If We Only Have Love
Nancy Wilson Lyrics


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If we only have love
Then tomorrow will dawn
And the days of our years
Will rise on that morn

If we only have love
To embrace without fears
We will kiss with our eyes
We will sleep without tears

If we only have love
With our arms open wide
Then the young and the old
Will stand at our side

If we only have love
Love that's falling like rain
Then the parched desert earth
Will grow green again

If we only have love
For the hymn that we shout
For the song that we sing
Then we'll have a way out

If we only have love
We can reach those in pain
We can heal all our wounds
We can use our own names

If we only have love
We can melt all the guns
And then give the new world
To our daughters and sons

If we only have love
Then Jerusalem stands
And then death has no shadow
There are no foreign lands

If we only have love
We will never bow down
We'll be tall as the pines
Neither heroes nor clowns

If we only have love
Then we'll only be men
And we'll drink from the Grail
To be born once again

Then with nothing at all
But the little we are




We'll have conquered all time
All space, the sun, and the stars

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nancy Wilson’s song, "If We Only Have Love", speak to the transformative power of love. The song suggests that love, if embraced by all, has the ability to create a brighter, more peaceful tomorrow. The opening lines introduce the positive effect love can have, saying that if love is present, tomorrow will dawn, and the days of our lives will be better. The lyrics then go on to describe the various ways that love can bring people together, such as embracing without fear, kissing with eyes, and standing together with open arms, regardless of age or background.


The concept of love presented in the song goes beyond romantic love, as it emphasizes the importance of empathy, compassion, and kindness. The song speaks of the power of love to heal emotional and physical wounds, to bring people together, and to create a safer, more tolerant world. The lyrics also suggest that when love is at the forefront, there is no “us” and “them”, as we are all united in our humanity. The idea of conquering time, space, and the world as a collective whole is the ultimate message of the song - if only we can all have love.


Line by Line Meaning

If we only have love
Love is the only thing we need.


Then tomorrow will dawn
If we have love today, there will be hope for tomorrow.


And the days of our years
Our lives will be full and worthwhile.


Will rise on that morn
Through love, we will start a new day and a new future.


To embrace without fears
Love is a refuge where we are safe from fear.


We will kiss with our eyes
Through love, we will see beauty in everything and everyone.


We will sleep without tears
With love, we will find peace and rest without sorrow.


With our arms open wide
Love embraces everyone, without exclusion.


Then the young and the old
Love is for all people, regardless of age.


Will stand at our side
Love is a bond that brings us together.


Love that's falling like rain
Love is abundant and plentiful, overflowing like rain.


Then the parched desert earth
Love can bring life where there was once barrenness and hopelessness.


Will grow green again
Love has the power to bring renewal and growth.


For the hymn that we shout
We can sing praises and shout songs of love with joy and celebration.


For the song that we sing
Our love can be expressed through beautiful melodies and words.


Then we'll have a way out
Love can show us the way out of despair and hopelessness.


We can reach those in pain
Through love, we can bring comfort and healing to those who hurt.


We can heal all our wounds
Love can bring healing to our own brokenness and pain.


We can use our own names
Love can give us a unique identity and sense of purpose.


We can melt all the guns
Love has the power to end conflicts and wars.


And then give the new world
Love can bring about a new world of peace and unity.


To our daughters and sons
Love is a legacy we can pass on to future generations.


Then Jerusalem stands
Love can bring hope and stability to troubled places.


And then death has no shadow
Through love, even death cannot take away our joy and hope.


There are no foreign lands
Love can break down barriers and bring unity between different cultures and peoples.


We will never bow down
Love gives us the strength and courage to stand strong in the face of adversity.


We'll be tall as the pines
Through love, we can be strong and resilient, like tall trees that stand the test of time.


Neither heroes nor clowns
Through love, we can be ourselves, without the need for fame or superficiality.


Then we'll only be men
Through love, we can reach our full potential as humans.


And we'll drink from the Grail
Love is like a source of life and sustenance that we can continually draw from.


To be born once again
Through love, we can experience new beginnings and fresh starts.


Then with nothing at all
Even with nothing material, we still have love.


But the little we are
Love values every individual, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.


We'll have conquered all time
Through love, we can transcend time and space and achieve great things.


All space, the sun, and the stars
Love has the power to overcome all obstacles and reach every corner of the universe.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC BLAU, MORT SHUMAN, JACQUES ROMAN BREL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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