythm
Beautiful ❤

Jeffrey Hall

3y↑67

I'm a man. 66 years old. I cry like a baby every time I hear her sing this song. There. I said it.

Cornelia Hanske

3y↑5

I`m a lady, almost 66 years old...... and the same thing has happened to me so many times. So welcome to the club!

Robyn Marsh

2y↑4

63 and ive never had the love i crave, and now unrequited love literally rips my heart apart whats left of it

Tony Orsini

2y↑2

Hey man, never feel shame for that. A dry eye from me never met this song. Hurts. But we have emotions for a reason, yeah? We don't feel shame in laugh, yeah? Never feel bad about being a person. Truck on, man.

Tony Orsini

@Robyn Marsh You will. Trust me. This is only a stopping point. The real party is still to begin. Your hurt Won't last forever.

William Bruening

Amen,amen.

7 More Replies...

Muziekgenot

3y↑4

I first heard this on the radio in 1975 when the LP 'Pieces of the sky' had just been released. I had never (consciously) heard of her. I recorded the radio program and was therefore able to listen to this beautiful song with her enchanting voice as often as I wanted. But after a few years I lost the cassette tape and although I now owned several Emmylou albums, Pieces of the Sky was not among them. I also didn't know that the song was on that LP, otherwise I would have bought it, now on CD of course. It was only in 2014 that I found this gem on Youtube. I still think it's one of the most beautiful songs she's ever recorded.

Bodie W

6y↑5

This is my favorite country duet song. I love everything about Emmylou Harris and would love to see her in concert.

Pierre Le Roux

Try Emmylou Harris and Don Williams “ If I needed you

gregg

7y↑5

Saw her do this tune at a live concert! Always have loved her! 👍

Robert Muldoon

3y↑4

The tune that got me hooked on the Emmylou Harris sound! The first song I ever heard by her, played on WAXX in Eau Claire, Wisconsin!

Cindy Lewis

1y↑1

The best voice ever.

Andrea Richardson

7y↑22

She is a natural. Everything about her as she has age you can tell she stays the same. A wonderful voice that just gets better and so does her looks. I dont know her but she seem like a lot of southern women,they are just real ladies.

James Handley

4y↑1

Goosebumps listening to her voice.. an angel

Helen Ramsey

When I think of a golden oldie, I've got to find it and listen. This song takes me back to the 70s and actually makes me a little sad to recall that time of my life. But it's one great song!!

Michael Janiak

THIS SONG IS SO SOOTHING TO MY SOUL.💯😂

Derek Hardin

Voice of an angel

Jorge hernandez

2y↑1

WHAT A SONG!!!!!

Debbie Loignon

4y↑4

The memories this song brings back I heard this song played continually on the jukebox one night in the early 70’s and finally loved the man who played it! Still friends after all these years! You know how it goes either I wasn’t available or he wasn’t but in between!

Dave Harmonson

It was released in June ‘75

Troy Thomas

She's so phenomenal

Rick Jones

3y↑3

This is a great cover of a big hit in the 1950's by The Louvin Brothers. Check out the original. Both are great and I would never try to pick one over the other. The Louvin Brothers, it's worth looking for.

Jt Jones

I drove over the road for entertainers for 10 years. I always felt Emmylou had an Angelic voice. Put a million miles of blacktop under my wheels listening to her. God Bless.

Bill Guill

5y↑5

Watched "Country Music" last night on PBS. The author/producer - Ken Burns - mentioned how Gram Parsons had an influence on her and her learning the music of the Louvin Brothers, how they sang, wrote, etc. Great song! Nice hearing it again, especially so after all these 43+ years!!!

Collins Crapo

11y↑3

I grew up hearing this song. Today I love to slow-dance to it on the jukebox, by myself, with eyes closed & arms open, at the burger bar that nowadays is my favorite after-work hangout. Also, considering that this song is from "Pieces of the Sky" & you specifically note thus in the lowbar, it's ironic that the "Elite Hotel" cover ended up as the thumbnail which I clicked on to get to this vid. Oh well, thanks for keeping the memories alive in any case!

roger cote

3y↑1

Perfection in a great country song !!!!!!!

wayne lockwood

8y↑7

Emmylou Harris what a awesome Singer Indeed ! Thank You Emmylou For All Your Great Music! From Simcoe,Ontario,Canada!

