The song "If I Can Stay Away" by Don Gibson explores the theme of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from a past love. The lyrics reflect the narrator's desire to distance themselves from the person they still love in order to forget and heal. The song suggests that by staying away from the person they still have feelings for, the narrator hopes to gradually lose their love for them. They even express the intention to find another love and live a happy life until the end. The second verse indicates that the narrator believes that by staying away, the other person may also forget about them. They ask for space and time to themselves in order to move on, acknowledging the impossibility of their love affair lasting. Overall, "If I Can Stay Away" conveys the struggles of a person grappling with their emotions, seeking distance and time apart to heal from a love that cannot be. It speaks to the universal experience of trying to let go of someone while hoping for their own emotional well-being.
