If Only (Quartet) is a song of the Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid, which is sung by Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, and King Triton. The song appears during the second act at the end of the second day. A duet version of the song is heard in The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!; however, it omits the parts where Sebastian and King Triton sing in this version.
Synposis[]
That night Ariel learns from Carlotta that Grimsby has arranged for a singing contest to find the girl that Eric swears sang to him on the beach. Ariel, singing from within, yearns that she could tell Eric everything.
The Prince, still haunted by the beautiful voice he heard the day he was rescued finds himself conflicted for his growing feelings for the currently mute Ariel. Meanwhile, Sebastian tries to cheer Ariel up, while also realizing that her time is almost up and King Triton, worried about his missing daughter, vows to change his harsh ways if Ariel ever returns to him.
Lyrics[]
Ariel:
If only you could know
The things I long to say
If only I could tell you
What I wish I could convey
It's in my ev'ry glance
My heart's an open book
You'd see it all at once
If only you would look
If only you could glimpse
The feelings that I feel
If only you would notice
What I'm dying to reveal
The dreams I can't declare
The needs I can't deny
You'd understand them all
If only you would try
All my secrets you would learn them
All my longings you'd return them
Then the silence would be broken
Not a word would need be spoken
Prince Eric:
What is it about her
That's so wonderfully, impossibly familiar?
Why do I feel dizzy
In a way I've only felt but once before?
How come when she looks at me
It seems like time stops moving
Almost like the way it did that day upon the shore?
But that voice
Ariel
If only it were true
If only for a while
Prince Eric:
Ah that voice!
Ariel:
If only you would notice
How I ache behind my smile
Prince Eric:
Where's that voice?
Ariel:
I guess you never will
I guess it doesn't show
But if I never find a way to tell you so
Oh what I would give
If only you could know
Sebastian:
(Spoken) Bless ya child, Tomorrow the Prince will have his pick of any princess in the land. How can a little mermaid compete with all that?
(Sung) If only I knew how
I'd make him see the light
If only it were up to me
This all would turn out right
And if I only could
I'll tell you what I'd do
I'd simply wave my claw
And make your dreams come true
And wouldn't that surprise you
If you only knew
King Triton:
How could she just suddenly
Completely disappear into thin water?
It's been two whole days
And I don't know where she has gone!
Prince Eric:
Ah, that voice!
King Triton:
If only you'd come home
Sebastian:
If only I could help
Prince Eric:
Where's that voice?
Ariel:
If only there were time
I know we'd kiss at last
Prince Eric:
That voice!
King Triton:
If only you'd come back
I'll change my ways!
Sebastian:
Just one more day for that kiss to come
Ariel:
But time keeps racing forward
And our moment's almost passed!
King Triton:
I'll try to understand
Ariel:
It has to happen now
King Triton:
I'll keep my temper low
Sebastian:
I'd give my life up to make it happen
King Triton:
I should have started listening to you long ago
Prince Eric:
How I wish that girl could have been this one!
Sebastian:
Oh!
Ariel:
There's only one more day until I have to go!
Prince Eric:
If only!
Ariel, Sebastian and Triton:
Oh what I would give if only you could know
Prince Eric:
And at the ball
What will occur?
Maybe I'll find that voice
But I'll Lose Her
Ariel:
If only
Sebastian:
If only
King Triton:
If only
Ariel: (spoken)
I've caused you so much trouble. Can you ever forgive me?
Triton: (spoken)
Why, I've never been prouder. Somehow, in the blink of an eye when my back was turned, you grew up.
(sung)
If only you could stay
And never say goodbye
If only I could make time stop
Believe me, I would try
But fathers have to learn
That daughters have to grow
And if you truly love them
You must let them go
And oh, I love you
If only you could know
(spoken)
You love him very much, don't you? You belong to his world now.
Ariel:
If only you could know
The things I long to say
If only I could tell you
What I wish I could convey
It's in my ev'ry glance
My heart's an open book
You'd see it all at once
If only you would look
If only you could glimpse
The feelings that I feel
If only you would notice
What I'm dying to reveal
The dreams I can't declare
The needs I can't deny
You'd understand them all
If only you would try
All my secrets you would learn them
All my longings you'd return them
Then the silence would be broken
Not a word would need be spoken
Prince Eric:
What is it about her
That's so wonderfully, impossibly familiar?
Why do I feel dizzy
In a way I've only felt but once before?
How come when she looks at me
It seems like time stops moving
Almost like the way it did that day upon the shore?
But that voice
Ariel
If only it were true
If only for a while
Prince Eric:
Ah that voice!
Ariel:
If only you would notice
How I ache behind my smile
Prince Eric:
Where's that voice?
Ariel:
I guess you never will
I guess it doesn't show
But if I never find a way to tell you so
Oh what I would give
If only you could know
Prince Eric:
Memories fade
Strange how they blur
But when she calls to me
I'll know
It's her
Ariel:
If only