Vashti Bunyan (born 1945 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is an English singer who, … Read Full Bio ↴Vashti Bunyan (born 1945 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is an English singer who, in the mid-60s, was publicized to be the next Marianne Faithfull and the female version of Bob Dylan. In June 1965, under the direction of Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, Bunyan released her first single, the Jagger and Richards penned "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind". Several more singles were released in the 1960s to some mild success. She left the music business in 1970, returning to recording and touring in 2002.

With some mild success with singles during the mid-late 1960s, Bunyan released the LP, Just Another Diamond Day, in 1970. This consisted of songs written while traveling in a horse drawn gypsy cart. Critics panned the album and a discouraged Vashti soon disappeared from the music scene. However, by the 2000s her work had finally been finding an audience among contemporary artists and fans of folk music.

In 2002, she was invited by Piano Magic musician Glen Johnson to sing guest vocals on his song "Crown of the Lost", her first recording in over 30 years. After guesting on Piano Magic's album 'Writers Without Homes', she released her critically-acclaimed second album, Lookaftering, 35 years after its predecessor.

In 2006 she collaborated with Adem and began to tour for the first time, accompanied by various musicians including Jo Mango and Gareth Dickson. She collaborated with Animal Collective on the Prospect Hummer EP. Vashti also sang with Devendra Banhart on his album Rejoicing in the Hands.

Bunyan's cover of the late John Martyn's "Head and Heart" appeared on the 2011 tribute album, Johnny Boy Would Love This...A Tribute to John Martyn.

If I Were
Vashti Bunyan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I were to go away
Would you follow me /to ends of the earth
To show me what /Your love is worth
Or would you go and buy a car
Shrug your shoulders /Say there you are
She didn't love me /anyway
If she had /she would have stayed

If I were to go away
Would I always look /for your beautiful face
In every crowd /every place
Or would I turn /and buy a hat
Turn my shoulders /say that is that

He didn't love me /now its clear
If he had /he would be here

Overall Meaning

Vashti Bunyan's song If I Were is a soulful track that reflects on the complexities of love and relationships. The song begins with a question that highlights the willingness of a lover to stay committed even if the other partner decides to leave. The singer wonders whether her lover would chase her to the ends of the earth and show her what their love is worth or whether they would give up and shrug their shoulders when she decides to leave. The use of the word 'follow' adds depth to the question as it brings to mind the idea of a journey, and not just a mere physical pursuit. The subsequent lines of the song also have a similar theme, with the singer musing on how she would react if her lover left her.

The choice of words in the song is particularly impactful. The line "To show me what your love is worth" displays the raw emotions that come with being in love and the desire to do everything possible to hold on to it. Similarly, the line "Would I always look for your beautiful face in every crowd, every place" suggests that the singer would be unable to forget her lover and would seek him out even if he left. The lyrics "She didn't love me anyway, if she had, she would have stayed" and "He didn't love me, now it's clear if he had, he would be here" speak to the idea that if someone wants to be in a relationship, they will make the effort to stay, and if they don't, it's because they don't want to.

Overall, Vashti Bunyan's If I Were is a poignant and thought-provoking song that reflects the complexities of love and relationships. It speaks to the fears and insecurities that come with loving someone and highlights the desire for commitment and devotion.

Line by Line Meaning

If I were to go away
If I were to leave

Would you follow me /to ends of the earth
Would you come with me anywhere

To show me what /Your love is worth
To prove to me your love

Or would you go and buy a car
Or would you get distracted by material possessions

Shrug your shoulders /Say there you are
Not care that I'm gone

She didn't love me /anyway
I wasn't loved by her

If she had /she would have stayed
If she truly loved me, she would've stayed

Would I always look /for your beautiful face
Would I always search for you

In every crowd /every place
In every possible location

Or would I turn /and buy a hat
Or would I distract myself

Turn my shoulders /say that is that
Give up and move on