Released: 2021
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s ‘If I Didn’t Love You’ is a heartfelt ballad about the struggle of moving on after a relationship ends. The lyrics depict a person wrestling with their feelings for an ex-partner, unable to let go despite the pain it’s causing them.
The song kicks off with the protagonist expressing how they’d be better off alone, not obsessively checking their phone, and not taking the long way home just to drive themselves crazy. This paints a picture of someone who’s having a hard time adjusting to life without their partner. ‘Wouldn’t take the long way home, just to drive myself crazy’ is a metaphor for the person intentionally putting themselves in situations that remind them of their ex, despite the emotional turmoil it causes.
The chorus, ‘If I didn’t love you, I’d be good by now’ is a raw admission of the protagonist’s lingering feelings. They acknowledge that their life would be better if they could just stop loving their ex. The phrase ‘better than barely getting by somehow’ underscores the emotional toll the breakup has taken on them.
In the second verse, the protagonist admits to crying sometimes, faking smiles, and lying about their well-being when asked. They even contemplate finding someone new, but admit that moving on is something they can’t do because of their lingering feelings for their ex.
The line ‘It wouldn’t be so hard to see you, know how much I need you’ shows the protagonist’s struggle with seeing their ex-partner and being reminded of their dependence on them. The phrase ‘Wouldn’t hate that I still feel like I do’ is a confession of their frustration with their inability to move on.
The song ends with the protagonist repeating the chorus, emphasizing their struggle to let go of their feelings. The repetition of ‘If I didn’t love you’ is a powerful reminder of the central theme of the song – the difficulty of moving on from a love that still burns bright.
