I Can't Make You Love Me
Adele Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

The lyrics to Adele's song "I Can't Make You Love Me" depict the painful realization of a failed relationship. The first verse is a plea from the singer to her partner to quiet the voices in her head that are telling her the relationship has ended. The lines "Just hold me closely, Don't patronize, Don't patronize me" indicate that the singer knows that her partner does not love her anymore but she still wants physical comfort.


In the chorus, the singer recognizes the harsh truth that she cannot force her partner to love her if he/she doesn't. The line "You can't make your heart feel, something that it won't" is that painful truth that the singer has come to accept. Even though the singer lays down her heart in these final hours, she knows that her partner won't feel the same way.


The second verse shows the singer accepting that the relationship has ended, and in the last line "You, when you don't, yeah, yeah" she is confirming that her partner does not love her anymore. The song ends with the singer asking for a little more time to give up the fight and accept the ending of the relationship, knowing her partner won't love her back.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn down the lights
Lowering the brightness of the surroundings


Turn down the bed
Preparing to sleep


Turn down these voices Inside my head
Wanting to silence the internal feelings and thoughts


Lay down with me
Asking for comfort, companionship


And tell me no lies
Wanting honesty and sincerity


Just hold me closely
Craving for physical affection


Don't patronize
Don't pretend to care or love


Don't patronize me
Reinforcing the idea of not wanting fake love


'Cause I can't make you love me If you don't
Acknowledging the impossibility of making someone love you


You can't make your heart feel Something that it won't
Highlighting the fact that emotions cannot be forced or controlled


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
Despite trying, the other person won't reciprocate the love


'Cause I can't make you love me When you don't
Restating the inability to make the other person love you


I'll close my eyes 'Cause then I don't see The love you don't feel When you're holding me
Preferring not to face the reality of unrequited love


Morning will come And I'll do what's right Just give me till then To give up this fight
Facing the truth in the morning and surrendering to the situation


And I will give up this fight
Accepting the defeat of trying to make the other person love you


'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
Repeating the message that love cannot be forced or faked




Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Unison Rights S.L., AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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!!!ā¤ļøšŸ’•

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 doesnā€™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. ā¤ļø

P.S. Itā€™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. Iā€™m here to give you hope that you will get though it! šŸ¤

@Eatmycolors

ā™„

@naynamanga4820

šŸ‘

@deshawn5590

Christine McGregor

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