If I'd Known

[Verse 1]
You showed me how beautiful life can be
And vowed to love me for eternity.
God knows your love-love lasts, but only
In the bittersweet memories that haunt me.

[Verse 2]
It's been three years since I've seen your face.
Somehow it seems just like yesterday,
You packed your things and walked away.
And I'm still living with the heartbreak.

[Chorus]
I can't count the tears I have cried,
Since the day you said goodbye.
I thought the story of you and I
Would never fade and never die. 
Would I have loved you if I'd known
Forgetting you would take so long?
This pain inside goes on and on.
Would I have loved you if I'd known?

[Verse 3]
In my mind, I know that I should let go.
I should reach for freedom and live as though
I'm past all the pain and the sorrow.
But there's no letting go while I love you so.

[Bridge]
Would I have loved you if I'd known
That heartbreak could hurt so long?  
    
[Chorus - Long]
I can't count the tears I have cried,  
Since the day you said goodbye.
I thought the story of you and I
Would never fade and never die.
Would I have loved you if I'd known
Forgetting you would take so long?
This pain inside goes on and on.
Would I have loved you if I'd known
That heartbreak could hurt so long?

[Chorus]
I can't count the tears I have cried,
Since the day you said goodbye.
I thought the story of you and I
Would be the story of my life. 
Would I have loved you if I'd known
Forgetting you would take so long?

[Outro]
It's been three years since I've seen your face.
Somehow it seems just like yesterday.


If I'd Known

Don't Make This Harder

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
After the laughter  
Before the tears,  
We forgot what matters 
And now the end is here.

[Verse 2]
We held on too long.
We lost love in the fight.
Girl, all the good is gone,
So, I'm walking tonight. 

[Pre-Chorus]
But I don't wanna leave you broken.
I don't want to hurt your soul.
We've got mem’ries worth holdin',
So, please don't be cold…

[Chorus]
Don't make this harder than it has to be.  
Let's not turn love into tragedy.  
There's no need for anger, no need for blame,  
Let's just walk away with no regrets, no shame. 

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]
Once, we were fire
Burning so bright
Now, we're both tired
Of chasing the light. 

[Pre-Chorus]
No, I don't wanna fight anymore.
I don't wanna tear you apart. 
Let's say goodbye before
Our hearts tote the scars…

[Chorus]
Don't make this harder than it has to be.  
Let's not turn love into tragedy.  
There's no need for anger, no need for blame,  
Let's just walk away with no regrets, no shame.

[Bridge]
We had a good run.
We had our time,
But sometimes love comes undone,
And that’s just life.

[Chorus – Short]
Don't make this harder than it has to be.  
Let's not turn love into tragedy…

[Outro]
Don't make this harder than it has to be.  
Let's not turn love into tragedy…



Copyright © 2025 | Lyrics by Perry Gathings | All Rights Reserved

Don't Make This Harder

Straight Up In Love (Yvonne's Song)

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
It started with a smile and a shy glance.
I didn't think it'd lead to a romance.
Then you whispered something soft and small
And suddenly, I wanted it all.

[Verse 2]
I didn't believe in love at first sight.
But now I think that I just might.
You walked in, and changed everything.
This is more than a crush, more than a fling...

[Chorus]
I'm straight up in love, no ifs, no maybes,
Yeah, I'm head-over-heels for ya' baby.
You're the one that I've been dreamin' of
And I'm straight up — straight up in love.

[Verse 3]
Tell me I'm not a fool for falling fast.
Tell me that you and I are gonna last.
Each and every day, I want you more.
You're the one I've been waiting for—

[Chorus]
And I'm straight up in love, no ifs, no maybes,
Yeah, I'm head-over-heels for ya' baby.
You're the one that I've been dreamin' of
And I'm straight up — straight up in love—

[Bridge]
So here I stand with an open heart,
From this day on, don't wanna be apart.
Don't know if it's luck or the stars above
But I'm all in, baby...
I'm straight up in love.

[Chorus]
I'm straight up in love, no ifs, no maybes,
Yeah, I'm head-over-heels for ya' baby.
You're the one that I've been dreamin' of
And I'm straight up — straight up in love.

[Outro]
Straight up in love.


