"If Only" (좋을텐데) is a song by JOY, a South Korean singer and member of the K-pop girl group Red Velvet. The lyrics express feelings of longing and regret for a missed opportunity in a relationship. The song starts with the desire to hold hands and walk together with the person, expressing the wish that if they had walked that path, the singer would be the only one in their life. The mention of a previous conversation about a woman and the anticipation of receiving a call from her suggests that the person being sung about might have feelings for someone else. However, the singer still longs to be with them, even if it means enduring the pain of being just a friend. The lyrics also explore the uncertainty of the person's feelings towards the singer. The singer wonders if they are a good person or if the person even notices them. The mention of receiving gifts and the person's appearance of being happy when they received them heightens the longing and anticipation within the song. The song continues to express the pain of hearing about the person's experiences with others and the desire to be by their side instead. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been watching over their friendship, afraid of losing them, but now realizes that they should have expressed their feelings sooner. Overall, "If Only" portrays the bittersweet emotions of unrequited love and the longing for a missed chance. The singer yearns for a different outcome, wishing that they had taken the opportunity to be with the person they desire.
