Oh, oh, oh, I
I was a city boy
Right into danger’s where I’d always run
A boy who had his fun
But I wouldn’t have done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you’d come
Nah, baby (Nah, baby), nah, baby (Nah, baby)
Oh, oh, oh, I
I know it breaks your heart
To picture the only one you wanna love
In someone else’s arms
But I wouldn’t have done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you’d come
Nah, baby (Nah, baby), no, baby (Nah, baby)
Oh, baby, please, let’s leave the past behind us
Behind us
So that we can go where love will find us
Yeah, will find us
I know most girls would leave me
But I know that you believe me
Baby, I
I wish we were seventeen
So I could give you all the innocence
That you give to me
No, I wouldn’t have done
All the things that I’ve done
If I knew one day you’d come
If I knew one day you’d come
Reflecting on Regret and Maturity
“If I Knew” by Bruno Mars is a heartfelt ballad that delves into the themes of regret, nostalgia, and the passage from reckless youth to mature love. Mars sings from the perspective of someone looking back on their past mistakes, wishing that they could have anticipated the arrival of a true, transformative love. The lyrics are honest and vulnerable, expressing the desire to turn back time and undo actions that may have caused hurt. The recurring refrain, “If I knew one day you’d come,” underscores a longing to have lived differently, highlighting the bittersweet realization that love often arrives after lessons are learned the hard way.
Song Credits
Artist: Bruno Mars
Songwriters: Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine
Release Year: 2012
Label: Atlantic Records