If Ever I Would Leave You
Sonny Rollins Featuring Jim Hall Lyrics


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If ever I would leave you, it wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
That puts gold to shame.

But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn, and I must be there.

And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow

If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Summer, winter or fall.
No, never could I leave you at all.





No, never could I leave you at all.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "If Ever I Would Leave You" by Sonny Rollins Featuring Jim Hall, is a love song that describes the deep connection and undying love between two people. The song describes the various seasons and how the persona cannot leave the other person no matter what. The first stanza states that if the persona had to leave, it would not be in summer because seeing the other person in the summer makes them fall more in love with them. The persona describes the other person's beauty with their hair streaked with sunlight, lips red as flame, and face with a luster that puts gold to shame.


In the next stanza, the persona states that leaving the other person in autumn would be impossible as they have seen how they sparkle when fall nips the air. The third stanza asks if they could leave the other person running merrily through the snow or on a wintry evening when they catch the fire's glow. The final stanza reassures the other person that the persona could never leave them, not in springtime, summer, winter, or fall because they are bewitched by them in every season.


Overall, the song conveys a message of deep love and commitment that transcends time and seasons. The persona declares that they cannot leave the other person because they are deeply in love with them, regardless of the season or circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

If ever I would leave you, it wouldn't be in summer.
I wouldn't leave you in the summer.


Seeing you in summer I never would go.
I love being with you in the summer and wouldn't want to leave.


Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
You are beautiful in the summer sun.


That puts gold to shame.
Your beauty is so great that it outshines even gold.


But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
I wouldn't leave you in the autumn.


How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I can't imagine ever wanting to leave you in the autumn.


I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
You are radiant in the autumn.


I know you in autumn, and I must be there.
I couldn't bear to be away from you in the autumn.


And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
I wouldn't want to leave you when you are having fun in the snow.


Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
I couldn't bear to leave you when you are enjoying the warmth of the fire on a winter evening.


If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
I wouldn't want to leave you in the spring.


Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
I am enchanted by you in the spring and couldn't leave.


Oh, no! not in spring-time.
I couldn't bear to leave you in the spring.


Summer, winter or fall.
I wouldn't want to leave you in any season.


No, never could I leave you at all.
I could never bear to leave you no matter what.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

P. David Hornik

This is one of Sonny's very greatest recordings.

Robert Rosenberg

When i hear Rollins and Hall play If Ever I would Leave you
I am moved to a spiritual stilllness
I embrace the momentt
Stunning stuff

deeohgee70

RIP Jim Hall, this is my favourite guitar solo of all time.

MrVIP1993

This recording is such a beauty. The number of times that I rewinded the last 2-3 minutes of this, it must be a record even by my standards. Superb stuff.

High On Summer

That beginning melody is played so soulfully holy shit!

Peter Phelps Hardy

Turns on some serious heat at 10:25. Great track!!

日向潤

Peter Phelps Hardy

Juarez Silva

This track starts the What´s New album (1962) in great style.
Jim Hall on guitar.

Raef Black

Killer version.

Foley Jacobs

one of the greatest!

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