If
Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Well, Harry Babbitt
We got quite a problem here, son
Let's talk it over
I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain
Why I'd unravel every riddle
For most any individual
In trouble or in pain
And with the thoughts, I'd be thinkin'
"I can be another Lincoln"
If I only had a brain
Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean's so near the shore
I could think of things I never thought before
And then I'd sit and think some more
Why I would not be just a nothin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
And perhaps I'd deserved you
And even be worthy of you
If I only had a brain
Oh, if I only had a brain
The lyrics to Perry Como's "If" with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra are playful and whimsical, with a touch of sadness. The singer laments the fact that he lacks intelligence and wishes that he had a brain. He imagines what he would do if only he had a brain, including unraveling riddles and helping people in trouble. He also dreams of being a great leader like Lincoln.
The song is both humorous and poignant, reflecting the desire that many people have to be smarter or more capable. The singer's yearning for a brain is both touching and relatable, as many of us have felt inadequate or wished we had more intellectual prowess.
Overall, the lyrics to "If" are a wistful and imaginative exploration of the power of intelligence and the impact it can have on a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
If I only had a brain
I wish I had the intellectual capacity to solve problems
I could while away the hours
I could spend endless amounts of time doing nothing
Conferrin' with the flowers
I wish I could speak with flowers for entertainment
Consultin' with the rain
I wish I could talk to the rain for guidance
And my head I'd be scratchin'
I would be thinking hard about solutions
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
While I come up with ideas to help solve a problem
Why I'd unravel every riddle
I could solve any difficult mystery
For most any individual
For the benefit of most people
In trouble or in pain
In difficult situations or uncomfortable emotions
And with the thoughts, I'd be thinkin'
I would use my mental faculties to come up with better answers
"I can be another Lincoln"
I could be as profound and revered as Abraham Lincoln
Oh, I could tell you why
I could explain why things are the way they are
The ocean's so near the shore
I could tell you why the sea is so close to the land
I could think of things I never thought before
I could come up with new and profound ideas
And then I'd sit and think some more
And then I would continue to ponder and explore
Why I would not be just a nothin'
I would have value and purpose
My head all full of stuffin'
My mind would be brimming with knowledge and ideas
My heart all full of pain
But I would still have emotional challenges to overcome
And perhaps I'd deserved you
Maybe I could finally win your heart
And even be worthy of you
And maybe even be good enough for you
If I only had a brain
If only I had the ability to think deeply and clearly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind