Finding his voice in a school choir, Crawford began his professional career still a teenager. Having some luck on the London stage in the early 60s, he then found his way onto the BBC and starred in various programmes such as 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. He also had film roles in 'The War Lover', 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. and 'How I Won the War' (which brought him into the same work as John Lennon).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's casting of him opposite Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton as the Phantom in 1986 shot his career into high gear. Winning a Tony Award for his role, Crawford also had the aforementioned tune, "The Music Of The Night", reach the British Top Ten. He has released several studio albums such as 'A Touch of Music in the Night' and 'On Eagle's Wings' among others.
If
Michael Crawford Lyrics
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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
Chorus:
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 love you, if I loved you
Repeat chorus
The song "If I Loved You" by Michael Crawford is a reflective ballad about the difficulty of expressing love to someone. The opening lines ponder about how the singer would try to convey their true feelings if they were in love. However, the following line suggests that words wouldn't come easily to them, implying that this person might be shy or uncertain of their own emotions. The phrase "round in circles I'd go" suggests that even if the singer musters up the courage to say something, they might find themselves rambling, unable to articulate what they truly feel.
In the chorus, the singer admits to being "afraid and shy" and imagines letting their chances to reveal their love slip away. The idea of the person they care for leaving them and never knowing how they feel is heartbreaking. The repetition of the line "if I loved you" in each section creates a sense of longing and regret, suggesting that the singer cares deeply but can't quite find the right way to express it.
Overall, Michael Crawford's rendition of "If I Loved You" is a poignant exploration of the struggle to voice one's emotions, even when they are overwhelming. It captures the bittersweet feeling of a love that might never be realized, leaving the listener with a sense of melancholy for what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
If I loved you, time and again
If I truly loved you, I would keep reminding myself of it multiple times
I would try to say all I'd want you to know
I would make every effort to express my feelings to you
If I loved you, words wouldn't come
Despite my attempts, I would struggle to find the right words to express my love to you
In an easy way, round in circles I'd go
I would find myself struggling to say what I truly mean in a clear and concise manner
Longing to tell you but afraid and shy
I have a deep desire to tell you how I feel, but my fear and shyness hold me back
I'd let my golden chances pass me by
Due to my fear and hesitation, I would miss out on important opportunities to express my love to you
Soon you'd leave me
If I continue to hide my feelings from you, you will eventually move on
Off you would go in the mist of day
You would leave me unexpectedly, with no time to express my true emotions
Never, never to know
You would never know the depth of my love for you
How I love you, if I loved you
If only I could overcome my fear of expressing my emotions, you would know how much I truly love you
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar II Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind