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:  Ab  Eb  Bb  F  Ab  Eb  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