Music Review: Cher "If I Could Turn Back Time"
Cher
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If I Could Turn Back Time
Album: Heart Of Stone
Year: 1989
Cher regrets snapping at her ex-boyfriend in anger in the repentant “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Shielding guitars open the single, setting a merciful tone. She bellows that she wishes she could go back to that fight and control her temper. Then, they would still be together.
In the first verse, she says it just came out. She has to win every fight and have the last word. She went for the nerve that she could squeeze and pulverize first. She notes that words have a harmful, fatal blow as any other object. She did want to talk the issue out and figure out what caused her to be ticked off with him. She realizes she hurt him badly.
In the chorus, she adds she would give him whatever he wanted. He would be with her again and it would be as before. But she knows she can’t do that.
Album: Heart Of Stone
Year: 1989
Cher regrets snapping at her ex-boyfriend in anger in the repentant “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Shielding guitars open the single, setting a merciful tone. She bellows that she wishes she could go back to that fight and control her temper. Then, they would still be together.
“If I could turn back time/If I could find a way I'd take back those words that hurt you and you'd stay.”
In the first verse, she says it just came out. She has to win every fight and have the last word. She went for the nerve that she could squeeze and pulverize first. She notes that words have a harmful, fatal blow as any other object. She did want to talk the issue out and figure out what caused her to be ticked off with him. She realizes she hurt him badly.
“I don't know why I did the things I did I don't know why I said the things I said/Pride's like a knife it can cut deep inside/Words are like weapons they wound sometimes/I didn't really mean to hurt you/I didn't wanna see you go I know I made you cry, but baby.”
In the chorus, she adds she would give him whatever he wanted. He would be with her again and it would be as before. But she knows she can’t do that.
“If I could turn back time/If I could find a way/I'd take back those words that hurt you/And you'd stay/If I could reach the stars/I'd give them all to you/Then you'd love me, love me/Like you used to do.”
In between the chorus and bridge, she hopes for the chance to make it right.“If I could turn back time.”
In the second verse, she says when he left her, she couldn’t get out of bed for a month. She was devastasted. The last words she said to him was “You can leave but I’m not going to miss you!” However, she realizes she went too far, lighting the bridge she stood on with him and burning it in a hateful blaze. It was all because she couldn’t admit she had made a mistake.“My world was shattered I was torn apart/Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart/You walked out that door I swore that I didn't care/But I lost everything darling then and there/Too strong to tell you I was sorry/Too proud to tell you I was wrong/I know that I was blind, and oh.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says she bemoans that would like the ability to change things.“Oh/If I could turn back time/If I could turn back timeIf I could turn back time/Oh baby.”
The electric guitar sobs as she repeats the latter half of the first verse.“I didn't really mean to hurt you/I didn't want to see you go/I know I made you cry/Oh.”
The chorus is sung again to close the single.
Cher learned her lesson the minute she lashed her violent tongue at her boyfriend. She should’ve held back the words with all the force she could muster. But she let her pride overpower her logic and destroy everything she ever cared for. Throwing his father’s abuse of him as a reason for why he can’t function was an unforgiveable thing to say, let alone think. Nothing can change the fact the words were said.
Cher’s apologetic vocals are afflicted with misery and guilt. She knows she had no reason to act the way she did and treat him as a punching bag. She’s accepted the fact she was cruel to him and doesn’t deserve him.
The fretful arrangement wails in a sea of synthesized tears and brokenhearted guitars.
The hammy “If I Could Turn Back Time” is a gratifying breakup song.