If Only You Knew
SWV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I have them memorized
But when I get a good nerve to tell you the words
They just never seem to come out right
If only you knew
How much I do
Do love you yea, yea
If only you knew
How much I do
Do need you
I dream of moments we share
But you're not there
I'm livin' in a fantasy
Cause you don't even suspect
Could probly care less
About the changes I've been going through
If only you knew (only you knew)
How much I do
Do love you
If only you knew
How much I do
Do need you (need you)
Cause you don't even suspect
Could probly care less
About the changes I've been going through
If only you knew (only you knew)
How much I do
Do love you
If only you knew (only you knew, baby)
How much I do
Do need you
If only you knew (only you knew, baby)
How much I do
Do love you
If only you knew
How much I do
I do need you
If, if, if our love gets right
You don't know
I said you don't know how much I need you
If only you knew
How much I do
I said you don't know
You don't know
You don't know
If only you knew
How much I do
Do need you
The SWV song "If Only You Knew" is a lament of love, unspoken and unrequited. The opening lyrics paint a picture of the singer rehearsing their lines, trying to find the right words to express their feelings to someone they love. Their anxiety and insecurity get the best of them, and they can't seem to find the courage to confess their love. The chorus, "If only you knew how much I do love you," is a plea for the object of their affection to recognize the depth of their feelings. The song becomes more poignant as it goes on, with the singer dreaming of moments they could share if only their love were returned. The repeating "If only you knew" reinforces the idea that the singer feels invisible and disregarded by the person they love. The final lines of the song express a desperate need for the love to be reciprocated, highlighting the loneliness and pain that come with unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
I must have rehearsed my lines a thousand times
I have practiced what I want to say to you many times
Until I have them memorized
I have memorized the words that I want to say to you
But when I get a good nerve to tell you the words
However, when I gather the courage to actually say the words to you
They just never seem to come out right
My words never seem to come out the way that I want them to
If only you knew
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do love you yea, yea
Love you very much
How much I do
The amount that I
Do need you
Need you very much
I dream of moments we share
I dream about the times we spend together
But you're not there
But you are not present
I'm livin' in a fantasy
I am living in a dream world
Cause you don't even suspect
Because you have no idea or suspicion
Could probly care less
You probably do not care
About the changes I've been going through
About the changes that I have experienced lately
How much I do
The amount that I
Do love you
Love you very much
If only you knew
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do need you (need you)
Need you very much
Cause you don't even suspect
Because you have no idea or suspicion
Could probly care less
You probably do not care
If only you knew (only you knew)
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do love you
Love you very much
If only you knew (only you knew, baby)
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do need you
Need you very much
If only you knew (only you knew, baby)
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do love you
Love you very much
If only you knew
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
I do need you
I need you very much
If, if, if our love gets right
If our love becomes better
You don't know
You have no idea
I said you don't know how much I need you
You have no idea how much I need you
If only you knew
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
I said you don't know
I am telling you that you do not know
You don't know
You have no idea
You don't know
You have no idea
You don't know
You have no idea
If only you knew
If only you understood
How much I do
The amount that I
Do need you
Need you very much
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenny Gamble, Cynthia De Mari Biggs, Dexter Wansel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
louise cadelina
Lyrics
I must have rehearsed my lines
A thousand times
Until I had them memorized
But when I get up the nerve
To tell you the words
Just never seem to
Come out right
Hmmm
If only you knew
How much I do
Do love you
Oh, if only you knew
How much I do
Do love you
I dream of moments we share
But you're not there
I'm living in a fantasy
'Cause you don't even suspect
Could probably care less
About the changes I've been
Going through
Oh, if only you knew
How much I do
Do love you
Oh, if only you knew
How much I do
Do need you
'Cause you don't even suspect
Could probably care less
About the changes I've been
Going through
If only you knew
How much I do
Do love you
Oh, if only you knew
How much I do
Do need you
Oh, oh if only you knew
How much I do
Do love you
Oh if only you knew
How much I do
I do need you
Oh, if
If
If I love you, yes
You don't know
I said you don't know how much I need you, suga
Oh, I said you don't know
That I love you
And I will show I love you
Jonny's World
This is one of those songs you gotta put your headphones in and close your eyes to really feel it thank you swv for this
Lindafreasha
I actually heard them sing 🎤 this LIVE, they blew me away!!! Coko’s voice is dangerous
Belinda Jiles
Yeah, she badd!!! 👌
journey with samantha and beauty
In POINT...and PURE 🔥🔥🔥❤
Philly'sKeeWee
👍 me too💯
Felisha Wright
Me too. In newark NJ. I was crying
Golden R&B
Still got it sharper than ever actually
Tina Smith
SWV will ALWAYS ❤ be my #1 female RnB group.
Orlando Amaker
Period!!!!!
caliBornbEauty
Facts