If I Had Eyes – English Lyrics

• By: Jack Johnson
• Album: Sleep Through the Static

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of Jack Johnson's "If I Had Eyes" to explore common English phrases related to relationships, regret, and the passage of time. Its conversational style and reflective lyrics offer a rich context for understanding nuanced emotional expressions, making it an excellent song for language learners to grasp everyday language in an engaging and heartfelt narrative. You'll learn how to express longing and reflection through its beautifully crafted verses.

[English]

If I had eyes in the back of my head

I would've told you that you looked good as I walked away

And if you could've tried to trust the hand that fed

You would've never been hungry, but you'd never really be

More of this or less of this or is there any difference?

Or are we just holding on to things that we don't have anymore?

Sometimes time doesn't heal

No, not at all

It just stands still

While we fall

In or out of love, again I doubt

I'm gonna win you back

When you've got eyes like that

That won't let me in

Always looking out

Ooh

Ooh

Ooh

Ooh

Ooh

A lot of people spend their time just floating

We were victims together, but lonely

You've got hungry eyes that just can't look forward

Can't give them enough, but we just can't start over

Building with bent nails, we're falling, but holding

I don't want to take up anymore of your time

Time, time, time

Sometimes time doesn't heal

No, not at all

It just stands still

While we fall

In or out of love, again I doubt

I'm gonna win you back

When you've got eyes like that

That won't let me in

Always looking out

Ooh

Ooh

Always looking

Ooh

Ooh

Always looking out

Ooh

Ooh

Always looking out

Ooh

Ooh

Ooh

Always looking out

Ooh

Key Grammar Structures

• If I had eyes in the back of my head

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ The phrase uses the structure 'If + past simple, would + base verb' to describe an unreal or hypothetical situation.

• You would've never been hungry, but you'd never really be

  ➔ Contractions and Modal Verbs

  ➔ 'Would've' is a contraction of 'would have', and 'you'd' is a contraction of 'you would'. Modal verbs like 'would' express possibility or hypothetical situations.

• More of this or less of this or is there any difference?

  ➔ Tag Questions

  ➔ The phrase ends with a tag question 'is there any difference?' to seek confirmation or agreement.

• Sometimes time doesn't heal

  ➔ Negative Contraction

  ➔ 'Doesn't' is a contraction of 'does not', used to negate the verb 'heal'.

• While we fall

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction

  ➔ 'While' is used to introduce a subordinate clause that contrasts with the main clause.

• I'm gonna win you back

  ➔ Going to Future

  ➔ 'Gonna' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to', used to express a future intention or plan.

• Always looking out

  ➔ Present Continuous for Future

  ➔ The present continuous 'looking out' is used here to describe a future action that is planned or certain.