McLaughlin was born on September 27, 1982 in Anderson, Indiana. Playing piano since early childhood, he was always finding ways to get out of piano lessons. While attending Highland High School, he shattered both wrists in an accident that interrupted his musical education. Nevertheless, McLaughlin attended Anderson University to study music. He released an independent album entitled Up until Now in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school's record label, Orangehaus Records. His self-titled album was released in 2004 to local and regional praise. He began touring, travelling throughout the U.S. Midwest, and working up a grassroots following.
He released Indiana in 2007, preceded earlier in the same year by the EP Industry, also known as Jon McL. In 2008, McLaughlin returned with lead single "Beating My Heart" from his album OK Now released in the same year. He gained fame with his cameo appearance in Disney's Enchanted. Released in early September 2011 in the U.S. Forever If Ever was McLaughlin's third major-label release. 2012's lead single "Summer Is Over" featured fellow singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles from Promising Promises which was a slightly reworked version of his 2011 album. There were no other singles released from the album. Jon released Holding My Breath on his website and iTunes on September 24, 2013. The mp3 version of the album is also available at Amazon.
If Only I
Jon McLaughlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I come here everyday and watch you
I watch you
Sometimes I hear your voice
Over all the noise you bleed through
And I hear you, yeah yeah yeah
Slowly all the faces turn to yours
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
People say love is hell
It's a shiny prison cell where time stops
The door's unlocked
Now you're apart of me
Trust me I've tried to leave
I've tried to walk
But I'm all talk
'Cause slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
And then I stand up and go talk to you
You start to smile like you want me to
And we stay together for the end of time
But this is only happening in my mind
And slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd beg for you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
The lyrics to Jon McLaughlin's song "If Only I" describe the singer's infatuation with someone they see every day in an old café. The singer describes how they watch this person and how their voice "bleeds through" over all the noise. Despite their desire to talk to this person, the singer is unable to speak to them or even fall asleep without dreaming of them. The lyrics emphasize the intensity of the singer's emotions, but also acknowledge the painful nature of love and the idea that what they desire may only exist in their mind.
The song begins with the singer describing their daily routine of going to the cafe to watch the person they are infatuated with. The repetition of "I watch you" emphasizes the obsessive and constant nature of the singer's gaze. The lyric "sometimes I hear your voice over all the noise you bleed through" suggests that the singer is acutely attuned to this person, even in a crowded space. The use of the phrase "bleed through" conveys a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the singer's need for this person is overwhelming.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the idea that love can be a "shiny prison cell where time stops," and describes their attempts to leave this prison but ultimately failing. The lyric "now you're a part of me" suggests that the singer has accepted their feelings for this person as a part of their identity. The repeated line "slowly all the faces turn to yours like no one else exists anymore" underscores the singer's intense fixation on this person, to the point where they are unable to see anyone else.
Overall, "If Only I" is a poignant portrayal of unrequited love and the complexities of desire. The song speaks to the intensity of longing and the ways in which love can feel like a prison, but also acknowledges the bittersweet nature of these emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
In this old cafe
The singer is in an old cafe.
I come here everyday and watch you
The singer frequents the cafe and watches someone regularly.
I watch you
The singer is observing someone.
Sometimes I hear your voice
The artist occasionally hears the person's voice over the background noise.
Over all the noise you bleed through
The person's voice is discernible despite the surrounding noise.
And I hear you, yeah yeah yeah
The singer can hear the person clearly.
Slowly all the faces turn to yours
All other faces in the cafe begin to fade away and the person's face stands out to the singer.
Like no one else exists anymore
The artist is fully focused on the person and not noticing anyone else.
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
The artist wants to talk to the person but feels unable to communicate.
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
The artist dreams of being able to communicate with the person.
People say love is hell
There is a common belief that love can be difficult.
It's a shiny prison cell where time stops
Love can feel confining like a prison cell, but at the same time can be beautiful and shiny.
The door's unlocked
Despite the confines of love, the door to leave is open.
Now you're apart of me
The person the singer watches has become part of their life.
Trust me I've tried to leave
The singer has attempted to move on from their fixation on the person.
I've tried to walk
The artist has attempted to distance themselves from the person.
But I'm all talk
Despite the artist's attempts, they have not been successful in moving on from their feelings.
And then I stand up and go talk to you
The singer gains the courage to approach the person.
You start to smile like you want me to
The person appears happy to speak with the singer.
And we stay together for the end of time
The two are together in the artist's fantasy for eternity.
But this is only happening in my mind
The entire scenario is only occurring in the artist's imagination.
And I'd beg for you if only I could speak
The artist wishes to express their feelings for the person, but struggles to find the words.
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
The singer continues to dream about being with the person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adi Nainggolan
In this old cafe
I come here everyday and watch you
I watch you
Sometimes I hear your voice
Over all the noise you bleed through
And I hear you, yeah yeah yeah
Slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
People say love is hell
It's a shiny prison cell where time stops
The door's unlocked
Now you're apart of me
Trust me I've tried to leave
I've tried to walk
But I'm all talk
'Cause slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
And then I stand up and go talk to you
You start to smile like you want me to
And we stay together for the end of time
But this is only happening in my mind
And slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd beg for you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
MetroVerse
In this old cafe
I come here everyday and watch you
I watch you
Sometimes I hear your voice
Over all the noise you bleed through
And I hear you, yeah yeah yeah
Slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
People say love is hell
It's a shiny prison cell where time stops
The door's unlocked
Now you're apart of me
Trust me I've tried to leave
I've tried to walk
But I'm all talk
'Cause slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
And then I stand up and go talk to you
You start to smile like you want me to
And we stay together for the end of time
But this is only happening in my mind
And slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd beg for you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
Adi Nainggolan
In this old cafe
I come here everyday and watch you
I watch you
Sometimes I hear your voice
Over all the noise you bleed through
And I hear you, yeah yeah yeah
Slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
People say love is hell
It's a shiny prison cell where time stops
The door's unlocked
Now you're apart of me
Trust me I've tried to leave
I've tried to walk
But I'm all talk
'Cause slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd talk to you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
And then I stand up and go talk to you
You start to smile like you want me to
And we stay together for the end of time
But this is only happening in my mind
And slowly all the faces turn to yours
Like no one else exists anymore
And I'd beg for you if only I could speak
And I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
I'd dream of you if I could fall asleep
Xan Ra
my favorite song so far... love the melody, rhythm, background music, lyrics, your voice.... everything is perfect.
Krystal Marie
I listen to this everyday. I swear, when it plays I leave this world.
Hannah L
He played piano and sang at my church today. I'm in loooooveeeeeee.
TIESTO JAY
Ever since, 90210, I waited far too long for this masterpiece to be made into studio edition :')
Vladica Vulin
This is one of his most beautiful songs, one of my faves!
Vladica Vulin
My all time favorite by him. Described my situation at the time completely, even the guy I was in love with worked in a cafe!
krysr9
This song is amazing!
jan c
dude this song deserves more likes than those crappy songs.This is a good music. Glad that I discovered Jon Mclaughlin's songs
Andrea Garcia
Cannot express my love for this song <3