NOW
Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian Lyrics
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One look is all you'd need to see the mood I'm in.
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
Without my heart behind the smile?
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
The lyrics of "If You Could See Me Now" are a poignant expression of unrequited love. The singer is addressing a person they are still in love with, lamenting the fact that their feelings are not reciprocated. The singer imagines the look on the other person's face if they could see them now, and how that would reveal the depth of their feelings. The lyrics capture the struggle of trying to hide one's emotions while still pining for someone who is not interested.
The second stanza speaks to the idea that the singer is trying to put on a brave face, but it is impossible to do so without their heart being behind the smile. The pain is clearly visible in the singer's eyes, and it's suggested that if the other person were to see them in this state, they would realize the intensity of the singer's feelings. The final line of the song holds out hope that the two could be reunited, if only the other person could see the singer now.
Overall, the song is a melancholy meditation on the power of unrequited love and the pain it can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could see me now, you'd know how blue I've been
Just one glimpse of me would show you that I'm feeling really low
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
Seeing me like this, you might understand that I'm still hopelessly in love with you
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
Despite my sadness, I'm trying hard to appear strong if you were here to see me now
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
I'm doing my best to control my tears, but it's not easy
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I can't escape my love for you
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
I'm holding out hope that you'll come back to me someday
And the month will be May for a while.
It doesn't matter when it happens, the memory will stay with me for a long time
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
I'll do my best to appear cheerful, but it won't be easy
Without my heart behind the smile?
My true feelings of love won't be reflected in the smile I put on
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
There's no way I could conceal my deep emotions for you
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
Anyone who looks into my eyes would see how much I love you
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
If only you could see how much I still love you, you might reconsider being with me again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, TADD DAMERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind