Ain't No Way
Aretha Franklin Lyrics


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Ain't no way
For me to love you
If you won't let me
It ain't no way
For me to give you all you need
If you won't let me give all of me

I know that a woman's duty
Is to help and love a man
And that's the way
It was planned

Oh but how can I, how can I, how can I
Give you all the things I can
If you're tying both of my hands?

Oh ho, it ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It just ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
Ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way
For me to love you
If you won't let me

Stop trying to be
Someone you're not
Hard, cold and cruel is a man
Who paid too much for what he got
And if you need me
Like you say, say you do
Oh then please, please
Please don't you know that I need you?

Oh, it ain't no way
I tell you that it ain't no way
It ain't no way, it ain't no way, baby, no
It just ain't no way
It sure ain't no way
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me

Ain't no way




If you won't let me
Ain't no way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Aretha Franklin's song Ain't No Way express frustration and heartache at a partner's refusal to allow her to fully love and care for him. The first verse establishes the theme of being unable to love someone who won't let her, and the following verse highlights the societal expectations for women to support and love their men. The chorus repeats the sentiment that it's impossible for her to love him if he won't let her.


The second verse is a plea for the partner to stop trying to be someone he's not and to recognize the mutual need for each other. She highlights the harsh reality of a man who has paid too much for what he's received and begs for him to reciprocate her feelings. The final repetition of "ain't no way" emphasizes the futility of the situation, and the song ends on a melancholic note.


Overall, the lyrics of Ain't No Way are a powerful portrayal of the pain and frustration that can come from loving someone who is unwilling to be vulnerable and accept love in return. Aretha Franklin's emotional delivery of the song only heightens its impact.


Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no way
There is absolutely no possibility


For me to love you
I cannot love you the way I want to


If you won't let me
If you don't allow me to love you the way I want to


It ain't no way
There is no possibility


For me to give you all you need
I cannot fulfill your needs completely


If you won't let me give all of me
If you don't allow me to give everything I have


I know that a woman's duty
I understand society's expectations of a woman


Is to help and love a man
To support and love a man is considered a woman's duty


And that's the way
That's how it's always been


It was planned
It's the way society expects things to be


Oh but how can I, how can I, how can I
But, I wonder how I can


Give you all the things I can
Offer all of myself and everything I have


If you're tying both of my hands?
If you're preventing me from doing so


Oh ho, it ain't no way
There's simply no way


(Ain't no way)


It ain't no way
It's impossible


(Ain't no way)


It just ain't no way, baby
There's just no way, my love


(Ain't no way)


Ain't no way, baby
There's no way, my love


(Ain't no way)


It ain't no way
It's impossible


For me to love you
I cannot love you fully


If you won't let me
If you don't allow me to


Stop trying to be
Don't attempt to act


Someone you're not
As somebody you're not


Hard, cold and cruel is a man
A man who is tough, unfeeling and brutal


Who paid too much for what he got
A man who sacrificed a lot for what he has now


And if you need me
If you truly require my love


Like you say, say you do
As you claim you do


Oh then please, please
Then please, please


Please don't you know that I need you?
Don't you realize that I need you?


I tell you that it ain't no way
I'm telling you there's no way


It ain't no way, it ain't no way, baby, no
It's impossible, my love


It just ain't no way
There is absolutely no possibility


It sure ain't no way
It's definitely not a possibility


It ain't no way for me to love you
I cannot love you fully the way I want to


If you won't let me
If you don't allow me to


Ain't no way
It's impossible


If you won't let me
If you don't allow me to


Ain't no way
It's impossible




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carolyn Franklin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ntsvocalcommunity445

Ain't No Way"

Ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
Ain't no way for me to give you all you need
If you won't let me give all of me

I know that a woman's duty
Is to help and love a man
And that's the way it was planned

Oh but how can I, how can I, how can I
Give you all the things I can
If you're tying both of my hands?

Oh, it ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It just ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
Ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me

Stop trying to be someone you're not
How cold and cruel is a man
Who paid too much for what he got?
And if you need me like you say, say you do
Oh then please, please
Please don't you know that I need you?

Oh, it ain't no way
I tell you that it ain't no way
It ain't no way, it ain't no way, baby, no
It just ain't no way
It sure ain't no way
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
No way
If you won't let me
Ain't no way



All comments from YouTube:

@achosenvessel6563

Cissy Houston ain't no joke on them background vocals.

@lois1677

Yea
Wish there's a video of her doing that operatic aria.

@deborahmccoy3837

She’s On Point; Seriously “ On Point “. For Real !!!

@nwezeikennadavid8282

Mother to Whitney,, the greatest

@bran7163

Right... she's got that and Aretha...such a legend!!

@caesarrucker728

Cissy Houston ain't no joke whatever she is singing.

45 More Replies...

@clr1003

AND STILL ❤2024

@ninafisher6067

There will never be another Aretha, Ella, Sara V . All unforgettable voices, will go down in history! Can't imagine anyone not loving Aretha Franklin. Makes my heart smile❤

@joelharrison9432

Big thanks to Aretha’s sister Carolyn Franklin for writing this masterpiece 👏

@Chicanaloca

Aretha playing piano just keeps going on & on & on..oh my.

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