If I Can't Love Her
Beauty and the Beast (Japanese cast) Lyrics
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Beast:
And in my twisted face
There's not the slightest trace
Of anything that even hints of kindness
And from my tortured shape
No comfort, no escape
Hopeless
As my dream dies
As the time flies
Love a lost illusion
Helpless
Unforgiven
Cold and driven
To this sad conclusion
No beauty could move me
No goodness improve me
No power on earth, if I can't love her
No passion could reach me
No lesson could teach me
How I could have loved her and make her love me too
If I can't love her, then who?
Long ago I should have seen
All the things I could have been
Careless and unthinking, I moved onward
No pain could be deeper
No life could be cheaper
No point anymore, if I can't love her
No spirit could win me
No hope left within me
Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free
But it's not to be
If I can't love her
Let the world be done with me.
The song "If I Can't Love Her" is a powerful ballad sung by the Beast in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. The lyrics depict the Beast's despair and hopelessness as he realizes that his chances of finding true love and breaking the spell that has been placed upon him may be slipping away. The line "No beauty could move me, no goodness improve me" speaks to the Beast's feeling of being beyond redemption or salvation.
The lyrics also delve into the Beast's inner turmoil and self-loathing, as he believes that his outward appearance is a reflection of his inner ugliness. The line "And from my tortured shape, no comfort, no escape, I see, but deep within is utter blindness" represents his inner struggle and confusion.
Throughout the song, the Beast laments his inability to love and to be loved in return, recognizing that his fate may be sealed. The line "If I can't love her, then who?" speaks to his fear of being forever alone and misunderstood.
Overall, the song "If I Can't Love Her" is a poignant and emotional portrayal of the Beast's struggle with self-loathing, redemption, and ultimately, the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
And in my twisted face
My facial features are contorted and unpleasant to look at
There's not the slightest trace
There is no indication whatsoever
Of anything that even hints of kindness
Of any hint or sign of a benevolent nature
And from my tortured shape
My physical form is tormented
No comfort, no escape
There is no comfort or respite from this torment
I see, but deep within is utter blindness
My innermost self is completely blind to anything positive
Hopeless
Without hope or any prospect of change
As my dream dies
As my aspiration fades away
As the time flies
As time passes without resolution
Love a lost illusion
The notion of love has become an unattainable mirage
Helpless
Completely powerless
Unforgiven
Deserving of no forgiveness
Cold and driven
Emotionless and resolute
To this sad conclusion
To this melancholy outcome
No beauty could move me
No aesthetic or physical attractiveness has the ability to affect me
No goodness improve me
No virtuous qualities could enhance my character
No power on earth, if I can't love her
There is no force or influence that can overcome my inability to love her
No passion could reach me
No strong or intense emotion could penetrate my heart
No lesson could teach me
Nothing can instruct or enlighten me
How I could have loved her and make her love me too
How I could have reciprocated her love for me
If I can't love her, then who?
If I cannot love her, then who else could?
Long ago I should have seen
I should have recognized this long ago
All the things I could have been
All the positive qualities I could have embodied
Careless and unthinking, I moved onward
I foolishly disregarded these possibilities and continued on my path
No pain could be deeper
There is no greater pain
No life could be cheaper
There is no existence more worthless
No point anymore, if I can't love her
There is no reason to continue living if I cannot love her
No spirit could win me
No amount of determination or inspiration could affect me
No hope left within me
All hope has been lost
Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free
I had hoped to love her and for that love to liberate me
But it's not to be
But that dream cannot be realized
If I can't love her
If I cannot love her
Let the world be done with me.
I would prefer for the world to be rid of me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aroamingamerican
Beast:
And in my twisted face
There's not the slightest trace
Of anything that even hints of kindness
And from my tortured shape
No comfort, no escape
I see, but deep within is utter blindness
Hopeless
As my dream dies
As the time flies
Love a lost illusion
Helpless
Unforgiven
Cold and driven
To this sad conclusion
No beauty could move me
No goodness improve me
No power on earth, if I can't love her
No passion could reach me
No lesson could teach me
How I could have loved her and make her love me too
If I can't love her, then who?
Long ago I should have seen
All the things I could have been
Careless and unthinking, I moved onward
No pain could be deeper
No life could be cheaper
No point anymore, if I can't love her
No spirit could win me
No hope left within me
Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free
But it's not to be
If I can't love her
Let the world be done with me.
@OblivionHelena
"No spirit could win me. No hope left within me".
It sounds oddly triumphant as the words are sung with such conviction
@Yeet-yj9lw
OblivionHelena To me, he's completely convinced that there's no hope anymore. The ending of the song is practically suicidal. His conviction isn't really a good thing is this circumstance
@OblivionHelena
Oh of course, it's definitely not a good thing for the character. It's really tragic.
I was simply referring to the way the lines were sung and the acting ability of Terrence Mann.
@horseymusiclover
I see it as a declaration that he WILL learn to love her, with the kind of all-or-nothing approach that involves taking a risk on your last hope. I think it's a shift in attitude from the beginning of the song, when he was melancholy and tragic and hopeless. It does sound triumphant, and I think that's intentional as he gathers the resolve to learn to love her.
@deborahhanna6640
Ok i can see it with that perspective.
@dclark142002
You really don't love someone until you are ready to die for them.
It's why this song is SO MUCH BETTER for this part of this movie than Evermore.
If he can't love Belle, than there is no more reason to live...and it would be a worthy death.
I would even go so far as to say that Evermore isn't about Belle at all. That if you listen to the words divorced from the context...it could just as easily be sung about the Enchantress...
@Somefrickface
Did anyone ever notice that Gaston’s first song ends the same way? With the word “Me,” held at an F note, just like this one? At this point Gaston and Beast had changed roles, and I think this was the perfect subtle symbolism
@musicaltheatrefan2k226
Steve Blanchard played both roles.
@musicaltheatrefan2k226
And Alex Bourne and Earl Carpenter did that (in the 1999 West End show with Annalene Beechey as Belle and in the 2001 UK Tour with Dianne Pilkington as Belle)
@katiefreisem3292
am i the only one who thinks this is the best song in the entire show?