"If I Could Choose" was the Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967

Eurovision Song Contest 1967

The Eurovision Song Contest 1967 was the twelfth Eurovision Song Contest. The presenter became confused whilst the voting was taking place, and declared the United Kingdom's entry to be the winner before the last country, Ireland, had announced its votes...

, performed in English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 by Sean Dunphy

Sean Dunphy

Sean Dunphy was an Irish singer who represented Ireland at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving second place with "If I Could Choose". He was also the first Irish singer to record in Nashville....

.

The song is a ballad, in which Dunphy tells his lover how special she is to him. He explains that, while he currently lives in County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

, he would willingly live in a desert if it meant that he could live with her. He also sets up other scenarios, including choosing to walk "the longest road" with her and talk with her on "the longest day", asking "What would I lose if I could choose?".

The musical arrangement of this song was by Pat King.

The song was performed 17th (last) on the night, following Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

's Claudio Villa

Claudio Villa

Claudio Villa may refer to:*Claudio Villa , Italian singer*Claudio Villa , Italian comics artist*Claudio Villas Boas , Brazilian activist...

 with "Non andare più lontano

Non Andare Più Lontano

"Non andare più lontano" was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967, performed in Italian by Claudio Villa....

". At the close of voting, it had received 22 points, placing second in a field of 17.

It was succeeded as Irish representative

Republic of Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Ireland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest at the 1965 Contest in Naples, participating in every subsequent Contest but two: the 1983 Contest in Munich and the 2002 Contest in Tallinn...

 at the 1968 contest

Eurovision Song Contest 1968

The Eurovision Song Contest 1968 was the 13th Eurovision Song Contest. The contest was won by the Spanish song "La, la, la", performed by Massiel....

 by Pat McGeegan with "Chance of a Lifetime".