If We Only Have Love

“If We Only Have Love” is the closing track from “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” (Original 1968 Off-Broadway Cast), released that same year. The song is performed by the Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Ensemble, featuring Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, Shawn Elliot and Alice Whitfield. 

The song is a beautiful tribute to love and its capacity to make the world a better, more joyful place for all, giving several examples. Of course, there are many more to list nowadays, with wars, hate and division, sickness, sorrows, the climate emergency, poverty, hunger, homelessness, loneliness, and so many burdens on people, animals and all the living environment around the globe. If only our leaders were guided by love instead of the love of power, we would have a healthier and more harmonious world.

In various lines, Brel uses rich imagery and metaphor to convey powerful messages. For instance, the repetition of the phrase “If we only have love” sets a simple yet profound premise that love is essential for all that we aspire to achieve.  The line “Love is falling like rain” suggests abundance and nourishment, implying that love has the potential to revitalize even the most barren parts of life, just as rain brings life to a dry landscape.