What If

Tadhg Daly's song 'What If' delves into the emotional turmoil of unspoken love and the fear of vulnerability. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is deeply afraid of revealing their true feelings to a significant other. The opening lines, 'I'm scared of falling asleep / 'Cause I tend to talk when I dream,' set the stage for a narrative filled with anxiety and apprehension. The protagonist is so consumed by their hidden emotions that even the subconscious act of dreaming becomes a source of fear, as it might betray their true feelings.

The recurring question, 'What if I want you around? / Would I be letting you down?' encapsulates the central theme of the song. This line reflects the internal conflict between the desire to express love and the fear of rejection or disappointment. The protagonist is caught in a cycle of 'what ifs,' contemplating the potential consequences of both action and inaction. The fear of making 'the greatest mistake' by not confessing their feelings is palpable, highlighting the stakes involved in matters of the heart.

Daly's lyrics also touch on the idea of pride and its role in emotional suppression. Lines like 'What if I'm breaking your heart every day? / 'Cause I'm too proud to say that I'm falling further now' suggest that pride and fear of vulnerability are significant barriers to emotional honesty. The song's melancholic tone and introspective lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with the complexities of unspoken love, making it a poignant exploration of human emotion and the risks involved in opening one's heart.