If She Loves You

Lyrics

You don’t realise she loves you, if she happens to; You don’t understand she loves you, if indeed she does; You don’t appreciate she loves you, if fact she does; You don’t know she loves you, if she happens to; You’re not glad she loves you, if indeed she does; You’re not sorry that she loves you, if in fact she does; You don’t regret that she loves you, if she does

She loves you, she happens to; She loves you, indeed she does; She loves you, in fact she does; She loves you, she does

You realise she loves you, if she happens to; You understand she loves you, if indeed she does; You appreciate she loves you, if in fact she does; You know that she loves you, if indeed she does; You’re glad she loves you, if indeed she does; You’re sorry that she loves you, if in fact she does; You regret that she loves you, if she does;

You understand she loves you, if indeed she does; You appreciate she loves you, if in fact she does; You know that she loves you, if she happens to; You’re glad she loves you, if indeed she does; You’re sorry that she loves you, if in fact she does; You regret that she loves you, if she does

Chronology

• Kangaroo?
  • Mayo Thompson - vocals, guitar
  • Lora Logic - saxophone, additional vocals
  • Ben Annesley - bass
  • Epic Soundtracks - drums
  • Allen Ravenstine - synthesizer
  • Too Dark to Read

Retrospectives

Art & Language, 1981

The love song, 'If She Loves You' is semantically incompetent. It is full of buzzy love-song words. But the order of things is 'reversed'. The Rock and Roll love song is usually enigmatic but it repays study: the majesty and romance emerge when you sort out the words. 'If She Loves You' evaporates into semantically meaningless noise. Most love songs are in fact extravagantly sexist drivel. 'If She Loves You' is semantically incompetent drivel.