If Only

• By: Dove Cameron
• Album: N/A

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
thoughts /θɔːts/ A2	noun - ideas or opinions produced by thinking
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body
lost /lɔːst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; having disappeared or been taken away verb - past tense of lose (to misplace or be deprived of something)
missing /ˈmɪsɪŋ/ A2	adjective - not present or included; lost or absent
wrong /rɒŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true; not morally right
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotional state or reaction
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
signs /saɪnz/ B1	noun - an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something
meant /ment/ A2	verb - past participle of mean (intended or destined)
step /step/ A1	noun - an act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other
word /wɜːrd/ A1	noun - a unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written
new /nuː/ A1	adjective - recently made, discovered, or experienced
brave /breɪv/ B1	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged; eccentric or irrational
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ B1	noun - the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot

Grammar:

• Should I let my heart keep listenin'?

  ➔ Modal verb "should" for asking for advice or suggesting a course of action, infinitive without "to" after "let" (let + object + bare infinitive).

  ➔ The use of "should" indicates a questioning of whether it's advisable to continue following one's heart. "Let my heart keep listenin'" uses "let" to allow the heart to continue listening.

• 'Cause up 'til now I've walked the line

  ➔ Present perfect tense ("I've walked") to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. Use of "up 'til now" to indicate duration.

  ➔ The singer emphasizes that until now, they have always adhered to rules or a certain path. The present perfect tense links that past behavior to their current state of questioning.

• Nothing lost but something missing

  ➔ Ellipsis: The sentence is grammatically incomplete but understandable. It omits the verb "is" or "was" (Nothing *is* lost but something *is* missing).

  ➔ This highlights the feeling of incompleteness despite no obvious negative consequences. The structure creates a concise and impactful statement.

• If only I knew what my heart was telling me

  ➔ Second conditional structure expressing a wish or hypothetical situation (If + past simple, would/could/might + infinitive). Indirect question using "what" as a conjunction.

  ➔ This expresses a regret or longing for clarity about one's feelings. It shows the speaker's uncertainty and desire for understanding.

• Don't know what I'm feeling

  ➔ Negative imperative-like statement in first person singular; indirect question with "what" as conjunction.

  ➔ Simple statement of confusion and lack of understanding of one's own emotions.

• Is this just a dream?

  ➔ Direct question in present simple tense, used to express doubt or uncertainty.

  ➔ Rhetorical question emphasizing a sense of unreality or disbelief.

• Yeah, if only I could read the signs in front of me

  ➔ Second conditional (hypothetical) – "if" + past simple (could read), followed by an implied main clause expressing the result. Use of the modal verb "could" to express ability or possibility in the past.

  ➔ Expresses a wish for the ability to understand or interpret the clues or indicators present in their life. The implied consequence is a more positive outcome.

• I could find the way to who I'm meant to be, uh-oh

  ➔ Modal verb "could" expressing potential or possibility. Relative clause using "who" to define the person they are meant to be. Passive construction "meant to be."

  ➔ This line suggests that if the speaker understood the signs, they believe they would discover their true purpose or identity.