“If I Had Only Known” performed by Reba McEntire
“If I Had Only Known” performed by Reba McEntire
If I had only known
It was the last walk in the rain
I’d keep you out for hours in the storm
I would hold your hand
Like a life line to my heart
Underneath the thunder we’d be warm
If I had only known
It was our last walk in the rain
If I had only known
I’d never hear your voice again
I’d memorize each thing you ever said
And on those lonely nights
I could think of them once more
Keep your words alive inside my head
If I had only known
I’d never hear your voice again
You were the treasure in my hand
You were the one who always stood beside me
So unaware I foolishly believed
That you would always be there
But then there came a day
And I turned my head and you slipped away
If I had only known
It was my last night by your side
I’d pray a miracle would stop the dawn
And when you’d smile at me
I would look into your eyes
And make sure you know my love
For you goes on and on
If I had only known
If I had only known
The love I would’ve shown
If I had only known
“If I had only known” perfectly sums up how the bereaved feels after suddenly losing someone they love dearly. This is one of the funeral songs that everyone can identify with. Sang by the beautiful American country singer and actress Reba McEntire, the lyrics talks about how we treasure someone we love. How losing that one person is difficult and painful. It talks about how we are not prepared for the inevitable and how we regret not giving importance to each moment that we spent with them. It teaches us to cherish and enjoy each moment that we spend with our loved ones. It teaches us to appreciate their presence in our lives.
The song is also a good inspiration for those who do not have any idea on how to write eulogy. It allows us to think of all the good memories that we have shared with the deceased. As aforementioned, the song reminds us of the all the times that we spent with the deceased. This gives us the chance to re-kindle all the good memories that we have shared with them. This gives us the opportunity to think about all their positive traits and the positive things that they have shared with us. This gives us the chance to reminisce all the funny experiences and the famous quotes and expressions that the deceased used to say.
“If I had only known” appears on Reba McEntire’s eighteenth album which is For My Broken Heart. It was released in the year 1991. The making of the album had a bit of a history about it. It is the first album that she recorded after the airplane crash that killed almost all of the members of her touring band. The album sold 4 million copies which made it one of the biggest selling studio albums that she has released. McEntire describes the whole album as “a form of healing for all our broken hearts.” Each song is dedicated to help those who are left behind by their loved ones. This also makes it a perfect song to dedicate to the family and relatives of the deceased.