If I'd Known

"If I'd Known" is the ninth track on Time 'n' Place.

Composition
"If I'd Known" was written primarily by Jamie. The chords were informed by Randy Newman while the scream that opens the track - made by Jamie himself - was "inspired by Prince. This song was the first song completed for the record. The song features Jamie's first rap on a KKB track. Jamie said: "I had a good go at the "If I’d Known" verse and it weren’t working so I remember just smashing it out in one go almost angrily with a friend silently on their laptop on the sofa in the background."

Jamie played an EKO Violin Bass (new model) and an old Fender Mustang Short Scale across the album. Press Play Studios is almost directly opposite the flat Jamie lived in on Ilderton Road in Bermondsey during the making of Time 'n' Place. Jamie remembers waving from his front room at Gus leaving the studio late most nights.

The song's guitar solo was improvised by James in one take for the song's demo in 2017. We tried more later but none matched this. The song is a product of five stages of the album's development: ancient files, demos, band sessions, home production and studio overdubs. In mixing up all these eras and recording processes, the band was exploring humanity's nostalgia for different stages of memory and media, acknowledging its irrationality and instead seeing if they could make something interesting by embracing the mess.

Meaning
"If I'd Known" reflects the shift in perspective that comes with getting older. This song also refracts personal reflection through the existentially wide lens of multiverse theory.

Lyrics
Looking back, I ponder all the possibilities That I had sat right in front of me Every one an option or decision Giving birth to a dedicated universe

Only if I'd known long ago That a choice will grow Into another road

But I heard that every single version of events Will occur whatever we expect And as such I really needn't worry very much 'Cos I feel all worlds at once

Only if I'd known long ago Space is ours to roam If you can find your own

Reality proves me It goes pretty smoothly But I haven't found the meaning Quite yet

Only if I'd known long ago That a choice will grow Into another road Only if I'd known long ago Space is ours to roam If you can find your own

Who tore the sky? Who copied me? Water going back on itself up to the sea Is that, a whole world talking From just behind the ceiling? Watch me get my two time lines Not going through the door all alone I leave something on the side So you know I said hello