If I Can't Love You
Bee Gees Lyrics


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Don't know why
I'm surviving every lonely day
When there's got to be
No chance for me

My life would end
And it don'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 will do

If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh

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
Am I strong enough to see it through
Go crazy is what I will do

If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh

If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh

If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh

If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't have you




I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

The Bee Gees' song "If I Can't Have You" is a poignant pop ballad about unrequited love. In the song, the singer expresses their despair and helplessness in not being able to have the person they love. The opening lines of the song, "Don't know why I'm surviving every lonely day, when there's got to be no chance for me," convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation. The singer is convinced that their life would end if they couldn't have the person they long for, even though their tears of love are a waste of time.


The lyrics of the chorus, "If I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby," are a declaration of the singer's undying love for the person they desire. They would rather be alone forever than be with anyone else. The desperation in the verses is compounded by the repetition of the chorus which highlights just how much the singer feels they need the person they can't have. The line, "Am I strong enough to see it through, go crazy is what I will do," is a plea for strength while at the same time an admission of how much power the object of their love has over them.


Overall, the song is a touching portrayal of the depths of unrequited love and how it can leave someone feeling lost and hopeless.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't know why
I am uncertain about the reason behind my survival.


I'm surviving every lonely day
I am managing to survive every day, despite feeling alone.


When there's got to be
Even though it seems certain that there is no hope.


No chance for me
I know that there is no chance for me to be with the person I desire.


My life would end
The significance that this person holds for me is so great that if they were gone, my life would seem meaningless.


And it don't matter how I cry
Even though I cry often and with intensity, it doesn't seem to lessen the pain I feel.


My tears of love
My tears signify the strong emotions of love that I feel.


Are a waste of time
However, my tears don't seem to be changing the reality of the situation and are therefore futile.


If I turn away
If I try to forget the person that I desire.


Am I strong enough to see it through
I wonder if I am strong enough to get over this person and move on.


Go crazy is what I will do
If I can't handle the emotional distress, I might lose control of my sanity.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person that I desire.


I don't want nobody baby
I don't want to be with anyone else.


Can't let go
I am unable to forget this person and let them go.


And it doesn't matter how I try
No amount of effort on my part seems to change the reality of the situation.


I gave it all so easily
I was willing to give everything to this person so easily, with no strings attached.


To you my love
I am referring to the person that I desire.


To dreams that never will come true
Refers to aspirations that will never become a reality.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


I don't want nobody baby
I don't want to be with anyone else.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person I desire.


I don't want nobody baby
I don't want to be with anyone else.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.


If I can't have you
If I can't be with the person I desire.


I don't want nobody baby
I don't want to be with anyone else.


If I can't have you, oh oh oh oh
If I can't be with the person I desire.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAURO MALAVASI, DAVID ROMANI, WAYNE K. GARFIELD, BARRY GIBB, MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Cindy C.

I can’t get enough of this version by The Bee Gees. ❤️

SelectCircle

One time and I'm done with it. Back to Ellmann's.

Orale

@SelectCircle Beegees version is 100x more better

SelectCircle

@Orale Remind me never to consider your opinion in regard to anything whatsoever.

1 More Replies...

frisco

I wasn’t into disco, but these guys were just beyond everything.

Maiden Mikes World of Museum Collectibles

I’m a full blown metal head but I’d admit these guys were absolutely incredible.

Peter P21

It’s the musicianship. And Barry Gibb was an absolute monster when it came to songwriting, producing, and performing. Wrote 16 #1 hits; at one point 5 songs he wrote hit the Top 10 in the same week. Insane.

Pepito Toro

Why would anyone want to listen to just one genre of music?...open your mind and ears to other music my friend.

Maiden Mikes World of Museum Collectibles

@Pepito Toro I do. But my preference is metal. But I also think Celine dion, Yanni, Bee Gees, Frankie Valli and the four seasons are all amazing at there era of music.

Pepito Toro

@Maiden Mikes World of Museum Collectibles For me depending on the mood or what I'm doing sure in hell not playing Bee Gees while I work out lol metal or rap for sure

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