If I Were You by Australian country music artist Kasey Chambers is the sixth song to be presented here from one of my favourite records – Barricades and Brickwalls. The record is listed in many top ‘Australian Albums’ compilation lists and ended up going platinum in 2002 becoming the highest selling album by an Australian artist in that year. While I wouldn’t class today’s featured track as top shelf amongst Kasey’s stellar discography, this sweet tune still nudges its way into my Music Library Project.
If I Were You was released as the fifth and final single from the album and peaked at No 32 on the Australian charts. The CD single also released a live version of one of my cherished songs from her called Nullarbor Song which I wrote about in September last year paying homage to my brother Jonathan’s road trip across the Nullarbor Plain in Australia.
Lyrically, If I Were You engages me, much like all of Kasey Chambers’ songwriting. It follows a similar vein to her breakout hit (Am I) Not Pretty Enough, offering layers of meaning. On one level, it expresses the yearning for attention from a partner or someone desirable. On another, it seems to reflect her frustration with the underwhelming commercial recognition she’s faced, partly due to radio stations’ initial reluctance to embrace her music. Ironically, it was ABC radio that first introduced me to her work. I still vividly remember hearing her on a hot summer day in 2002, as I drove through South East Victoria, Australia. I’ve been a fan ever since.
If I was good I’d tell everyone I know
If I was free I wouldn’t be so keen to go
If I was wrong I would take it like a man
If I was smart I would get out while I can
If I was broken I would probably let it be
If I was dying I wouldn’t go out quietly
If I was lost, well, my heart would feel the same
If I was honest I would probably be ashamed
But if I were you I would notice me
If I were you I would wait for me
If I were you I would easily hold me and say
It’s all gonna be okay
If I was rich I would spend it on my own
If I was dignified I’d only smoke at home
If I was dark, well, I’d only dress in black
If I was chosen I would gladly give it back
But if I were you I would notice me
If I were you I would wait for me
If I were you I would easily hold me and say
It’s all gonna be okay
It’s not for you to judge
From all this kind of stuff
I’m only half of what you see
But if I were you I would notice me
If I were you I would wait for me
If I were you I would easily hold me and say
It’s all gonna be okay
It’s all gonna be okay
What I’ve always admired about Kasey Chambers is her transparency and authenticity. She doesn’t rely on an “image” to sell her music—it’s all about her voice and the heartfelt artistry behind her songs. Kasey’s uniqueness shines through, making it hard to pigeonhole her style, though it often carries a country vibe at its core. To learn more about Kasey, her personal journey, and her musical family, check out this video: At home with country superstar Kasey Chambers | 60 Minutes Australia. Thank you for reading.
References:
1. If I Were You – Kasey Chambers – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
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