IF ONLY
Rod Stewart

from the album “Vagabond Heart” (1991)


transcribed by Steve Garner (s_garner@hotmail.com)



INTRO:  C  G/B  Am  F  Dm  F  C


  C                G/B       Am                 F
If only I’d have listened to all of my closest friends
   C                 G/B           Am          F
And knew that it was over and the party had to end
  C               G/B         Am             F
If only I’d have noticed the sadness in her eyes
     Dm               F                C
She’d still be in my arms tonight, if only


  C               G/B             Am                 F
If only I’d have realized the unimportance of being cool
   C               G/B              Am              F
To give a kiss and maybe just say “darling I love you”
  C                  G/B             Am                 F
If only I’d said I’m sorry, I’d have been a much better man
     Dm               F                C
She’d still be in my arms tonight, if only


          Am               C
There’s an emptiness that fills my heart
Em                  C
Now that she’s not here
  Am                      F
I loved her more than my own life
 Am                   Dm    F     C
Something I’ve always feared, if only


  C                G/B
If only I had come home that night
            Am                       F
Instead of stayin’ out for one more drink
  C               G/B                  Am               F
If only I’d been unconcerned what the other guys may think
  C                       G/B          Am                  F
If only I’d have held her tight, but I guess it’s too late now
 Dm                F               C
Oh how blind could one man be, if only


           F       G       C         F       G        Am
Woah oh but I will not be sad after all the fun we’ve had
     C        G           F             C
You live some   and you learn some, if only


BRIDGE:  G#  D#  Bb  F  G#  D#  Bb  C
         F  C  Dm  F  C  Dm
         C  Bb  C  Am  Bb  C  F


  C              G/B               Am                     F
If only I could convince her the importance of one more chance
  C                G/B     Am                  F
If only God would allow me one more celestial dance
  C                G/B             Am                      F
If only I had the nerve to call her up and tell her how I feel
    Dm                F                C
She’d still be in my arms tonight, if only


          Am              C
But it’s only love and love ain’t real
Em                       C
It’s only a four letter word
       Am                        F
We spend half our lives chasing after it
     Am             Dm  F    C
How wonderfully absurd, if only


            F        G      C         F        G     Am
Woah woah but I will not be sad after all the fun we had
     C       G          F
You live some and you learn some
        F           G    C        F       G          Am
Woah but I will not be sad after all the fun that we had
     C      G           F
You live some and you learn some
     F               C
You learn some, if only