What If

Album: Simple Plan
Songwriters: Pierre Bouvier, Chuck Comeau, Arnold Lanni
Additional collaboration: Dave Fortman (production), Dave Campbell (strings arrangement and conduction), Liam O’Neil (keyboards)
Length: 5:58

For this particular song, the band has been inspired by the TV show Heroes – particularly by the character of Peter Petrelli (who can absorb superpowers from other “heroes”), who is desperately trying to save the world. This is what Pierre said about “What If”:

“In the last few years we watched TV a lot and we really got into Heroes. It was a little bit inspired by the character of Peter Petrelli, who feels abused and he’s trying to do a good thing, even though a lot of people is against him. That’s how we saw it for our song. I think that if somebody’s trying to do something important or something that should look a bit controversial, if you go throught it, you must go through obstacles and it’s a bit confusing because you don’t know if you want to do it or not. Look at somebody like Al Gore, he took all his courage and started doing crazy things and I think that a lot of people are probably against him. It’s about such a feeling you have, when you’re going through such things.”

– Pierre Bouvier –

I remember going back
To the place we used to lay
But I keep losing track
And now the days they all turn black
And our dreams all start to fade
But there’s no turning back

Cause the world keeps turning
Why do you tell me you care
If you’re not gonna stay?
My heart’s still burning
Why do you tell me you care?

What if I change the world
If I lead the way
What if I be the one
That takes the blame
What if I can’t go on without you
What if I graduate
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?

I’m slowly giving up
As the world keeps losing faith
And you still turn your back
Now the path I follow
Takes a toll on me, on you
But there’s no turning back

Cause the world keeps turning
Why do you tell me you care
If you’re not gonna stay?
My heart’s still burning
Why do you tell me you care?

What if I change the world
If I lead the way
What if I be the one
That takes the blame
What if I can’t go on without you
What if I graduate
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?
What if I don’t?

I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
For you to call me

I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
For you to call me

I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
For you to call me

What if I lead the way
What if I graduate
What if I change the world
Would you still remember me?

What if I lead the way
What if I graduate
What if I change the world
Would you still remember me?

I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
For you to call me

I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
I’ll be waiting here
For you to call me