If Only
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band Lyrics
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The wound has healed long since then
But the finger keeps bleeding, keeps bleeding
For reasons unknown to me
I heard me stutter when you left the room
The wound has healed long since then
But my mind keeps stuttering, keeps stuttering
If only I could remember
The tune I was whistling that day
If only I could remember
The streets I had walked that day
If only I could remember
If only, if only
I saw me crying when you left the room
The wound has healed long since then
But my soul keeps crying, keeps crying
For reasons unknown to me
If only you could tell me
Why I'm smoking myself to death?
If only you could tell me
Why I'm working myself to death?
If only you could tell me
If only, if only
The song "If Only" by Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band delves into the complexities of emotional pain and the ways in which it can linger and manifest in unexpected ways, even after the original cause appears to have passed. The opening lines, "I cut my finger when you left the room / The wound has healed long since then / But the finger keeps bleeding, keeps bleeding / For reasons unknown to me," illustrate this idea, as the physical injury has healed but the pain remains. The same is true of the stuttering and crying that the singer experiences, even though the original events that caused them have passed.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses a sense of confusion as to why they are experiencing these ongoing symptoms of emotional trauma. The repetition of the phrase "for reasons unknown to me" suggests that the singer is grappling with the idea that their pain may be deeper and more complicated than they initially realized. They search for answers in the refrain, asking "If only I could remember / The tune I was whistling that day / If only I could remember / The streets I had walked that day." These lines suggest that the singer may be trying to retrace their steps and figure out what exactly caused their pain in the first place.
The final lines, "If only you could tell me / Why I'm smoking myself to death? / If only you could tell me / Why I'm working myself to death? / If only you could tell me / If only, if only," place the focus back on the other person who has left the room. The singer is looking for answers that they cannot seem to find on their own, and hoping that the other person may have insight that could help them understand their suffering. Overall, "If Only" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the ways in which emotional pain can linger long after the original cause has passed.
Line by Line Meaning
I cut my finger when you left the room
I was hurt when you left and even though it's been a while since then, I am still affected by your absence.
The wound has healed long since then
The physical pain may be gone, but the emotional pain lingers on.
But the finger keeps bleeding, keeps bleeding
The hurt has not gone away completely and keeps reopening, causing me pain again and again.
For reasons unknown to me
I don't understand why I'm still hurting or why it's so hard to move on.
I heard me stutter when you left the room
Your leaving left me feeling uncertain and insecure, causing me to stumble and falter in my thoughts and actions.
But my mind keeps stuttering, keeps stuttering
Even though I have tried to move on, my mind keeps going back to that moment of uncertainty and insecurity.
If only I could remember
I wish I could recapture the good memories and forget the bad ones.
The tune I was whistling that day
I want to remember the happy times and the things that made me feel good.
The streets I had walked that day
I want to remember the places that made me feel alive and inspired.
I saw me crying when you left the room
Your leaving caused me deep emotional pain and I couldn't help but cry.
But my soul keeps crying, keeps crying
Even though the physical tears may have stopped, I am still deeply hurt and feel that pain every day.
If only you could tell me
I need your help and guidance to understand why I'm struggling and why I can't move on.
Why I'm smoking myself to death?
I've turned to unhealthy habits to cope with the pain and I don't know how to stop.
Why I'm working myself to death?
I'm pushing myself to the brink to distract myself from the pain, but it's not a sustainable solution.
If only you could tell me
I need your help to find a way out of this pain and towards a brighter future.
If only, if only
I wish things were different and that I could find a way to heal and move forward.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Caray! esa harmónica suena que es una maravilla...