Copyright © 2025 | Perry Gathings | All Rights Reserved


Straight Up In Love

Miles Ago & Years Away 
(Sandra O'Reilly, Perry Gathings & Prescott Harter)
(Prescott Harter Arrangement / Vocals)

[Verse 1] 
Miles ago and years away
Shadows of beach grass swaying
Feet in the sand, moonlit sky
Two new lovers taking flight

[Chorus] 
Young, wild, and free
You and me, against the sea
No tomorrows, no yesterdays

[Verse 2] 
Miles ago and years away
The stars above, they knew our names
We danced with time, held on tight
In that moment, love was right

[Chorus] 
Young, wild, and free
You and me, against the sea
No tomorrows, no yesterdays
Miles ago and years away

[Bridge] 
Now the years have passed, you're long gone
Part of my heart still holds on
Your tender kisses on my face
I feel 'em all through time and space

[Refrain]
Miles ago and years away

[Chorus] 
Young, wild, and free
You and me against the sea
No tomorrows, no yesterdays
Locked together somewhere in time and space

[Refrain]
Miles ago and years away

[Outro] 
Years away
Lost out in the waves
Miles ago and years away

Copyright © 2025 | Sandra O’Reilly, Perry Gathings, Prescott Harter | All Rights Reserved.

Miles Ago & Years Away

Stormy Weather
(Sync Version)

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
The sky’s turning dark, the winds on the prowl.
Girl, you say you’re fine, but God help me now.
Cold in your voice, fire in your eyes,
Looks like we’re headed for a storm tonight.

[Chorus]
It looks like we’re headed for stormy weather,
There’s clouds rolling in and I can’t hold it together.
When thunder’s rumbling, hearts break apart.
Now we're just waiting for the storm to start.

[Verse 2]
You run me through all I did and all I didn't do
I don't remember what is and what isn't true.
So, I try and lie ‘cause I know it's do-or-die
Looks like we're headed for stormy weather tonight

[Chorus]
It looks like we’re headed for stormy weather,
There’s clouds rolling in and I can’t hold it together.
When thunder’s rumbling, hearts break apart.
Now we're just waiting for the storm to start.

[Instrumental & Vocalization]

[Verse 3]
You ain't dancing around what you think, what you wanna say.
I’m caught dead to rights, there’s no escape.
Rain’s pouring down, flooding our dreams,
Our love is tearing apart at the seams.

[Chorus]
It looks like we’re headed for stormy weather
There’s clouds rolling in and I can’t hold it together.
Thunder is rumbling, hearts break apart,
Looks like we’re heading for stormy weather tonight.

[Instrumental & Vocalization]

[Outro]
(Stormy weather) (Stormy weather)
It looks like we're headed for stormy weather tonight.
Looks like we're headed for stormy weather tonight.
Looks like we're headed for stormy weather tonight.

Copyright © 2025 | Perry Gathings & Prescott Harter | All Rights Reserved.

Stormy Weather

Great & Wasted Years

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
Thought we would know
Joys of young lovers
Growing up and growing old
But that’s all over.

[Verse 2]
With the stroke of a pen
We cut ties that bind.
Forever reached an end,
But you’re still on my mind.

[Chorus]
Memories whisper
And I taste the tears
Cause when they whisper
The message is clear.
I’ll always miss
Our great and wasted years.

[Verse 3]
Asleep or awake
My thoughts lead to pain.
Each day’s a heartbreak
And nights bring the same.

Would I have loved you
If I had known
Forgetting you
Would take so long?

[Chorus]
Memories whisper
And I taste the tears
Cause when they whisper
The message is clear.
I’ll always miss
Our great and wasted years.

[Instrumental]

[Bridge]
I drift in the ifs.
I cry over the whys
And I reminisce
When you were mine.	

[Chorus]
Memories whisper
And I taste the tears
Cause when they whisper
The message is clear.
I’ll always miss
Our great and wasted years.

[Outro]

Copyright © 2025 | Perry Gathings | All Rights Reserved


Great & Wasted Years

I’m a lyricist based in North Carolina. My songs explore the emotions that define us – love and loss, joy and sadness, and living well and dying hard. I hope you enjoy the music!

Perry Gathings

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