I Don't Believe In If Anymore
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
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And if you fix your bayonet so
And if you kill that man my friend
The one we call the foe
And if you do it often lad
And if you do it right
You'll be a hero overnight
You'll save your country from her plight
If you survive to see the sight
A friend now greeting foe
[Chorus]
No you won't believe in If anymore
It's an illusion
It's an illusion
No you won't believe in If anymore
If is for children
If is for children
Building daydreams
If I knew then what I know now
(I thought I did you know somehow)
If I could have the time again
I'd take the sunshine leave the rain
If only time would trickle slow
Like rain that melts the fallen snow
If only Lord if only
If only Lord if only
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to Roger Whittaker's song "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" describe the dangers of blindly following authority, especially when it comes to war. The first verse talks about the process of military indoctrination, where soldiers are taught to prepare their weapons and view their enemies as "foes" to be killed. The song suggests that this type of thinking can turn anyone into a hero, revered for their ability to take lives, but it also comes at a great cost. The chorus repeats the line "No you won't believe in If anymore," suggesting that war takes away people's beliefs in the possibility of alternative futures and dreams. Instead, the horrors of war create an illusion that there is no longer any other option.
The second verse adds a personal note, with the singer regretting the choices they made in life. They wish they could turn back time and make different decisions, with the lines "If I knew then what I know now" and "I'd take the sunshine leave the rain." The song expresses a sense of longing for a different life, one where time moves slowly like melting snow, rather than rushing by. The repeated refrain of "If only Lord if only" emphasizes the idea that regrets can haunt us forever, and that once we make a choice, we cannot change the consequences.
Overall, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" is a poignant commentary on the costs of war, both on the larger scale of society and in individuals' lives. It suggests that war destroys our ability to dream and hope for the future, while also taking away our sense of agency and control over our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Now if you load your rifle right
If you properly prepare your weapon for battle
And if you fix your bayonet so
And if you properly attach your sharp weapon to the end of your rifle
And if you kill that man my friend
And if you successfully take the life of the enemy soldier
The one we call the foe
The person on the opposing side of the conflict
And if you do it often lad
And if you continue to succeed in this act, young man
And if you do it right
And if you do it with skill and precision
You'll be a hero overnight
You will immediately be celebrated as a courageous figure
You'll save your country from her plight
Your actions will help rescue your nation from its difficult situation
Remember God is always right
Keep in mind that divine forces support your actions
If you survive to see the sight
If you are fortunate enough to witness the success of your efforts
A friend now greeting foe
A person who was previously considered an ally is now seen as an adversary
No you won't believe in If anymore
You will no longer be swayed by the power of hypothetical possibilities
It's an illusion
The concept of 'If' is a deceptive idea
If is for children
The concept of hypotheticals is a childish notion to hold onto
Building daydreams
They only serve to distract and create unrealistic expectations
If I knew then what I know now
If I had possessed the knowledge at an earlier time that I possess now
(I thought I did you know somehow)
(Although at the time, I believed I was adequately informed)
If I could have the time again
If I was given an opportunity to go back in time
I'd take the sunshine leave the rain
I would opt for the good times and avoid the negative experiences
If only time would trickle slow
If only the passage of time could slow down and allow for more meaningful moments
Like rain that melts the fallen snow
Like the precipitation that softens and dissolves the freezing snow
If only Lord if only
If only the divine powers could bestow upon me such a gift
[Chorus: x2]
Repeat the aforementioned refrain twice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER WHITTAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rocketdragon8419
This Amazing Man Made My Dying Father’s Dream Come True ! After Writing Telling Him My Father Was A Massive Fan, He Wrote To My Dad, Gave Him Videos, Signed Pics & The Letter Was Amazingly Thoughtful. My Dad Was 46 & I Was 17. He Told My Dad To Watch The Des O’Conner Show & Changed His New Song For My Dad’s Favourite, The Last Farewell. My Dad Was Over The Moon. That Was 1988 & I Understand Why My Dad Loved Him So Much. R.I.P The Both Of You’s !!!
@seycas118
Came to listen to Roger’s wonderful voice after reading he passed away today😢😢😢. Saw him in Calgary in the 80s and just marvelled at how easy and soothing his voice was …
Rest in Peace dear Mr. Whittaker, your music will live on 🙏🏼 💕 God bless 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 ❤️
@claire121
Rip 🙏 🕊
@matthewwhite4008
I'm here to for the same reason, Roger's velvet voice was so distinctive
@alesakline1168
My parents used to play his music while we were growing up. My dad passed a few weeks ago. His voice is beautiful and brings back my childhood😢❤
@maisies927
@@alesakline1168Mine did as well. I listened to country music and still do. However, even in my youths if I heard other music I liked I would listen to it and not be embarrassed when my friends found out. I'm glad my foster parents were fans of his because I also became one in the 70s. Still today at 65 country music changed but I don't call today's country, country at all. Music like Roger's Whittaker never changed from when I was young. So that's still my go to music.
@adamhunter9552
Ditto here as well. Mom LOVED Roger Whittaker. Dad owned a record store back in the day, so we had all of his records. It’s been too many years since I’ve listened to him. His voice is so relaxing and soothing. God speed, Roger!
@deltahfman
This is a shout out to all the children that had to listen to this and now come back to it as adults xxxx
@ballinr1
Me 🙋🏻♂️
@mylesdrynan760
I'm one of those kids! So glad I've stumbled across him again as an adult.