if
The Strawbs Lyrics
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If I should live a thousand years
I would spend my whole life dying for you
If I should shed a thousand tears
I would spend my whole life crying for you
As certain as eternity
It reaches through the universe
From Jupiter to Mars
It stretches to infinity
Beyond the edge of space
Where time itself is measured
In the smile upon your face
If I should live a thousand years
I would spend my whole life loving you
If I should pick a thousand flowers
I would touch each petal for a trace of you
For every thousand April showers
I would chase the rainbow for a place with you
If I should bless a thousand brides
I would never find a-one as sweet as you
For every thousand high spring tides
There could never be one to compete with you
The Strawbs's song 'If' is a deep and passionate love song, which expresses the singer's devotion and commitment to his lover. The song is built around the idea of loyalty and undying love, which is expressed in several ways. The lyrics of the song suggest that if the singer could live and love for a thousand years, he would still be deeply in love with his partner. The song also speaks of tears, flowers, and even brides - all of which are used as metaphors to describe the depth of the singer's love and devotion.
The opening lines speak about the singer's willingness to die for his lover, which has a lot of emotional heft. It also conveys the message that their love is a matter of life and death, and nothing else matters. The second stanza has deep cosmic references – "As certain as eternity" and "written in the stars." It portrays that the love between the two is predestined, it has universal significance, and it means everything for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
If I should live a thousand years
Even if I get to live a lifetime, I'd use it all to serve you
I would spend my whole life dying for you
Anything for you, even to the point of death
If I should shed a thousand tears
If I cry for you, I'm willing to shed more than enough tears
I would spend my whole life crying for you
I will weep for you and never stop.
As certain as eternity
As sure as heaven and earth being constant
It's written in the stars
Our love and fate are manifested in the galaxy
It reaches through the universe
An all-encompassing love that transcends time and space
From Jupiter to Mars
It's a cosmic love that spans across the planets
It stretches to infinity
A boundless love that extends forever
Beyond the edge of space
Even outside the universe, the love exists
Where time itself is measured
Time in its broadest sense is felt, while the concept of time is eclipsed
In the smile upon your face
Their significant others' smile is where time and space have meaning
I would spend my whole life loving you
Ready to love and cherish their significant other for all their life
If I should pick a thousand flowers
Words cannot express how much they adore them
I would touch each petal for a trace of you
Every part of nature echoes the memory of their significant other
For every thousand April showers
The rain represents their tears shed for loving someone who isn't themself
I would chase the rainbow for a place with you
No matter where the rainbow ends, in their minds, their significant other is right there with them.
If I should bless a thousand brides
Their love is a never-ending river that washes over anything standing in its way
I would never find a-one as sweet as you
Their significant other is beyond perfection; no one could ever compare to them.
For every thousand high spring tides
Life is a constantly flowing river that never stops, much like their love
There could never be one to compete with you
No one will ever match the love they have for their significant other.
Contributed by Caleb M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.