There is a song over which I have puzzled for 20 some years: “If You Could Only See” by Tonic, and I heard it again when I went to that 90’s band a bit ago. Hearing it, I remembered a debate I had with my former fiance about its meaning, thus reopening a question
Was he singing to the person he was leaving? Or about the woman he was leaving with?
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do. (This seems like he’s going to do something desperate, Like go into some kind of battle.)
And you got your lies
And you got your manipulations
They cut me down to size” (Someone who is clearly not good for him, thus the reason he’s leaving them for another. Doing something desperate for another.)
There weren’t any more lyrics in the song that gave us any clues, and we each argued our side for a good hour. While I enjoyed the song, I appreciated the writing that so clearly made two different situations entirely viable.
Nowadays, I have the internet, which wasn’t in such easy reach in the late 90’s. I can look up the meaning, and I have, but I paused before I did, because I have gotten so much satisfaction out of not knowing. So I think I’ll forget it now.
Have there been any songs like that for you? Debates you’ve had for years, song-related or otherwise?
I Didn't Just Wake Up This Morning With A Craving 