When we met each other, we were young
If we’d been older, who can say?
We would have known the way to talk to each other
And he’d still be here today
I got angry when he was late
I never asked the reason why
If I’d given him the chance to tell me his story
He wouldn’t have had to lie
If I had told him that I needed him
He wouldn’t have run away
If I had told him he meant the world to me
He’d still be here today
If I hadn’t been so cruel
He would have told me what was wrong
I would have seen that he needed love from me
And I wouldn’t be singing this song
If I had told him that I needed him
He wouldn’t have run away
If I had told him he meant the world to me
He’d still be here today
Bur the day came when he left
If I had called him, he would have stayed
Now he’s far away and he’s gone forever
But the memory will never fade
If I had told him that I needed him
He wouldn’t have run away
If I had told him he meant the world to me
He’d still be here today
Words and music by Ken Wilson
Vocals: Dede Wilson
Piano: Nigel Stewart
Bass: Kevin Carrington
From Goodbye Rainbow, which was first released in 1974
Note about the recording
Pianist Nigel persuaded me that this song could be performed without drums. We had an excellent session drummer, Ray Duffy, who had played with 60s bands Marmalade and Matthew’s Southern Comfort, and he had done a brilliant job on the songs that we had already recorded. But Nigel felt that this song would be better with just piano and bass. And he was right.
Teaching idea
When I used this song in class, I always asked students to picture the two people involved and write a narrative about their lives. I told them to write as if it was fact – no need for ‘maybe she didn’t like him …’ etc. I also recommended that they give the characters names.
They wrote things like this: Anne and James met when they were 17. Although they liked each other, they had problems. Anne was a very punctual person, but James was late for everything.