If I Were
Sesame Street Lyrics
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I would write a sonnet
It would say "I love you"
Your name would be upon it
If I were a farmer
I'd give you a bunny
If I had a beehive
You would get free honey
If I were a baker
You could have a cruller
If I were a painter
Choose your favorite color
If I had some diamonds
I'd give you a few
Anything to show you
How much I love you
Fa la la, etc.
Did you guess my secret?
I am not a poet
Couldn't write a sonnet
And I think you know it
I am not a farmer
Can't give you a bunny
I don't have a beehive
Sorry 'bout the honey
Fa la la, etc.
I am not a baker
Don't know bread from batter
And I am not a painter
And it doesn't matter
I don't need a present
All I have to do
Is look at you to show you
How much I love you
Fa la la, etc.
The Sesame Street song "If I Were" explores the different things people would do for their loved ones if they were in different professions or had different abilities. The song begins with the singer imagining themselves as a poet writing a sonnet for their lover, expressing their love and mentioning their name. They then imagine being a farmer giving their lover a bunny or sharing honey from their beehive. The song continues with the singer expressing how they would give their lover diamonds if they had them or even a favorite color if they were a painter.
However, the song takes a turn in the middle when the singer reveals that they are not any of the things they previously mentioned. They are not a poet, farmer, baker, or painter. Instead, they express that they don't need to be any of these things to show their love for their partner. They conclude by saying all they need to do is look at their lover to express how much they love them.
The song is a simple and sweet reminder that people don't need material possessions or grand gestures to express love. It emphasizes the importance of being present and attentive to your partner, as well as the value of finding joy in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a poet
If I had the skill and talent to express my love through poetry
I would write a sonnet
I would craft a beautiful poem, a sonnet being a classic form of love poetry
It would say "I love you"
The poem would be a declaration of love for the person being addressed
Your name would be upon it
The poem would be specifically written for and dedicated to the person being addressed
If I were a farmer
If I lived on a farm and could raise animals
I'd give you a bunny
I would give the person a cute, cuddly rabbit as a gift
If I had a beehive
If I kept bees and could produce honey
You would get free honey
The person would receive a sweet gift of honey from me
If I were a baker
If I had the skill and equipment to bake pastries
You could have a cruller
I would give the person a tasty cruller pastry as a gift
If I were a painter
If I had the artistic talent to create paintings
Choose your favorite color
I would ask the person to choose their favorite color so that I could paint something special for them
If I had some diamonds
If I possessed valuable diamonds
I'd give you a few
I would give the person a generous gift of diamonds as a symbol of my love
Anything to show you
I would do whatever it takes to express my affection for the person
How much I love you
The extent of my love for the person being addressed
Did you guess my secret?
I am now revealing that I am not any of the things mentioned in the previous verses, but I still have a way to show my love
I am not a poet
I do not possess the gift of writing beautiful poetry
Couldn't write a sonnet
I do not have the ability to compose a sonnet for the person
And I think you know it
I believe the person already understands that I am not a poet
I am not a farmer
I do not have the lifestyle of a farmer
Can't give you a bunny
I cannot provide the person with a bunny as a gift
I don't have a beehive
I do not own bees or a beehive to produce honey
Sorry 'bout the honey
I apologize for being unable to give the person honey
I am not a baker
I do not have the skills to bake pastries
Don't know bread from batter
I am not knowledgeable about baking or pastry-making
And I am not a painter
I do not have the talent to create art with paints
And it doesn't matter
These shortcomings do not affect the depth of my love for the person
I don't need a present
I do not require a tangible gift to express my love
All I have to do
What I simply need to do
Is look at you to show you
By simply looking at the person and making eye contact, I can demonstrate my love
How much I love you
The full extent of the love I feel for the person being addressed
Fa la la, etc.
A nonsensical and enjoyable refrain to the song
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Megan
on Once Is Not Enough
I get it, it teaches kids you might not just have enough so you have to have more