T4TEXASTOM JOHNNYCAT

4y↑3

This was her second single 45rpm.
Emmylou is more beautiful now than ever. I love her slight over-bite, just like Jan, the Toyota girl.😍😅🎻🎸

Rita McGregor

8y↑4

Love it

Donald Nickels

10y↑4

She is simply the best...

chuck 747

4y↑7

NOT MANY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT SING LIKE EMMYLOU HARRIS

DAVID MAIKRANZ

4y↑1

A-MEN.

1 More Replies...

whereyat89

9y↑3

Fantastic, thanks so much. I wish I had half her voice.

abner camp

10y↑50

I was painting a house when I first heard her sing this song. I was 16 and fell in love with her.

Skeptical Anderson

10y↑15

she was always so pretty love her hair oh yes and the boots

abner camp

10y↑6

David Miler

4y↑3

Me too

Bessie Star

4y↑2

Me and my dad working on a car.🤠💃💗

Roger Herndon

4y↑4

You're not the only one who fell in love with her. Such a beautiful woman and voice. She's still gorgeous even today.

2 More Replies...

Joe P

6y↑8

A silver fox with a beautiful voice.

Terrence Thorn

5y↑3

When I was a young man, a drummer in a band, I met the love of my life in Iowa City, IA. Her name was M.A.E. but she was Peggy to me and when we were apart, I sang this song to myself, late at night, walking alone after a gig, so in love that my feet were not touching the ground. This song will always remind me that once, I knew what being head over heels in love, was like. - our love ended badly and it was all my fault so this song will always haunt me, as a great song does.

Linda Lamb

I heard "Boulder To Birmingham" on the radio about 1969 and went to buy it only to find it was only on her album. I could hardly afford the price. but got it anyway. When listening to the other songs I dicovered "If I could only..." It is my favorite of hers all time. I found out many decades later that it was a Louvin Brothers song, but she owns it.

Kelli Cook

A beautiful lady and a song I can relate to.

Pat Downs

6y↑5

Emmylou is always good, but Herb Pederson is what makes this song outstanding.

Linda Lai

Do It Now! video's yeah!

The whole band on this album is great.

Kathleen Connors

@Linda Lai 1

Eric Skivers

Man , I’m glad I came across your comment . I didn’t know he sang background on this . Like it more now! . Big fan of desert rose band

Eric Skivers

@Do It Now! video's yeah!
Q

Cynthia Baxter

There's a lot more f great female country music singers but she is unmatched I love this lady

Edward Mynning

9y↑10

I've been in love with Emmy Lou Harris, since I first heard her when I was maybe 12..
I would still marry her in a heartbeat, nearly 38 years later!!
She is just that beautiful!!

DealReal12

8y↑5

She is GORGEOUS! And one of the Nicest Human Beings on Planet Earth!
I TOTALLY LOVE EMMYLOU.
And I know I'm not alone.
GOD Bless her ALWAYS!
What a TOTAL JOY she radiates.

catman916

8y↑1

+MusicMC1 I think that you have said it all. MusicMC1.

Frank Lilley

7y↑1

We drove 400 miles to see her at the Ryman on 5-2-17. It sure was worth it! Watch for that show as a PBS special in August of this year.

Camille Joy

So lovely is Emmylou!!

darrla bosworth

9y↑3

I love the sound a mandolin makes,as Jackie Gleason use to say how sweet it is.

zebooker

7y↑6

A year or three after dropping out in 1971, I went into the GWU Student Union cafeteria for a bite. A band, including a pedal steel guitar, was setting up to play, and the lead singer sure looked hot. She sounded hotter! That was the first time I heard Emmy Lou Haris; I was smitten at once and have remained so. This is a favorfite recording of hers. Thanks for posting it!

catman916

7y↑2

You're welcome, zebooker. How fortunate you were seeing and hearing her so early in her career. She certainly was a beautiful woman and great singer.

