If Not Now...
Tracy Chapman Lyrics


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If not now then when
If now today then
Why make your promises
A love declared for days to come
Is as good as none

You can wait 'til morning comes
You can wait for the new day
You can wait and lose this heart
You can wait and soon be sorry

Now love's the only thing that's free
We must take it where it's found
Pretty soon it may be costly

If now now what then
We all must live our lives
Always feeling




Always thinking
The moment has arrived

Overall Meaning

Tracy Chapman’s song If Not Now… urges the listener to seize the moment and not to wait for tomorrow or next week. The main message of the song is that if we don’t live in the present moment, then we might miss out on life’s opportunities. The singer wants to convey that love is important and should not be postponed until tomorrow because it might not be around later. The lyrics “A love declared for days to come, Is as good as none“ implies that promises and declarations made for the future are worthless if we don’t act on them today.


The verses go on to suggest that if we don’t act now, then we might lose the opportunity forever. “You can wait and lose this heart, You can wait and soon be sorry” highlights the importance of acting on love when we feel it, rather than putting it off until some unspecified time in the future. The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, reminding listeners that “If not now then when, If now today then why make your promises.”


The song suggests that every moment is important, and every choice we make shapes our lives. The use of “we” throughout the song implies that the singer and the listener are in this together. Tracy Chapman ultimately wants the listener to take charge of life, make decisions and act on them without delay.


Line by Line Meaning

If not now then when
If you don't take action now, then when will you do it?


If now today then
If there's a time to take action, it's right now, today.


Why make your promises
Why do you make promises if you have no intention of keeping them?


A love declared for days to come
Saying you love someone for the future does not mean anything, actions in the present speak louder.


Is as good as none
Promises of love for the future mean nothing and do not hold any value.


You can wait 'til morning comes
You can procrastinate and wait for tomorrow.


You can wait for the new day
You can keep putting off taking action until a new day arrives.


You can wait and lose this heart
By delaying, you risk losing what you truly desire.


You can wait and soon be sorry
If you keep procrastinating, you will regret your lack of action.


Now love's the only thing that's free
Love is the only thing that doesn't come with a price tag.


We must take it where it's found
We must search for love and take it when it presents itself.


Pretty soon it may be costly
We may have to pay a price or sacrifice to obtain love, so we should value it while it's still free.


If now now what then
If we don't take action now, then what will we do?


We all must live our lives
We all have to make our own choices and live our own lives.


Always feeling
We should always be in tune with our emotions and feelings.


Always thinking
We should always be thoughtful and considerate in our actions and decisions.


The moment has arrived
The time to act is now, the opportunity is here.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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