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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

v - e - d
The Little Mermaid - 2013 Logo
Media
Films: The Little Mermaid (video/soundtrack) • The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (video) • The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (video) • The Little Mermaid (2023) (video/soundtrack)

Shows: The Little Mermaid (videography) • A Poem Is...The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! (soundtrack) • Sebastian's Caribbean JamboreeAriel
Video Games: NES gameSega Genesis GameAriel's Story StudioKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIThe Little Mermaid 2: Pinball FrenzyDisney's The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two KingdomsDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle Mode
Books: The Art of The Little MermaidDisney Princess Enchanted Stables: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Baby BeauPoor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea WitchOfficial Comic AdaptationDisney ComicsThe Little Mermaid's Treasure ChestDisney Princess BeginningsMarvel ComicsThe Little Mermaid: The Full Film ScriptPrince of Song & SeaThe Little Mermaid: Against the Tide
Music: The Legacy CollectionSebastian from The Little MermaidSebastian: Party Gras!The Little Mermaid: Songs from the SeaThe Little Mermaid: Splash HitsAriel's Favorites
Cancelled projects: Little Mermaid's Island

Disney Parks
Mermaid LagoonDisney's Art of Animation ResortAriel's GrottoTriton's GardenBlowfish Balloon RaceDisney Animation BuildingFairy Tale ForestFlounder's Flying Fish CoasterIt's a Small WorldJumpin' JellyfishKing Triton's Carousel of the SeaMermaid Lagoon TheaterAriel's PlaygroundMickey's PhilharMagicPrincess PavilionScuttle's ScootersSorcerers of the Magic KingdomSorcerer's WorkshopStorybook Land Canal BoatsThe Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea AdventureThe WhirlpoolVoyage to the Crystal Grotto

Entertainment: AnimagiqueBelieve! Sea of DreamsCastle of Magical DreamsDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDisney KiteTailsDisney's WishesFantasmic!Feel the MagicGolden Fairytale FanfareKing Triton's ConcertMickey's Magical CelebrationMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey and the Magical MapMickey and the Wondrous BookThe Golden MickeysThe Little Mermaid - A Musical AdventureThe Starlit Princess WaltzVillains Tonight!Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Restaurants: Ariel's Grotto
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeFestival of Fantasy ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey & Friends Street CelebrationMickey's Soundsational ParadeMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartyPaint The Night ParadeSpectroMagicThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeWalt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsCelebrate the MagicDisney Dreams!Disney EnchantmentDisney in the StarsDisneyland ForeverFantasy in the SkyHappily Ever AfterIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightMagic, Music and MayhemThe Magic, the Memories and YouMomentousOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Color-Fest: A Street Party!Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Stitch's Summer Dance BashSummer Blast
Halloween: Are You Brave Enough?Disney's Not So Spooky SpectacularFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesLet's Get WickedRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeThe Villains WorldVillains Night Out! Chapter 2
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeDisney Winter Magic CavalcadeRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Original: ArielFlounderSebastianScuttlePrince EricKing TritonUrsulaFlotsam and JetsamKing Triton's DaughtersMaxGrimsbyCarlottaChef LouisUrsula's GardenGlutThe Seahorse HeraldHaroldMerpeopleSea CreaturesLagoon Residents

Sequel: MelodyTip and DashAlexMorganaCloak and DaggerUndertowHammerhead SharkFlounder's GuppiesBaby PenguinUrsula and Morgana's Mother
Prequel: Queen AthenaMarina Del ReyBenjaminThe Catfish Club BandStevieElectric Eels
Little Mermaid's Island: SandyScales
TV Series: UrchinGabriellaOllieDudleyPearlPearl's MotherMantaLittle EvilDanielMoraySimonLobster Mobster and Da ShrimpThe SorceressGlowfishEbb and FloEmpreror ShargaSharkaniansOctopidBrain SpongeZeusSpot the Killer WhaleClaud and Claudia CrabCrab ScoutsHans Christian AndersenLuckyThorAugustusStormy the Giant SeahorseThe Magical Wishing StarfishHowling HairfishApolloArchimedesSeaclopsNeptuneDr. Vile
Comic Book: IndigoMarlin the MagicianJenny
Remake: Queen Selina

Episodes
Season One: "Whale of a Tale" • "The Great Sebastian" • "Stormy" • "Urchin" • "Double Bubble" • "Message in a Bottle" • "Charmed" • "Marriage of Inconvenience" • "The Evil Manta" • "Thingamajigger" • "Red" • "Beached" • "Trident True" • "Eel-Ectric City"

Season Two: "Resigned to It" • "Calliope Dreams" • "Save the Whale" • "Against the Tide" • "Giggles" • "Wish Upon a Starfish" • "Tail of Two Crabs" • "Metal Fish" • "T'ank You For Dat, Ariel"
Season Three: "Scuttle" • "King Crab" • "Island of Fear" • "Land of the Dinosaurs" • "Heroes" • "The Beast Within" • "Ariel's Treasures" • "A Little Evil"

Objects
Prince Eric's StatueTridentUrsula's CauldronUrsula's NecklaceMelody's locketQueen Athena's music boxDinglehopperRoyal ShipThe Wedding ShipSnarfblatt
Locations
AtlanticaAriel's Secret GrottoUrsula's LairPrince Eric's CastleSharkaniaMorgana's Ice Cave
Songs
Films: Fathoms BelowDaughters of King TritonPart of Your WorldUnder the SeaPoor Unfortunate SoulsLes PoissonsKiss the GirlDown to the SeaFor a MomentTip and DashHere on the Land and SeaEndless SkyJust One MistakeJump in the Line (Shake, Senora)I RememberMan Smart (Woman Smarter)I Will Sing

TV Series: Just a Little LoveYou Got to be YouThe Edge of the Edge of the SeaThe Lobster Mobster's MobThe Beddy Bye BluesSing a New SongIn HarmonyThis is the LifeNever Give UpYou Wouldn't Want to Mess with MeThe Sound of LaughterDaring to DanceJust Give Me a ChanceEvil Lullaby
Musical: She's in LoveHuman StuffPositoovityI Want the Good Times BackStorm at SeaDaddy's Little AngelHer VoiceThe World AboveThe ContestIf OnlyBeyond My Wildest DreamsSweet ChildOne Step CloserAll Good Things Must End
Songs from the Sea: The Sea KingdomWhat's It Like to Be a Mermaid?The Scuttle StrutThere's Only One ArielHe's a FriendAt the Mermaids' BallParty With MeMy Room in the SeaDreamingH2O, What a Feeling!We Share the EarthWhere Mermaids Dwell
Splash Hits: In My Blue BackyardHome is
Remake: Wild Uncharted WatersFor the First TimeThe Scuttlebutt
Deleted: Silence is GoldenGonna Get My WishImpossible Child
Other: Music is in the AirOne DanceA Mermaid Song

See Also
MusicalThe Disney AfternoonDisney Sing Along Songs: Under the Sea
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