STEVE Angers

This song is so true for everyone at some point in their life

Rohit Brandon

10y↑8

This is typical Louvin song with that lilt but Emmy puts her stamp on it. I love this song and the Rodney Crowell duet version.
O' God I love all the versions including the Tammy Wynette one.

Cilla Sweet

9y↑2

very nice! Emmylou is greats. i love her.

Cilla Sweet

9y↑2

warum gehen mir ihre songs so ans herz!!!!!

Cleall Paul

6y↑1

Brilliant!!

clovisman68

3y↑1

A song for a special lady. ... Maybe some day .❤️

Dan63

Awesome!

Jari Kuukasjärvi

Beautiful in many ways

Bill Klein

Who are the 102 Philistines who dislike this? This is incredible!

Darrell Hauser

6y↑2

love this music Emmylou Harris and Connie Smith

Ronald Logue

40w

Still listening in 2023!! Love you !! Takes me back to the good years.

cellobus

3y↑1

The first time I heard this was on the radio in a VW bus travelling from Jal to Cheyenne with my family, I've come back to this moment again and again. We'd come from Connecticut.

Helen Yates

3y↑1

Truly a soul person

Cormac David

2y↑1

Hello Helen 👋

Vicky Stanley

Beautiful, of course!

Kim Krause

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC YES THE VOICE OF AND A ANGEL LOVE THAT SONG SO MUCH GREAT SONG GREAT SINGER I LOVE HM SO MUCH HE WILL BE IN MY HEART FOREVER ALWAYS SHE IS SO GORGEOUS AND HE IS

earl hoag

This is why I Love country music this is hillbilly music mixed with pop or rock, maybe love this song so much

Lynn

Blessings! Emmylou.

bobgure

6y↑1

Perfection.

Alea Ta Flea

7y↑1

beautiful harmony... just wore this whole albm OUT goodgawd

J. Tin

5y↑1

Timeless...

Joe Bonsall

10y↑9

Loving EMMY LOU..... It's her birthday today!!

Bonita Lollar

10y↑3

I love her music!

Randall Beggs

9y↑2

Love this Louvin Bros. classic.

B Holly

6y↑1

Great job girl

HITHEREFOLKS

10y↑2

many thanks for uploading this nice song, we're all happy !

thinkofme14344

10y

wow! 1975.. i was only 9 yrs old that time.. love emmylou harris..

Happy Anderson

Love Emmylou and always have. Just wondering who the harmony singer is. Sure sound like Rodney Crowell. Those two were just meant to harmonize. Their voices blend so beautifully. And sounds like Emmylou might have done her own high harmonies.

Jim Ingram

Herb Pedersen.

Spanky McFarland

8y↑40

As a child, I grew up in Emmylou's neighborhood. I had an unbelievable crush on her, but was too bashful to pursue her at that point in my life. One day, a bunch of the kids decided to play spin the bottle. My friend Jr. Roussanne, clued me in on the time and place. Also he asked me to make sure Emmylou came too. I was crazy about Emmylou, and decided I would ask her to go to the neighborhood get together. After all, it wasn't a date or anything like that. If not familiar with spin the bottle, everyone sat or knelt on the floor, then someone would spin the milk bottle. When the bottle stopped spinning, The one who spun the bottle would get a kiss from the one where the bottle pointed. There was Don Bundren, Jr. Roussanne and myself, along with Emmylou, Harriet Smith, and Susie Smith. aka monkey poo. (honest) The game was played in Don Bundren's yard, or more explicitly in his outhouse (honest) Harriet spun first and the bottle pointed at me. My face got real red because it would be my first kiss. What a kiss it was. Then it was Emmylou's turn. She spun the bottle, and it pointed at me again. My wish just came true. At that moment, Don's dad bursted into outhouse drunk, pulled down his bib overalls and proceeded to (you know what) and it stunk to high heaven. Everyone ran out as fast as possible, and Emmylou moved away the following week. Weeks later, I saw Mr Bundren walking thru an alley and while hiding in the ash pit, I shot him with my Red Ryder BB gun. Punishment deserved.

Suzi Lewis

7y↑1

terry brooks thank you for sharing this...lol...gottim'!!

