I Can't Make You Love Me
City Sleeps Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The shadows are alive without you
There in my heart you broke in two
I went down to my knees for you and tried to make believe
But you can't say that it's not true, whoa

I'm coming to get you, baby
I'm coming to get you, baby
I'm coming to get you, baby

I can't make you love me
No, I can't make you stay
Love is far above me
When I let you run away

Remember life is almost over
Even sheltered halls will flood with rain
I hope the lights are green from silver sheets and diamond rings
Will be enough to ease your pain, whoa

I'm coming to get you, baby
I'm coming to get you, baby
I'm coming to get you, baby

I can't make you love me
No, I can't make you stay
(I can't make you love me)
Love is far above me
When I let you run away

The shadows are alive without you
There in my heart you broke in two

I can't make you love me
No, I can't make you stay
(I can't make you love me)
Love is far above me
When I let you run away
(I can't make you love me)

And I can't make you love me




And I can't make you love me
And I can't make you love me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to City Sleep's song "I Can't Make You Love Me" express the heartache and pain of a failed relationship. The singer laments the loss of the person they love and the shattered state of their heart. The opening lines, "The shadows are alive without you, there in my heart you broke in two" paint a picture of emptiness and darkness, with the singer acknowledging that the person they loved was the source of light in their life. The lyrics "I went down to my knees for you and tried to make believe, but you can't say that it's not true" express the futility and desperation of trying to hold onto a love that has already slipped away.


Despite the heartache, the singer is still willing to fight for their love, as seen in the chorus lines "I'm coming to get you, baby." However, they are also aware that they cannot force someone to love them, as expressed in the refrain "I can't make you love me, no, I can't make you stay, love is far above me when I let you run away." The singer is resigned to the fact that love is not always within their control, and that some things are meant to come to an end.


Overall, the lyrics express the complex emotions that come with loving someone who cannot or will not love you back. It is a sad and painful reality, but one that many people can relate to.


Line by Line Meaning

The shadows are alive without you
The world feels empty and different when you're no longer around


There in my heart you broke in two
You hurt me deeply by breaking my heart


I went down to my knees for you and tried to make believe
I begged and pleaded with you, even though deep down I knew it wouldn't work


But you can't say that it's not true, whoa
You can't deny that we had something real once


I'm coming to get you, baby
I'm determined to win you back


I can't make you love me
I can't force you to feel a certain way about me


No, I can't make you stay
I can't make you be with me if you don't want to


Love is far above me
Love is bigger than me and my feelings alone


When I let you run away
I regret not doing more to keep you around


Remember life is almost over
Life is short and we should make the most of our time together


Even sheltered halls will flood with rain
Even safe places can be ruined and flooded with sadness


I hope the lights are green from silver sheets and diamond rings
I hope you find happiness and success in life, even if it's not with me


Will be enough to ease your pain, whoa
I hope your successes will make up for any pain or heartache you've experienced




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KYLIE LOUISE WHITNEY, MICHAEL CARPENTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions