If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late.
And if I were a good man,
I'd talk with you
More often than I do.

If I were to sleep, I could dream.
If I were afraid, I could hide.
If I go insane, please don't put
Your wires in my brain.

If I were the moon, I'd be cool.
If I were a rule, I would bend for you.
If I were a good man, I'd understand
The spaces between friends.

If I were alone, I would cry.
And if I were with you, I'd be home and dry.
And if I go insane,
And they lock me away,
Will you still let me join in the game?

If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late again.
If I were a good man,
I'd talk with you
More often than I do.



Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 04:33

"If" as written by Cornell Haynes, Chad Hugo, Pharrell L. Williams

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., T.R.O. INC., EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


If song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I've done some research on this song, and it was apparently a tribute to their former band member Syd Barrett, the rock of the whole band who had a mental breakdown early in the band's career. The song is a hypothetical letter from Syd to the rest of the band (and to some extent the world) about what his life would be like if he weren't in an insane asylum. It's truly an endearing tribute from the band to their former member. Syd's mental breakdown was an inspiration to many of the band's songs including, Wish You Were Here, Brain Damage, and Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
    Flag Somogyi23on July 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I understand when he says "If I were a train, I'd be late", OK imperfection,
    but what does "If I were a swan I'd be gone" has to do with not being perfect?
    I mean, I quite agree with that thing of "he things he isn't perfect" but there might be somethig more!

    I'm doing a research for school on Pink Floyd Lyrics so this website helps me a lot,
    however, i'm not going to look all of their songs..
    Which songs should I choose from this album (atom heart mother)?
    They must be meaningful and representative of Pink Floyd's philosophy
    Flag Hipgnosison November 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I find it interesting that on The Wall during The Trial he refers to this song, when the wife says "You should have talked to me more often than you did, but no!". I don't know, it's like he is revisiting an old version of himself again as a changed man.
    Flag vibratinggrapeon April 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Well, I feel this song is about how sometimes you are just not good enough.

    "If I were a train
    I'd be late
    And if I were a good man
    I'd talk with you more often than I do"

    As you can see there it's as if Roger's showing how sometimes people just want to be perfect etc.
    Flag shaownon June 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its got similarities to brain damage, i guess its about being seeing ones own faults and still coming to the conclusion that we all still have the same needs
    Flag joeosbornemusicon May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about realizing that's all your fault that people are turning their backs on you... that you are a social misfit who cannnot make a relationship with anyone. And that you can't change it - you're a swan that's always gone, a train that's always late, a rule that's always bent, cold as a surface of the Moon - you are not a good man. A good man talks to his friends, lovers, parents... I know it sounds simple but that's my oppinion.
    Flag emptiespaceon May 08, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is about soul searching, looking inward to find out what you are all about.
    Flag sonic_leaveson April 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, it's about someone who's falling in love with a friend, and even though he knows what he should do (And if I were a good man I'd talk with you more often than I do / I'd understand the spaces between friends) he just can't because he's not perfect (if i was a swan i'd be gone, if i was a train i'd be late, etc)

    So he's thinking about possible situations (And if I were with you i'd be home and clean), but knows that he's not brave enough to do something else than think and hypotetize, so he becomes afraid of going mad, and, even if he were to become insane, he wouldn't want to change. (If I go insane, please don't put your wires in my brain)


    So, he accepts he just can't do anything about the situation.
    Flag A Lady of Waron October 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is favorite Pink Floyd song. To me its like no ones ever going to be perfect and kind of like worrying that some one might not love you with all of your flaws. Its just really simple and nice. =)
    Flag RunOnAiron March 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Agree, to above.
    Flag Themactatoron January 19, 2007   Link

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