Spanky McFarland

7y↑1

SuZi Lewis = gottim. SuZi, does that mean you don't believe my authentic true story? Well, believe it or not, my aim was perfect with that BB gun! Maybe some day I'll share a story with you about the time Emmylou fell into the tiger pit at our local zoo? Man was she clumbsy! Maybe I'll tell you about the time Emmylou and I went to 6 flags, that is a good one too. Well, not at the time though.

G W. Bfly

7y↑1

terry brooks LOL!!!! So FUNNY!! I loved that story!

TheNewenglandboys

Great story! If it had been me I would have gotten that kiss! lol

3 More Replies...

Cheryl Billman

7y↑2

I hate to admit that I didn't like her for a while. Found her high pitched voice a bit grating. My husband, who is a musician, actually got me to see the beauty in her voice. Now I cant get enough

Robert Knight

4y↑1

I was working on my Chevrolet pickup.I've always loved Emmylou from afar and always look for her amongst the stars

Kim Krause

THIS AINT MY DAY TODAY GETTING MY WORDS GOOF UP I MEAN SHE IS SO GORGEOUS SORRY ABOUT THAT EMMYLOU HARRIS I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOUR A GREAT SINGER AND I LOVE YOUR SINGING AND I LOVE YOUR MUSIC SO MUCH YOUR THE BEST SINGER 🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😊👍

William Nelson

Sounds like Ricky Skaggs backing her u. I saw that version of the Hot Band twice and got right up close. I was a handsome 21 year old hippie boy and I caught her eye many times, so as she sang these wonderful songs it was almost like she was singing them to me. At the Palomino in the LA valley.

john sosman

magnificent.

Chuck & Deb McAuley

11y

Good one!

Peter Williamson

3y↑3

I don't know if it would be a blessing or a curse to be married or attached to someone so radiant and beautiful, just looking at these comments gives you some idea.

betty bentley

LOVE IT GAL

faith doyen

8y↑6

I have loved the song, it memorable experience with my past

David Miler

4y↑1

Perfection

betty bentley

6y↑6

OH HOW I LO VE HER VOICE

Eye on art

That grey hair is beautiful on her.

betty bentley

COULD LISTINE TO YOU SING YOUR MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG

Robyn Marsh

You know i love you...but i will never win your love...To love someone is nothing...to be loved by someone is something..to be loved by the one you love is everything..I Love You S.J.F.

Ricardo Cortes

8y↑2

I have an amazing coincidence about the selection of songs and singers by Catman916. Some of my top 10 are in this list. Cheers!

catman916

8y↑2

+Ricardo Cortes We must think alike, Ricardo.

Collins Crapo

11y↑23

According to the "Buy this song" caption next to the description box, EH's male duet partner on this song was Herb Pedersen.

CJ carp

Thanks I was wondering about that almost thought Ricky Skaggs but didn't really sound like him...

mwduck

and that is correct.

Dia Kristy

3y↑1

I wonder if this was the first el song I ever heard... Funny that queen of the silver dollar was the b side. Remember when records had b sides? Loved that one too!

Laura Roberts

The guys voice is Amazing!!

Robert Knight

47w↑1

La bogavilla esta Hermosa todavia.

Clinton Justice

A Majestic Ange! My God.

willie moon

a Goddess

Michelle Lekas

No hate, but I like the Louvin's version of their own song. It's so simple a has a really crunching direct melody.

weepeee

42w

Tooo Beautiful 😍😍😍😇🌻🌹💜🙏🔥🍄🌈🎵🎶☮️☮️☮️

Tony Orsini

No one ever asked me that. And I couldn't answer them anymore even if they did. No love here on the Earth. No lullabies. And death is the best promise I ever had. Because it's only my parole from here, and there will be so much to look forward to.

Dennis Buchanan

8y↑2

AMEN my brothers

Kim Krause

She is the best singer beautiful and sweet and romantic song lovely song love it great song I love that song so much I love Emmy Lou Harris so much 😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🤩💘💘💘💘💘💘🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💯💯💯💯💯💯💚💗💜💙💖💝🎸🎼🎤🎶🎵💋💋💋💋💋💋