Say You Will
J.D. Souther feat. Linda Ronstadt Lyrics
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Have to begin again
I swear seasons are coming and going
Almost as quickly as friends these days and I
I'm starting to think
There must be some kind of mistake
There must be something I can change
Cause I can't take back all the sacrifices I had to make
No I'll never get back the life I tried to trade
So if you don't love me now
If you don't love me now
Just say you will
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even when everything is fallin' apart
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even if you didn't love me from the start
And when everything is falling apart
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even if you didn't love me from the start
With everything in the way
I think I just gotta say
The things I forgot to say
When I made my mistakes
I know I fucked up
But you got me fucked up right now
(You got me fucked up right now)
With everything on the way
I think I just gotta say
I know it's almost time to go
I'm hoping you keep me close
I don't even know
If there's anything left to say before I got
(Anything left to say)
So if you don't love me now
If you don't love me now
Just say you will
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even when everything is fallin' apart
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even if you didn't love me from the start
And when everything is falling apart
(Say you will, say you will, say you will, say you will)
Even if you didn't love me from the start
The lyrics to J.D. Souther's song "Say You Will" featuring Linda Ronstadt tell a story of a relationship in turmoil. The singer is reflecting on the difficulties they have faced in the relationship and questioning whether they can salvage it. They feel a sense of disillusionment with the passing of time and how quickly seasons seem to come and go, as well as the passing of friends from their lives. The sense of time slipping away becomes a metaphor for the relationship itself, with the singer questioning whether they have made mistakes that can't be undone and whether there is any hope for the future.
The chorus, with its plea to "say you will" love the singer even in the midst of the challenges they face, highlights the insecurities and fears they have about whether the relationship will survive. They acknowledge that mistakes have been made and that sacrifices have been required, but they are still hoping for a positive outcome. The verse that follows, with its raw confession of "I know I fucked up", adds depth and realism to the song's portrayal of a relationship in crisis. The singer acknowledges the trials they have put the other person through but still wants to be kept close. The song ends on a note of uncertainty, with the line "I don't even know if there's anything left to say before I go" suggesting that the singer is unsure whether they will be able to save the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times do I
Expressing the feeling of frustration and exhaustion with having to start over multiple times
Have to begin again
Asking how many times must one start from the beginning and face the same challenges
I swear seasons are coming and going
Observing how time seems to be passing quickly as indicated by the changing of seasons
Almost as quickly as friends these days and I
Comparing the fast pace of time to the speed at which friendships fade away
I'm starting to think
Indicating the beginning of a thought process
There must be some kind of mistake
Expressing the belief that something has gone wrong
There must be something I can change
Feeling the need to modify something in order for it to work
There must be something I can say
Believing that words may have the power to fix a situation
Cause I can't take back all the sacrifices I had to make
Acknowledging the decisions that were made and the consequences that came with them
No I'll never get back the life I tried to trade
Recognizing that some things can never be undone or changed
So if you don't love me now
Questioning the love or affection from the other person in the relationship
Just say you will
Asking the other person to give assurance and commit to the relationship
Even when everything is fallin' apart
Requesting for the other person’s dedication and commitment even during difficult times
Even if you didn't love me from the start
Asking for the other person's assurance even if the love was not present from the beginning
With everything in the way
Stating that there are obstacles or hindrances in the current situation
I think I just gotta say
Realizing the need to communicate feelings or thoughts that were not previously expressed
The things I forgot to say
Acknowledging that important things were left unsaid in past conversations
When I made my mistakes
Admitting to previous errors or wrongdoings
I know I fucked up
Directly admitting to making mistakes and taking ownership of them
But you got me fucked up right now
Feeling misunderstood or wrongly judged
With everything on the way
Stating that there are still obstacles or hindrances present
I know it's almost time to go
Recognizing that there may be an approaching end to the situation
I'm hoping you keep me close
Expressing the desire to maintain the relationship with the other person
I don't even know
Admitting to not having all the answers or solutions
If there's anything left to say before I got
Expressing doubt and uncertainty about whether or not there are any more actions to take or words to say
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Nicholas Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jszisson
He's so good.
@juneconyard4328
beautiful duet
@isabstmr
Like a happy ending in a movie, I wish these two had married.
@t.s.5206
Don't we all.... I think it's obvious those two were meant for the long haul... two roads diverged... it is what it is... They clearly were meant for each other... those voices are exquisitely intertwined...
@fiddlefaddle21
Don't we all!!!
@lnl3237
On more than one occasion, have heard Ms. Ronstadt describe herself as a "serial monogamist" and as someone who did not like to compromise. Although so many of the songs they sang celebrated or lamented the loss of that one true love, their vagabond lifestyle and their never-quenched thirst to sing or write a great song seemed to have precluded a commitment to just one person. In the documentary "The Sound of My Voice" made last year, Mr. Souther can't remember why they broke up. He said, "You'd have to ask her."
Really enjoyed this song, but listening to their harmony in "Prisoner in Disguise" is about as intimate as watching Astaire and Rogers make love while dancing.
@lechuckthreepwood5708
This and "If You Have Crying Eyes" are two of my favorite songs, and duets, of all time. I love J.D.
@Robbobrcc
Linda and J.D. always great when they sing together so many songs like silver blue.
@judycolson6047
thought I had heard all Linda's songs...thanks for this one, never heard it before
@nitropost
Have you heard her whit the McGarrigle sisters in the 1984 mini concert in a Syracuse club whit a little surprise called Maria Muldaur?.......check it out!