"If I Loved You" is a celebrated show tune from the beloved 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel". The song falls under the genre of popular music and was introduced to the world by John Raitt as "Billy Bigelow" and Jan Clayton as "Julie Jordan" in the original Broadway production. "If I Loved You" is a tender and hesitant declaration of love between the characters of Billy and Julie, who are too shy to express their true feelings directly. The song's poignant lyrics and beautiful melody have made it a timeless classic, covered by numerous artists over the years, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Harry James, all of whom had hit versions of the song in 1945. The enduring popularity of "If I Loved You" speaks to its universal themes of love, longing, and the fear of vulnerability.
