美國歌壇天后［芭芭拉史翠珊］──成人流行抒情曲──［If I Could／假如我能］

If I could

Id protect you from the sadness in your eyes

Give you courage in a world of compromise

Yes, I would

If I could

I would teach you all the things Ive never learned

And Id help you cross the bridges that Ive burned

Yes, I would

If I could

I would try to shield your innocence from time

But the part of life I gave you isnt mine

Ive watched you grow

So I could let you go

If I could

I would help you make it through the hungry years

But I know that I can never cry your tears

But I would

If I could

If I live

In a time and place where you dont want to be

You dont have to walk along this road with me

My yesterday

Wont have to be your way

If I knew

Id have tried to change the world I brought to you to

And there isnt very much that I can do

But I would

If I could

If I could

I would try to shield your innocence from time

But the part of life I gave you isnt mine

Ive watched you grow

So I could let you go

If, if I could

I would help you make it through those hungry years

But I know that I can never cry your tears

But I would

If I could

Yes I would

Yes I would

If I could

１９９７年１１月，５５歲半的美國歌壇巨星芭芭拉．史翠珊（Barbra Streisand）發行２７張錄音室大碟［Higher Ground］（Columbia出版）

製作人除她本人外, 尚包括Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, Arif Mardin, Jeremy Lubbock, Mervyn Warren

樂評中等，但商業表現成功：

登上睽違１２年的美國Billboard專輯榜后座, 為其事業第八張冠軍

拿到３白金（３００萬張＋）（1998年終#16）

英國＃１２　金唱片（１０萬張＋）（1997年終#64）

加拿大＃５　３白金唱片（３０萬張＋）（1997年終#11）

荷蘭＃５　白金唱片（１０萬張＋）

澳大利亞＃１４　白金唱片（７萬張＋）

首支單曲［Tell Me］與加拿大天后席琳狄翁（Celine Dion）合唱, 登上英國單曲榜＃３, 成為歐洲暢銷曲。

１９９８年初, 芭芭拉推出第二單曲［If I Could／假如我能］──美國只以宣傳主打推出, 歐洲只限地發行。

此曲由Ken Hirsch, Ron Miller, Marti Sharron譜寫。

曾由爵士樂歌手Nancy Wilson,非裔歌姬Regina Belle灌錄,

史翠珊版由她跟Arif Mardin製作成一首成人流行抒情曲，Jeremy Lubbock負責管弦樂編曲與指揮, 芭芭拉的演繹深情投入。

由於宣傳不多, ［If I Could］並沒入榜, 但仍是首精緻的翻唱。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LutUkQhrWEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYVCxzfTaZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMlnn2COHRo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QFyKnMIa_4