I Can’t Make You Love Me
Adele Lyrics


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Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices
Inside my head

Lay down with me
And tell me no lies
Just hold me closly
Don't patronize

Don't patronize me

'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something that it won't
And even in the dark
These final hours
I will lay down my heart
I will feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me
When you don't
When you don't, yeah

I'll close my eyes
'Cause then I don't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me

Morning will come
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight

And I will give up this fight

'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something that it won't
And even in the dark
These final hours
I will lay down my heart
I will feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me
When you don't




When you don't, ooh don't
You, when you don't, yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

"14. I Can't Make You Love Me" is a hauntingly beautiful song sung by Adele in her album "21". The song was originally written and sung by Bonnie Raitt, but Adele gave it a new life with her powerful voice and soulful interpretation. The song is about unrequited love and the heartache that comes with it. The lyrics talk about a lover who is trying to make their significant other love them, but they know deep down that it's not possible. The singer pleads with their lover to be honest and not patronize them. The chorus is a powerful statement that the singer cannot make their lover love them if they don't feel it themselves.


The song is a powerful expression of vulnerability and the raw emotions that come with unrequited love. The imagery of turning down the lights, turning down the bed and the voices inside the head create a mood of intimacy and introspection. The singer wants to be held closely and reassured that their love is reciprocated, but deep down they know that it's not. The song's melancholy tone and vocals create a sense of heartbreak and sadness that lingers long after the song is over. Adele's version of the song is considered one of the definitive covers of the song and is frequently played at weddings and other romantic occasions.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn down the lights
Reduce the brightness around me, make everything appear dimmer


Turn down the bed
Prepare the bed for rest, make it less inviting


Turn down these voices
Silence the sounds in my mind, ease my troubled thoughts


Inside my head
Referring to the noise inside her own mind


Lay down with me
Rest with me, share my company


And tell me no lies
Be honest with me, don't deceive or manipulate me


Just hold me closly
Embrace me tightly, show me affection


Don't patronize
Don't condescend, treat me with respect


Don't patronize me
Reiterating the previous line, emphasizing the demand for sincerity


'Cause I can't make you love me
Acknowledging the inability to control someone else's feelings


If you don't
Specifying the condition of love not being reciprocated


You can't make your heart feel
Highlighting the futility in trying to force oneself to love


Something that it won't
Elaborating on the previous line, emphasizing the impossibility of forcing oneself to love


And even in the dark
Despite being in a difficult situation


These final hours
The final moments of intimacy shared with the other person


I will lay down my heart
Giving one's all, opening up emotionally


I will feel the power
Experiencing the strong emotions that come with intimacy


But you won't
The other person won't reciprocate these emotions


No, you won't
Emphasizing the refusal of the other person to love


'Cause I can't make you love me
Reiterating the fact that love cannot be forced


When you don't
Referring to the other person's lack of love


When you don't, yeah
Emphasizing the other person's lack of love with a tone of resignation


I'll close my eyes
Avoiding the realization of the other person's lack of love


'Cause then I don't see
By doing so, she doesn't have to face the truth


The love you don't feel
Referring to the love the other person doesn't reciprocate


When you're holding me
Even when they're being intimate


Morning will come
The start of a new day


And I'll do what's right
Doing what's best for herself, despite the pain of letting go


Just give me till then
Asking for some time to come to terms with the situation


To give up this fight
Accepting the reality of an unrequited love


And I will give up this fight
Committing to letting go of the other person


'Cause I can't make you love me
Reiterating the fact that love cannot be forced


If you don't
Specifying the condition of love not being reciprocated


You can't make your heart feel
Highlighting the futility in trying to force oneself to love


Something that it won't
Elaborating on the previous line, emphasizing the impossibility of forcing oneself to love


And even in the dark
Despite being in a difficult situation


These final hours
The final moments of intimacy shared with the other person


I will lay down my heart
Giving one's all, opening up emotionally


I will feel the power
Experiencing the strong emotions that come with intimacy


But you won't
The other person won't reciprocate these emotions


No, you won't
Emphasizing the refusal of the other person to love


'Cause I can't make you love me
Reiterating the fact that love cannot be forced


When you don't
Referring to the other person's lack of love


When you don't, ooh don't
Emphasizing the other person's lack of love with a tone of resignation


You, when you don't
Addressing the other person's lack of love


Yeah, yeah
Expressing a sense of sadness and finality




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Allen Shamblin, Michael Reid

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@mikir6489

THE WORST FEELING IS FEELING UNWANTED BY THE PERSON YOU WANT THE MOST .

@justynawojcicka5344

No the worst feeling is when this person love you to and destroy her or his life for you

@simplekelly7668

i feel the same way too..its really hurt when you really love someone but he cant love me back the way i love him..

@kimtavares1339

In that situation now and I cry myself to sleep every night

@Josh-Stewart

That's what I've been feeling for the past year

@luigipiraino3528

I hope you all find real love!!!❤️💕

59 More Replies...

@christinemcgregor5720

22 years of marriage and 6 children. I knew in my gut my husband was no longer in love with me. Thats the most terrible hurt I ever felt. Felt this song deep during the break up. 3 years later I rise! It doesn’t hurt as much anymore. I am stronger and more myself than I ever was in the marriage. Hang in there and allow yourself time to heal. It will come. This song is a healing song of acceptance. Bless my fellow broken hearts. ❤️

P.S. It’s been 7 years since the divorce (4 years since I originally wrote this post) and I can confidently say it was the best thing that ever happened to me! Although it was a dark time in my life I now see the light! I was a codependent wife and now I am living my best life, fully and freely! No more sad tears, just tears of joy and gratitude! Love and tenderness to all those who are experiencing heartbreak. I’m here to give you hope that you will get though it! 🤍

@Eatmycolors

@naynamanga4820

👏

@deshawn5590

Christine McGregor

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