Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
Fansite: http://www.tracychapmanonline.com
Change
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings a pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses, how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
Are you so upright you can't be bent
If it comes to blow
Are you so sure you won't be crawling
If not for the good why risk falling
Why risk falling
If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you'd broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Tracy Chapman’s “Change” is a song that poses a series of questions to listeners. It is not an easy song to interpret, but it deals with issues of life and our relationships with people, with ourselves, and with God. Throughout the song, Chapman wants us to grapple with what it means to be alive and living in a world where we often feel trapped or stuck.
The song begins with the question of whether we would change if we knew that we would die today or if we saw “the face of God and love.” It’s a potent question that speaks to the idea of the afterlife and the prospect of redemption. Troy Chapman seems to be asking us whether we would change simply because our lives would be over, or whether we would change because we had achieved some kind of knowledge.
The second verse continues the theme and asks whether we would change if we knew that love could break our hearts or if we were in a situation where we felt so low we could not fall. Again, these are powerful ideas that suggest that we should not take love or life for granted. Life is the only chance we have, and we should embrace love even if it means we risk getting hurt.
The chorus is a series of questions that remind us that life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes, it takes extreme events or circumstances to change us. The question of whether we will change is central to the song, and Chapman suggests that sometimes, even the most rigid or upright people need to learn how to bend or adjust.
Overall, “Change” is a song that is difficult to pin down. It’s about love, life, and relationships, but it’s also about the mysteries of existence and the role that fate plays in our lives. Chapman’s evocative voice and poetic lyrics combine to create a powerful song that encourages us to question the world around us and the choices we make.
Line by Line Meaning
If you knew that you would die today
If you were aware that your life would end soon
If you saw the face of God and love
If you experienced immense faith and affection
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
If you knew that love can break your heart
If you were aware that affection may lead to brokenness
When you're down so low you cannot fall
During difficult times where you can't decline any further
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
What does it take to bring change - does it require great change, or just a little positivity?
How many losses how much regret?
How many times must you lose, or feel sorry before change is necessary?
What chain reaction
What series of events
What cause and effect
What resultant outcome
Makes you turn around
Causes you to do a 180
Makes you try to explain
Causes you to attempt communication
Makes you forgive and forget
Causes you to absolve and disregard past incidents
Makes you change
Causes you to transform into someone different
Makes you change
Causes you to transform into someone different
If you knew that you would be alone
If you were conscious of being by yourself
Knowing right being wrong
Aware of the distinction between right and wrong
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
If you knew that you would find a truth
If you were aware that a revelation would come your way
That brings a pain that can't be soothed
That would bring immense anguish that can't be eased
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Are you so upright you can't be bent
Are you so morally correct that you can't change?
If it comes to blow
If you needed to fight or argue
Are you so sure you won't be crawling
Are you so sure that you wouldn't back down?
If not for the good why risk falling
Why take a chance if there's nothing positive to gain?
Why risk falling
Why take a chance that could harm you?
If everything you think you know
If everything you believe is true
Makes your life unbearable
Causes your life to become too much to bear
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
If you'd broken every rule and vow
If you had gone against every promise and regulation
And hard times come to bring you down
If unfavourable times were to bring consequences
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
If you knew that you would die today
If you were aware that your life would end soon
If you saw the face of God and love
If you experienced immense faith and affection
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
If you saw the face of God and love
If you experienced immense faith and affection
If you saw the face of God and love
If you experienced immense faith and affection
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Would you change?
Would you want to alter yourself or your life in any way?
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@saltywisdom
If you knew that you would die today
Saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change?
Makes you change?
If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right, being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change?
Makes you change?
Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?
If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you'd broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
@genXrVT
Her Grammy performance brought me back to this one. ❤
@JCujo-gh3bs
Same
@KahlevN
Been going through her whole discography again, so many wonderful songs. I hope people are exposed to more of her less popular songs as well. My personally recommendation for one of my favorites that isn't a single is "Hard Wired" off of Let it Rain.
@ladesigner8764
@@KahlevNme too! Amazing woman.
@HalKidder
this song makes me so hopeful regardless of circumstances..
@jeaniea6424
My beautiful daughter had this song played during her “walk” when graduating from a rehab several years ago. She was determined to change, she wanted it so badly. Unfortunately, the disease of addiction is cunning… She lost her battle in March of this year. But I know this song has brought much-needed hope too many out there that are still sick and suffering. Amazing song. 💝
@denisewilstead6819
Im so sorry to hear about your daughters battle. 😢 ive been dealing with my own family addictions. It juat heart breaking , crushing. Prayers fir you and your family.
@jeaniea6424
@denise Wilstead thank you so much. Prayers to you and yours also 🙏🏼
@niamhcassidy9103
So sorry love I'm on the same journey since I was 17 now gone 39 and nine yr clean,no support just me myself n I.its tough but better then living that horrible life god bless at least ur daughter had you and is outtakes this horrible pain🙏 been sent xxshows u are are great mother xx
@jeaniea6424
@niamh cassidy oh sweetie, thank you so much… You have no idea how much your comment has affected me. I love hearing the good stories. Please stay strong! This disease has taken far too many wonderful souls from this world. You deserve the good life it seems you are seeking. I went to your channel after reading your comment and found your playlists… And listened to the Ed Sheeran list for a few hours… Although there were many tears, tears are what help us heal and I’m grateful. Thank you 🙏💕 sending love, light, strength and hope to you. And a huge hug 🤗