The Meaning Behind “If I Let You” by The Womack Sisters and a Soulful Lesson in Patiently Falling in Love

“If I Let You” finds The Womack Sisters tiptoeing cautiously into a romantic relationship. The trio, who are descendants of soul music royalty, harmonize a solidarity tune that puts the girls first as they navigate falling in love.

The song appears on the sisters’ self-titled debut, which continues their family’s deep musical legacy.

Behind the Lyrics

The sisters remain vigilant as their romantic entanglement enters its messy phase. “If I Let You” puts up an early defense against heartbreak.

I read right through your talk,
And your angelic sighs.
Your “I L-O-V-E you,”
Ain’t quite agreeing with your devilish eyes.

Relationships often reveal things about ourselves we might have missed. And here, the narrator notices another side of her man. So she offers advice. Not only to guide him, but to protect herself.

Kucha explained the song’s significance: “For us, it’s a reminder to take your time to find love, and to find out who you’re really dealing with.”

Ooh, ooh, ooh,
I ain’t saying you blew it.
I’m just saying you knew it,
And boy you gotta know when to get to it.

“This song reminds me of a time when I rushed into love because of attraction—not asking enough questions, not staying true to myself, selling myself short,” she said.

If I let you,
Promise I’m your one and only.
If I let you,
Never ever leave me lonely.

Two People Acting Insane

She’s moving cautiously here. It’s a vulnerable position, and she’s testing his grace.

If I let you touch my hand,
And go just a little bit more.
If my breath blew across your neck.
Could your greedy bones take any more?

Anxious and awkward moments are built into the DNA of relationships, which explains why people repeat similar mistakes when they are falling hard for someone. The rational part of the brain always takes a back seat to the impulses of the heart.

But in “If I Let You”, The Womack Sisters attempt to safeguard against these irrational forces.

We can play these games till we’re old and gray,
Two people acting insane.
Why don’t we stop all this playing?

Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images