During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. She performed a new concert show, The Showgirl Must Go On, live five nights a week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2011 (together with Cher and Elton John).
You Can't Hurry Love
Bette Midler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To ease my mind
I need to find, find someone to call mine
But mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
You gotta trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
But how many heartaches
Must I stand before I find a love
To let me live again
Right now the only thing
That keeps me hangin' on
When I feel my strength
Yeah it's almost gone
I remember mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
How long must I wait
How much more can I take
Before loneliness will cause
My poor heart to break?
No I can't bear to live my life alone
I grow impatient for a love to call my own
But when I feel that I, that I simply can't go on
These precious words keeps me hangin' on
I remember mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, darling
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
No, love, love, love don't come easy
But I keep on waiting
Anticipating for that soft voice
To talk to me at night
For some tender arms
To hold me tight
I keep waiting
I keep on waiting
But it ain't easy (no, it ain't easy)
No, it ain't easy (no!)
But mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, darling
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
You got to trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, darling
It's a game of give and take
“You Can’t Hurry Love” by Bette Midler tells a relatable story of a lonely heart seeking love and companionship. The lyrics tell the story of the singer’s mother advising her to be patient and wait for love, and the singer’s own impatience and longing for love. The lyrics stress that love is not something that can be rushed or forced, and that it takes time and effort to find true love.
The song highlights the struggle of loneliness and the desire to find a companion to share life with. The lyrics emphasize that love is not something that can be bought or hurried, but instead is a game of give and take and requires trust and patience. The song also suggests that in spite of the pain and heartache of waiting for love, it's important to hold on and keep waiting because finding true love is worth it in the end.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the universal need for love and understanding, and the importance of trusting and waiting for love to come naturally.
Line by Line Meaning
I need love, love, love
The singer feels a strong desire for love and emphasizes this need by repeating the word 'love.'
To ease my mind
Love would provide comfort and reassurance for the singer's mind, which may be troubled or anxious.
I need to find, find someone to call mine
The singer wants to find a romantic partner who she can claim as her own, suggesting a desire for a committed relationship.
But mama said you can't hurry love
The singer's mother has given her advice that love cannot be rushed, indicating that the singer may be feeling impatience or urgency.
No, you just have to wait
The singer's mother suggests that waiting is a necessary part of finding love, and that impatience will not speed up the process.
She said love don't come easy
The singer's mother implies that love is difficult to find and may require effort, suggesting that the singer should not expect immediate or effortless results.
It's a game of give and take
The singer's mother describes love as a balance between taking and giving, indicating that relationships require compromise and mutual effort.
You gotta trust, give it time
The singer acknowledges that trust is an important aspect of love and that waiting patiently is necessary for building that trust and allowing love to develop.
No matter how long it takes
The singer acknowledges that love may take a long time to find, and that she needs to be prepared to wait patiently until she finds the right person.
But how many heartaches must I stand before I find a love
The singer expresses frustration and pain at having experienced multiple heartbreaks, and suggests a fear that she may continue to experience heartache before finding love.
To let me live again
The singer suggests that love would bring new life and meaning to her existence, implying that she may currently feel unfulfilled or unhappy.
Right now the only thing that keeps me hangin' on
The singer reveals that she is currently struggling and the only thing keeping her going is the hope of finding love.
When I feel my strength yeah it's almost gone
The singer suggests that she is close to giving up or losing hope, indicating that searching for love has been emotionally draining for her.
How long must I wait
The singer repeats her earlier frustration and impatience, asking how much longer she must wait for love to find her.
How much more can I take
The singer implies that she has already suffered a lot and wonders how much more she can endure before finding love.
Before loneliness will cause my poor heart to break?
The singer worries that prolonged loneliness could lead to a breakdown in her emotional state or even physical health.
No I can't bear to live my life alone
The singer expresses a strong aversion to being alone, highlighting the necessity of finding a partner for her happiness and fulfillment.
I grow impatient for a love to call my own
The singer acknowledges her impatience and restlessness, suggesting that she may be in a hurry to find love due to her intense desire for companionship.
But when I feel that I, that I simply can't go on
The singer suggests that her search for love has been emotionally draining and has left her feeling helpless or defeated at times.
These precious words keeps me hangin' on
The singer refers to her mother's earlier advice as a source of comfort and motivation, indicating that those words give her hope and strength to continue.
No, love, love, love don't come easy
The singer repeats her mother's words, acknowledging that finding love is not an easy or straightforward process.
But I keep on waiting
The singer repeats her earlier sentiment about waiting patiently, indicating that she is committed to the process of finding love despite its difficulties.
Anticipating for that soft voice to talk to me at night
The singer suggests that she longs for the intimacy and companionship of a romantic partner, specifically desiring the comfort of talking with someone at night.
For some tender arms to hold me tight
The singer expresses a desire for physical affection and comfort, specifically desiring the embrace of a loving partner.
I keep waiting, I keep on waiting
The singer repeats her earlier sentiment about waiting, indicating that the search for love is a long and difficult process.
But it ain't easy (no, it ain't easy)
The singer acknowledges the difficulty and emotional toll of the search for love, repeating the phrase for emphasis.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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