I Can't Make You Love Me
Bon Iverr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn down the bed.
Turn down these voices
Inside my head.
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies.
Just hold me close
Don't patronize me.
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
You can't make your heart feel
Something it won't.
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
But you won't.
No, you won't.
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
I'll close my eyes
Then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me.
Morning will come
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight.
And I will give up this fight.
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
You can't make your heart feel
Something it won't.
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
But you won't.
No, you won't.
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
The lyrics of "I Can't Make You Love Me" are a poignant and emotional confession of unrequited love. The singer is begging their partner to be honest and straightforward; to lay with them and give them the physical affection they long for, but without the lies and false pretenses. The singer understands that they cannot force love onto their partner; they cannot make someone feel something they do not. The song is a desperate plea for honesty and for the singer's partner to come clean and either love them back or let them go.
The song's bridge is particularly powerful as the singer acknowledges the futility of their struggle. In these final hours, the singer is laying their heart on the line, but their partner will never reciprocate those feelings. The imagery of "laying down" their heart is particularly evocative, as if the singer is confessing a debt or a burden to be relieved. However, their partner won't feel the same way; they won't share the power and intensity of the singer's emotions.
"I Can't Make You Love Me" is heart-wrenching and soulful in its honesty. The lyrics succinctly and flawlessly articulate feelings of unrequited love and the raw vulnerability that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn down the lights
Dim the lights
Turn down the bed.
Reduce the height of the bed
Turn down these voices
Inside my head.
Silence the thoughts in my mind
Lay down with me
Join me in bed
Tell me no lies.
Be truthful
Just hold me close
Embrace me tightly
Don't patronize.
Don't act condescending towards me
Don't patronize me.
I don't appreciate condescending treatment
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
It's impossible for me to force you to love me
You can't make your heart feel
Something it won't.
You cannot willfully make yourself love someone
Here in the dark
In these final hours
In the night, towards the end
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
But you won't.
I will pour out my emotions, but they won't affect you the same way
No, you won't.
I know you won't feel the same way
'Cuz I can't make you love me
If you don't.
It's impossible for me to force you to love me
I'll close my eyes
Then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me.
I'll pretend you love me, even though you don't
Morning will come
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight.
I'll face the truth in the morning and accept it, but for now, let me continue holding onto hope
And I will give up this fight.
Eventually, I'll let go of this struggle
Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thisissam5191
We often forget what happens at the end of this song: "I found love in the nick of time"
If you are here because you are sad and alone; If you are here because your heartbreak is fresh or so old but still raw; if you are here because you need a good cry please remember this: while you can't make people love you, you can still find love in the nick of time:)
yes, you feel sad right now but "it might be over soon"
so hold on!
I promise you if you do that, you will find your person or your people.
You have so much awesomeness ahead of you:)
you have no idea of the amazing people that will enter your life and probably take you by surprise
It's ok to feel sad but let the end of this song give you some hope because you WILL find love:)
Actually, you already have:) take a look around in this wonderful comments section! These people took the time to write these messages to inspire hope and vulnerability. Know that you are loved by them and you are loved by me
I love you
so have a wonderful night...or day...or life lol
@rahulpulidindi
Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices
They're inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me close
And don't patronize me
Don't patronize me
'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something it won't
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
If I feel the power, but you don't
No, you don't
'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
If you dont
No, you won't
I'll close my eyes,
Then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me.
Morning will come,
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight.
And I will give up this fight.
'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
I can't make your heart feel
Something it won't
Here in the dark
In these…
@butterfly_8241
HMMMMMMMMM
I found love darling
I found love darling
I found love darling
There baby down
I found love darling yeah
Found love darling darling
Love in the nick of time
I found love darling yeah
Love in the nick of time
@AngelsRot
My boy Bon Iver got the comments section lookin like a group therapy session. Got motherfuckers testifying and crying and shit.
@kyliodatter
Amen.
@dayday8194
lmbo
@Artsaveslives
LOL
@joshuasanchez1150
LMAO! Confessions are being made! 😂😂😂
@aspensky5
Omggggggg
@wessonballs
Ten years ago I came to this video absolutely devastated because the girl I was head over heels in love with couldn't decide if she wanted me or not. I went through four years of her wanting me and then changing her mind and I always came back here. Now I am listening to this ten years later (I've definitely listened to this on a monthly basis for the last ten years) and looking back, I wish I could tell that young version of me to let it go, to walk away, to move forward. Now ten years later I am in love with someone that loves me just as I am in the healthiest way that I have ever experienced and the love that I have found is powerful, beautiful, unwavering. This performance of this song, for the rest of my life, will remind me of what I have faced in love and what I truly deserve. Absolutely beautiful.
@elysemorris6559
Thank you for sharing <3
@jt44444
It's ok to love people from afar... as sad it is when all ya' want to do is hug them ever so close. Covid has been especially hard on me as I am sure it's been for most people. Going through it with no family, few friends, the lonesome reality is the hardest burden. But I threw myself into my work and after 30 years of trying finally have a house in escrow... going to see this one through. I might die of a heart attack tomorrow, or the next moment, or the following year... We simply owe it to ourselves to live good. I won't tell you ya' wasted your time... you did what you did for years, because you cared for someone who didn't know herself enough to know what she wanted. More power to you for your struggle, but especially the wisdom gained by it. Much love Alex and have the very best life you can.
@hwhite2996
Thank you, I needed to hear this tonight!! Your perspective is noted. Much love ❤️