She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"
She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
If I Loved You
Joni James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I loved you
Time and again I would try to say
All I'd want you to know.
If I loved you
Words wouldn't come in an easy way
'Round in circles I'd go-o.
Longing to tell you, but afraid and shy
Soon you'd leave me
Off you would go in the mist of day.
Never, never to know
How I loved you
If I loved you-ooh-ooh-ooh.
The lyrics to Joni James's song "If I Loved You" speak to the difficulty of expressing one's emotions and the fear that comes with putting oneself out there. The singer of the song is so in love with the object of her affection that she longs to tell him how she feels, but finds herself unable to put her feelings into words. She describes her struggle to communicate her love as going "round in circles" and admits that she is "afraid and shy" and has "let my golden chances pass me by."
Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and despair as the singer realizes that her love may never be known, and that she may be forever haunted by the what-ifs and could-have-beens. She imagines the object of her affection leaving her in the "mist of day," and laments that he will never know the depth of her love.
Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of the complexity of love and the often-difficult process of expressing one's emotions. It touches on themes of fear, longing, regret, and the profound desire to connect with another person on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
If I loved you
If I truly loved you
Time and again I would try to say
I would repeatedly attempt to express my feelings to you
All I'd want you to know.
That I desire for you to completely understand the extent of my affection
If I loved you
If I genuinely cared for you
Words wouldn't come in an easy way
Expressing my emotions to you would not be effortless
'Round in circles I'd go-o.
I would be caught up in confusion and uncertainty
Longing to tell you, but afraid and shy
Desperately wanting to confess my love for you, but being fearful and timid
I'd let my golden chances pass me by.
I would allow valuable opportunities to show my affection slip away
Soon you'd leave me
You would depart from my life shortly
Off you would go in the mist of day.
You would leave and disappear in the morning fog
Never, never to know
Without me ever confessing my love to you
How I loved you
That I had deep feelings of love for you
If I loved you-ooh-ooh-ooh.
If I had genuine affection for you.
Writer(s): OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, RICHARD RODGERS
Contributed by Maya K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Griffith
The absolute best interpretation of this lovely song by one that does every song justice - lovely voiced Joni!
Louis Vaccaro
you might also like mario lanzas rendition, the greatest tenor that ever lived. god bless Louie Vaccaro tenor, las vegas.
Tony Mansbridge
I am nearly 60 and had never heard of Joni James, found tour site by chance .What a voice and the songs bring back so many memories,
Ted Cantu
You are blessed to find her.
Wayne Brasler
I asked Joni what all this sounded like at Abbey Road when it was being recorded. And she said exactly as it sounds on the album. It was all done live.
harpsichordite
Just heard her for the first time tonight. Her timbre eviscerates me. However after I compose myself I know she is a blessing.
Wayne Brasler
So many people have observed how close the Barbra Streisand recording hews to the Joni James approach. This is one of Joni's greatest achievements, and likewise, Barbra's recording is one of her greatest achievements.
Paul PaulC
She was a simple, beautiful, heartening singer.....loved her
Анатолий Ишимбаев
Отличное сопровождение и голос! Прекрасно можно отдохнуть и расслабится в воспоминаниях о жизни. Спасибо.
Jim Anderson
I have loved Joni's singing since 1958 when while serving in the military in Germany. Ever since then, I have loved her and listen as often as possible. She is my very favorite female vocalist.