~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
If
Sally Harmon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show
The you I've come to know
If a face could launch a thousand ships
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you
And when my love for life's running dry
You come and pour yourself on me
If a man could be two places
At one time, I'd be with you
Tomorrow and today
Beside you all the way
If the world should stop revolving
Spinning slowly down to die
I'd spend the end with you
And when the world was through
Then one by one the stars would all go out
And you and I will simply fly
If the world should stop revolving
Spinning slowly down to die
I'd spend the end with you
And when the world was through
Then one by one the stars would all go out
Then you and I would simply fly away
The lyrics of Sally Harmon's popular song 'If' contain a deep expression of love and devotion. The song is about the power of love and how it can take us beyond the realm of the physical world. The opening lines, "If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you?" capture the idea that love cannot always be expressed fully in words, no matter how eloquent they may be. The lyrics suggest that the true essence of love is felt through actions and experiences, rather than spoken or written words.
The second stanza of the song highlights the emotional connection between two people. The line "If a face could launch a thousand ships, then where am I to go?" suggests the singer's feeling of being lost without their loved one. The image of two people being the only ones left in the world, "There's no one home but you, You're all that's left me too," conveys a sense of loneliness and vulnerability. However, the song also highlights the immense power of love, as the singer proclaims that their loved one "pours" themselves onto them when they feel "love for life's running dry."
The third stanza contemplates what it would be like to be with someone forever, even when the world is coming to an end. The lines "If the world should stop revolving, spinning slowly down to die, I'd spend the end with you, And when the world was through" convey an almost post-apocalyptic vision of the future. The singer suggests that the idea of being with their loved one would be enough to make everything right, and that they would "simply fly away" together when the world's end eventually comes.
Line by Line Meaning
If a picture paints a thousands words
If an image can convey a message so immense, elaborate and meaningful
Then why can't I paint you?
Then, why can't I describe or portray your essence accurately through words or art?
The words will never show
Words can never accurately depict
The you I've come to know
The person that I have grown to understand and have an affection for
If a face could launch a thousand ships
If a person's appearance could have an immense impact and create a grand response
Then where am I to go?
Then, where can I find an alternative, as I am fully committed to you?
There's no one home but you
There's no other person that can love and support me as you do
You're all that's left me too
You're the only person who remains by my side
And when my love for life's running dry
And when I feel unfulfilled and empty in life
You come and pour yourself on me
You come and replenish me with your love and affection
If a man could be two places
If only it were possible for a person to be present in two different locations
At one time, I'd be with you
At the same time, I would always choose to be with you
Tomorrow and today
Every moment, including the future and present
Beside you all the way
Next to you throughout life's journey
If the world should stop revolving
If the earth were to cease rotating around its axis
Spinning slowly down to die
Gradually losing all signs of life
I'd spend the end with you
I would choose to spend my last moments with you
And when the world was through
When the world and everything in it has ended
Then one by one the stars would all go out
Then, one by one, all the stars in the sky would extinguish
And you and I will simply fly
And we will transcend beyond the physical world
Then you and I would simply fly away
Then, we will fly away together and leave everything behind
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.