If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me

Well you got your reasons
And you got your lies
And you got your manipulations
They cut me down to size

Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't

If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me

Seems the road less traveled
Shows happiness unraveled
And you gotta take a little dirt
To keep what you love
That's what you gotta do

Sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
Stretching out your arms for something that's just not there
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can

If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me

You're sayin' you love but you don't
You keep your love but you won't
(But she won't)
You're sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can

If you could only see the way she loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says
When she says she loves me


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by cammohajerin

If You Could Only See Lyrics as written by Emerson Hart

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

If You Could Only See song meanings
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120 Comments

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  • +8
    General Comment

    he wrote this song to his mother about a girl who he was in love with and planned to marry but she didn't approve, hence "if you could only see the way she loves me maybe you would understand"

    skibum8713on June 13, 2002   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    As has been stated before, Emerson Hart has stated several times in concert what this song is about. I was actually at a concert at Rhythm and Brews in Chattanooga, TN when he started the song incorrectly by starting with the second verse. He stopped, apologized, and said he had never messed up the song before, but he started thinking about his mom as he began singing and that is why he got the verse wrong. He then went on to explain that he wrote this song when his mother did not approve of his pending marriage to his first wife. His mother thought that this girl was bad for him (turns out she was right) and he was trying to explain to his mom how he felt about her.

    Fasemanon June 14, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I have no idea what was his real intention when he wrote this song, but the scenario that always pops into MY mind when I hear it is this: A guy who already has a girlfriend whom he loves very much is explaining to another girl (who's trying to break them up so she can take a crack at him herself) why he would never break up with the girl he loves. It's like, yeah, you say you love me, but you don't. You don't love me like she does. Well, that's just how I see it...could be very wrong but whatever...

    Charisseon July 23, 2002   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    Emerson Hart stated in an Australian show (live At The Chapel) the meaning of this song, he was in a relationship with an older woman, his family didnt approve and The Song was directed at his family.

    sidafecton December 19, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this is an awesome song. it's so cool how he's expressing the love between them. "if you could only see the way she loves me, then maybe you would understand why i feel this way about our love"...sigh

    KtRuon May 09, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    To me, this song is about real love.. and how people mock you for it.

    In the first verse, he's talking to most possibly, other guys, who fake relationships just to screw a girl. Saying that their manipulations cut real people like him who are honest and the male kind down to size.

    The pre-chorus to me, sounds like how these men lie during relationships. How they're all, "oooh I love you!" but they really don't.

    The chorus sounds like he's saying, "Well, if you could only see the way she loves me, then maybe you'de understand why I feel this way about our love, and what I must do." As if he's sacrificing himself to her. Because that's what love is all about, and he's trying to explain to other guys.

    The second chorus, obviously, sounds like he's saying, "The road less traveled" .i.e. - true love and not faking relationships - shows happiness. And the dirt is about how you are insulted, but if you love somebody, you should never break up with them to gain acceptance.

    I basically have always thought this song was about how people make fun of other people just because they're in love, but that's just me.

    Kippixinon March 26, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i connect to this song in more ways than one. My ex and i have had a rough patch for over a year and tried to make everything work, we both admit we love each other, but she has hurt me many times unintentionally and thus everyone around me hates her or dislikes her.

    this song is exactly how i feel, the lyric "Seems the road less traveled Show's happiness unraveled And you got to take a little dirt" is saying, even if your friends and family hate them, if you truly love the person, then you have to take their opinions and go against them to be happy, thus taking a little dirt.

    love isnt an easy thing, especially when its had its turbulence

    sdarmston May 19, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The words of this song are expressing the reasons for leaving a wife. He is telling his wife that her love is toxic to him and the way she treated him was demoralizing. He expresses how she made him feel compared to how this other woman makes him feel. He compares the two loves. The dirt reference is to express the grief and the suffering that he knows will go with his choice to leave. He then expresses that if he wants to be happy than this less traveled road is the one that he must take. She in turn now has her arms reaching out to him but, he no longer wants her.

    The chorus is his constant expression (or self reassurance) of wanting her to understand why he's leaving. He is telling her that the love of this other woman justifies his decision to leave and all of the fallout suffering that will follow his decision.

    Personal note: Too bad the grass is never greener on the other side... At least not for that long. Fix something that is broken, instead of trading it in for a new model... They all have their own set of problems and in the long run you will be happier. Trust me, I know --- thedivorceattorneyswife.com/

    moments2con November 08, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    It may be perspective on how every one sees this song but for me it could be about a lost man and a lost woman who met in life at a pointment in time when they felt alone and lost. They developed a friendship a close intamate friendship and found comfort and love even though there was no way it could last in a full relationship. One completely falls apart and has to go get help because she is having a mental breakdown. She asks him to take her to the hospital to get help and she will be gone awhile. They both know know that when she returns nothing will be the same. He sings her these lyrics from the heart. He wants her to know that even though he never told her, he loved her all along. He knows she needs to do what she has to to be mentally strong again....lesson in this is sometimes you do love someone that's not going to last so you never take it further. Sometimes you have to love someone enough to let them go get help or change so they can live a strong and mentally healthy life. Neither person is bad just not meant to be. If you ever loved a good person who suffered with Bipolar or any other mental health issue and they are not getting the help they need it hurts to watch the person self destruct. True story....he never knew someone as honest and loving and genuine...I was having a breakdown and couldn't function normally until I got help. I got great help...4 years later I understand my illness got counseling and learned how to function with my condition. He sang this song before I checked myself in. He didn't really want me to go but he knew how much I needed to. I loved him too and it was an unspoken love until then. This may not be the meaning to the song but with this story it makes sense in a whole different light.

    Lovemusic420on September 07, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with Charisse.
    Next best explanation is, a guy explaining to another girl why he can't leave his current girlfriend. He can't be with her because his current girl loves and trusts him, and he loves her. Going down that 'road less traveled' would definitely put a dent in his happiness, so he can't be with the other woman.

    MedievalMadamon December 05, 2023   Link

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