If I Could Turn Back Time

"If I Could Turn Back Time" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 1989 nineteenth studio album Heart of Stone. It was released as the album's lead single in July 1989, by Geffen Records. The song was written specifically for Cher by Diane Warren, who produced it in collaboration with Guy Roche. Cher initially rejected the song after listening to a demo sung by Warren, but subsequently changed her opinion after the latter forced her to record it. The lyrics talk about the feelings of remorse due to bad deeds and the willingness to reverse time to make things right.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" is a pop rock and soft rock song that features instrumentation from guitars, piano and drums. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who applauded its overall production and Cher's vocal performance, with some considering it to be a highlight of the album. Commercially, the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Cher's first number-one hit in Australia. It also reached the top 10 of the record charts in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The accompanying music video for "If I Could Turn Back Time", directed by Marty Callner, was shot on board of the battleship USS Missouri and portrays Cher performing for the ship's crew, wearing a leather thong that revealed her tattooed buttocks and straddling a cannon. Military personnel condemned the video, while some family groups protested against its broadcast, because they deemed it offensive for the Navy and controversial. Following these protests, MTV was forced to air the video after the 9pm watershed.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" has been performed on seven of Cher's concert tours, most recently on the Here We Go Again Tour in 2018–2020, and at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. The song has been covered by a number of artists and has also been featured on the soundtrack of Deadpool 2 (2018), among others. "If I Could Turn Back Time" is noted for the mayhem surrounding its music video and has been considered one of Cher's most representative songs and a testament to her longevity, with her ability to continuously reinvent herself and remain relevant and contemporary.

Lyrics
"If I could turn back time If I could find a way I'd take back those words that have hurt you And you'd stay" "I don't know why I did the things I did I don't know why I said the things I said Pride's like a knife, it can cut deep inside Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes""I didn't really mean to hurt you I didn't wanna see you go I know I made you cry, but baby" "If I could turn back time If I could find a way I'd take back those words that have hurt you And you'd stay If I could reach the stars I'd give 'em all to you Then you'd love me, love me Like you used to do (If I could turn back time)" "My world was shattered, I was torn apart Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart When you walked out that door I swore that I didn't care But I lost every thing, darlin', then and there" "Too strong to tell you I was sorry Too proud to tell you I was wrong I know that I was blind, and darlin’" "If I could turn back time If I could find a way I'd take back those words that have hurt you And you'd stay If I could reach the stars I'd give 'em all to you Then you'd love me, love me Like you used to do, ohh" "If I could turn back time (If I could turn back time) If I could turn back time (If I could turn back time) If I could turn back time, ohh baby" "I didnt really mean to hurt you I didn't wanna see you go I know I made you cry But ohh" "If I could turn back time If I could find a way I'd take back those words that have hurt you If I could reach the stars I'd give them all to you Then you'd love me, love me Like you used to do" "If I could turn back time (Turn back time) If I could find a way (Find a way) Then maybe, maybe, maybe you'd stay (Reach the stars)"

Appearances in Idea Wiki

 * The song is mentioned in the Prelude comic book series of Marvel Superhero Adventures: Intergalactic Grand Prix. In a flashback of Gamora's first encounter with Star-Lord, she listens to one of the songs in Star-Lord's radio. Lyrics in the background confirm to be "If I Could Turn Back Time".