Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
Can'T Win True Love
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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And have me care
If I'm not I won't believe you
If I am then I'm not there
You can't win true love
No you can't win true love
No matter how much better you could do
And while we're on it you know you can't change me
And you can't change you (you shouldn't have to)
No you can't win true love
No you can't win true love
There is no race to run
No evil curse needs to be undone
No hope of changing what cannot be changed
Some things are true and they will never fade away
Or up or down or out or in
No you just can't win
You can't forget about me
No matter what the sign says
False advertising everywhere
Trial and error more or less
And you can't win true love
No you can't win true love
There is no race to run
No evil curse needs to be undone
No hope of making what cannot be made
Some things are true and they will never fade away
Or out or down or up or in
No you can't win
I can't tell if you are listening
And I can't get to have a say
And I can't see you when you're sleeping
And I can't change it all the way
That I can't make someone feel something
That I can't tell when it's enough
That I can't lose as much to seem to learn
And I cannot win true love
Oh you can't win true love
There is no race to run
No evil curse needs to be undone
No hope of making what cannot be made
Some things are true and they will never fade away
Or up or down or out or through or below or above
No you just can't win true love
No you can't
The lyrics of Blues Traveler's "Can't Win True Love" delve into the complexities of relationships and love. The singer seems to be grappling with the idea that love may not always be in their control, and accepting that there are just some things that cannot be changed or won. The first verse sets the tone for the song, as the singer explains that they cannot be convinced they are crazy if they are not, yet if they are, they may not even know it. This line serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable and often inexplicable nature of love.
The chorus delivers the main message of the song - that true love cannot be won or changed. The second verse continues this theme, stating that past events cannot be undone, and that people cannot change each other. The lyrics suggest acceptance of these truths, as the lines "No hope of changing what cannot be changed / Some things are true and they will never fade away" emphasize the importance of acknowledging the limitations of love.
The final verse reveals the singer's feelings of powerlessness in the face of love. They cannot make someone feel something, nor can they control the way they feel themselves. The line "And I cannot win true love" serves as the final conclusion of the song, emphasizing that love is not something to be won or lost, but rather something to be experienced and accepted.
Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Win True Love" deliver a message of acceptance, while also highlighting the complexities and unpredictability of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't tell me I'm crazy
I will not accept your claim that I'm crazy without evidence that can convince me.
And have me care
Your opinion about my mental health won't matter to me and won't affect me emotionally.
If I'm not I won't believe you
Your claim about me being crazy will not be accepted if it's not true.
If I am then I'm not there
If I turn out to be really crazy, I won't be present to acknowledge it or care about it.
You can't win true love
True love cannot be won, it has to be shared by mutual consent and feeling. It cannot be earned or forced.
You can't change what has happened
The past is unchangeable, no matter how much we wish we could do it differently, we cannot.
No matter how much better you could do
Although you could do a better job, you can't change past events.
And while we're on it you know you can't change me
I cannot be changed by anyone else's efforts, I can only change myself if I want to.
And you can't change you (you shouldn't have to)
You cannot change yourself to meet someone else's expectations, you should be true to yourself.
There is no race to run
Life is not a competition, there is no need to rush or feel pressured to achieve something faster than others.
No evil curse needs to be undone
We may face difficulties in life, but they are not caused by supernatural forces, they are just part of life.
No hope of changing what cannot be changed
There is no use wishing that things were different if they cannot be changed. We should accept them and move on.
Some things are true and they will never fade away
Some things are so fundamental and truthful that they will never disappear or be forgotten.
Or up or down or out or in
These fundamental things cannot be changed or influenced by external forces or circumstances.
No you just can't win
There's no way to change or control these fundamental truths, we can only accept them.
You can't forget about me
Even if you try to forget me, I will always be present in your memories and thoughts.
No matter what the sign says
Things are not always what they appear to be. Even if you see a message that tells you to forget, it will not work.
False advertising everywhere
People often try to sell us things that don't really work or don't live up to their promises.
Trial and error more or less
We learn what works and what doesn't work through trial and error, but it's not a perfect system.
I can't tell if you are listening
I don't know if you are really paying attention to me or if you are just pretending to listen.
And I can't get to have a say
I don't have a voice or a say in what happens to me or between us.
And I can't see you when you're sleeping
I am not always present in your life, and I cannot observe or control everything you do.
And I can't change it all the way
I cannot change the situation or the way things are going entirely on my own.
That I can't make someone feel something
I cannot force someone else to feel a certain way, feelings are personal and subjective.
That I can't tell when it's enough
I cannot always tell when something is enough, when to stop or when to go, sometimes I need guidance or feedback.
That I can't lose as much to seem to learn
I cannot just lose and hurt endlessly to learn something, there should be a balance between learning and experiencing joy.
And I cannot win true love
I cannot earn true love by force or manipulation, it has to be given freely and genuinely.
Oh you can't win true love
The same is true for you, you cannot win true love by manipulating or forcing it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind