Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
If We Never Meet Again
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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I'd like to rearrange
But after everything's already happened
There's nothing left to change
They can take their advice
And use it all on themselves
Cause when all the talking stops
I want to have a little faith
I want to know what a boy and a girl
Can do when they're dizzy
Cause they're just not spinning with this world
Ah, if we never meet again
If goodbyes remain unspoken
I won't glorify our past
But our bond remains unbroken
If we never meet again
Well, there's one thing
That I'll never forget
It's the beauty of a friendship
That's not over yet
I know how just one smile
Can be planted like a seed
And I want to do that with somebody else
The way it was done for me
I want to have a little faith
There's something better
At the end of this path
Cause these memories
Get old and flat like photographs
Ah, if we never meet again
If goodbyes remain unspoken
I won't glorify our past
But our bond remains unbroken
If we never meet again
Now there's one thing
That I don't need to even up
You can be what they've made you into
Or you can make your own luck
You can't blindly fight your enemies
You can't blindly follow your friends
I know it's happened so many times
I guess it's gonna happen again
But I gotta have faith
I got to know that a boy and a girl
Can still make it even though
They're just not spinning with this world
Ah, if we never meet again
If goodbyes remain unspoken
I won't glorify our past
But our bond remains unbroken
If we never meet again
If goodbyes remain unspoken
I won't glorify our past
But our bond remains unbroken
If we never meet again
The song "If We Never Meet Again" by Roger McGuinn speaks of the desire for a deep connection with someone despite the transient nature of life. In the opening lines, the singer expresses a desire to change something but acknowledges that he cannot as the event has already transpired. He then dismisses advice and claims that he craves something more substantial than words. The singer wants a "little faith" and wants to know what a boy and girl can do when they're "dizzy" and not "spinning with this world." He is looking for someone who can give him the same feelings he has experienced with someone else in the past.
The song's chorus asks the question "if we never meet again" and acknowledges that goodbyes might remain unspoken, but the bond between the singer and the other person remains unbroken. The second verse talks about the beauty of a friendship that is not over yet, and the singer wishes to share that feeling with someone else. He acknowledges that memories get old and flat like photographs, hinting at the impermanence of life, but he still wants something better at the end of the path. The third verse encourages individual agency, saying the person can make their luck and should not blindly fight enemies or follow friends. The singer insists that he has to have faith that a boy and a girl can still make it despite the world's chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, there's one thing
There's something important that needs to be said
I'd like to rearrange
I wish things could have been different
But after everything's already happened
It's too late to change the past
There's nothing left to change
We can't alter what has already occurred
They can take their advice
Other people can try to tell us what to do
And use it all on themselves
They should focus on their own problems
Cause when all the talking stops
When things get serious
I want to have something else
I want more than just words
I want to have a little faith
I want to believe in something
I want to know what a boy and a girl
I want to experience love
Can do when they're dizzy
Even when things are spinning out of control
Cause they're just not spinning with this world
Because life is difficult and confusing
Ah, if we never meet again
If we part ways forever
If goodbyes remain unspoken
If we can't bring ourselves to say farewell
I won't glorify our past
I won't exaggerate the good times we had
But our bond remains unbroken
Our connection will endure
Well, there's one thing
There's something else that needs to be said
That I'll never forget
Something very important that's permanently etched in my memory
It's the beauty of a friendship
It's the wonderful connection between friends
That's not over yet
Despite any challenges or difficulties, our friendship isn't finished
I know how just one smile
I understand the power of a simple expression of kindness
Can be planted like a seed
A single action can inspire future acts of kindness
And I want to do that with somebody else
I want to pass on the kindness that was shown to me
The way it was done for me
I want to replicate the kindness shown to me
There's something better
There's a brighter future out there
At the end of this path
After all of life's twists and turns
Cause these memories
Because these moments in the past
Get old and flat like photographs
Can lose their luster and seem unimportant over time
Now there's one thing
Finally, there's one last point to make
That I don't need to even up
There's something I don't have to worry about balancing out
You can be what they've made you into
You can let others define who you are
Or you can make your own luck
Or you can take charge of your own life
You can't blindly fight your enemies
You can't simply attack those who oppose you
You can't blindly follow your friends
You shouldn't just go along with your friends' choices without thinking for yourself
I know it's happened so many times
This kind of thing has occurred frequently in the past
I guess it's gonna happen again
And it will probably happen again in the future
But I gotta have faith
But despite all this uncertainty, I still choose to believe
I got to know that a boy and a girl
I want to have hope for future romantic relationships
Can still make it even though
Even though life is difficult and confusing
They're just not spinning with this world
Even though it often feels like life is spinning out of control
Ah, if we never meet again
If our paths never cross again
If goodbyes remain unspoken
If we can't find the right words to say goodbye
I won't glorify our past
I won't exaggerate the happy times we shared
But our bond remains unbroken
Our friendship will still last, no matter what happens
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALBERT E. BRUMLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind