Lambert released his debut album, 'For Your Entertainment', in November 2009, via RCA Records/19 Recordings. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 in December 2009, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in the first week. To date, he is the first American Idol contestant to headline a world-wide tour in support of a debut album. As of January 2011, For Your Entertainment had sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. In 2010, Lambert was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Whataya Want from Me". His single "If I Had You", also from that album, has additionally received major critical and commercial acclaim,
Emboldened by his passionate fan-base, Lambert released his second studio album, 'Trespassing', in the U.S. on May 15th, 2012. Lambert served as an executive producer on the album, which the Better Than I Know Myself Songfacts reports him saying that it takes his fans on "an exciting journey through the past two years" of his life. The American Idol runner-up added, "It's been a transformative period and I really wanted to make music from what I've experienced. All these songs honestly explore the ups and downs of my reality."
In terms of his vocal talents, Adam Lambert has been compared to past glam rock and hard rock legends such as Queen's Freddie Mercury, Sweet's Brian Connolly, and The Who's Roger Daltrey. British rocker Brian May has had this to say about Adam’s voice: "I’m not easily moved to jelly by male vocalists... but Adam’s voice reaches out with sensitivity, depth, maturity, and awesome range and power which will make jaws drop all around the world... no doubt about it. The world of Rock has a bright new star."
Website: http://www.adamofficial.com/us/home
If I Can't Have You
Adam Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When there's got to be no chance for me
My life would end and it doesn't matter how I cry
My tears of love are a waste of time
If I turn away am I strong enough to see it through?
Go crazy is what I do
If I can't have you
If I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby
Can't let go and it doesn't matter how I try
I gave it all so easily to you my love
To dreams that never will come true
My tears of love are a waste of time
If I turn away am I strong enough to see it through?
Go crazy is what I'll do
If I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, if I can't have you
If I can't have you I don't want nobody
If I can't have you, if I can't have you
Am I strong enough to see it through?
If I can't have you
The song "If I Can't Have You" by Adam Lambert deals with the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness in trying to move on from a love that is not returned. The singer is struggling to understand why they are still surviving every lonely day even though they feel there is no chance for their love to be reciprocated. The pain of not being able to have their love is so intense that they don't want anyone else if they can't have the one they desire.
The lyrics also express a fear of turning away from this love and being unable to move on with life. The singer questions their own strength in being able to see it through and imagines going crazy if they can't have the person they love. The chorus repeats the same sentiment - if they can't have the person they desire, they don't want anyone else.
Overall, the song captures the raw emotions of rejection and unrequited love. It conveys the depth of pain and despair that can come from loving someone who doesn't feel the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know why I'm surviving every lonely day
I can't understand how I am able to carry on living every single day alone and without the one I love.
When there's got to be no chance for me
I feel like there is no hope of being with the one I want.
My life would end and it doesn't matter how I cry
Even if I cry my heart out, my life would still seem pointless without the one I desire.
My tears of love are a waste of time
Crying over someone who I can't have is just a waste of my emotions.
If I turn away am I strong enough to see it through?
If I try to move on from this person, will I be able to handle it?
Go crazy is what I do
It's possible that I might lose my sanity as a result.
If I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby
I only want the person I love, and if I can't have them, I don't want anyone else.
Can't let go and it doesn't matter how I try
I find it impossible to let go of my feelings for this person, even if I try.
I gave it all so easily to you my love
I willingly gave everything to the one I love.
To dreams that never will come true
All of my hopes and aspirations for a life with this person will never come true.
If I can't have you I don't want nobody
I would rather be alone than be with someone who isn't the person I love.
Am I strong enough to see it through?
I question whether I am strong enough to move on from these feelings.
If I can't have you
I only want the one I love, and if I can't be with them, then nothing else matters.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barry Alan Gibb, Maurice Ernest Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ardenwolfe
Still one of the best performances, if not the best one, in Idol history.
@lisavivola5988
This young man can turn an already good song into an absolute masterpiece. He is beyond talented....
@mirianscott7669
So true! Unique, blessed!
@mirianscott7669
I even like his version better now
@superfreak3050
And Kris Allen won. murica lol
@sharonm.6413
One of the best performances EVER on American Idol. FLAWLESS
@robertmartin1325
Sharon M. Exactly!
@ericlind6581
Sharon M. This and Brian Crum's Creep
@myrtlebeaching
Sharon M. , agree 💯 %. Here I am 5 years after your post. I searched for this performance because it’s so amazing!
@mediakel
Absolutely positively love Adam Lambert... even in 2013.... he is the only IDOL ever! :)