It Isn't Fair
Don Cornell Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

IT ISN'T FAIR

It isn't fair for you to taunt me.
How can you make me care this way?
It isn't fair for you to want me
If it's just for a day.

It isn't fair for you to thrill me.
Why do you do the things you do?
It isn't fair for you to fill me
With those dreams that can't come true, dear.

Why is it that you came into my life
And made it complete?
You gave me just a touch of high life;
If this is love then I repeat

It isn't fair for you to taunt me.
How can you make me care this way?
It isn't fair for you to want me
If it's just for today.

Why is it that you came into my life
And made it complete?
You gave me just a touch of high life;
If this is love then I repeat

It isn't fair for you to taunt me.
How can you make me care this way?




It isn't fair for you to want me
If it's just for today.

Overall Meaning

The song It Isn't Fair by Don Cornell is a classic example of a love song that speaks to the confusion and ambivalence of love. The lyrics express the frustration and longing of the singer, who is caught in the grip of an intense, but ultimately unfulfilling, romance. The song opens with the singer expressing incredulity at his partner's ability to taunt him mercilessly, even as his feelings for her continue to grow. He wonders aloud why she would want to elicit such strong emotions from him, knowing that their connection is likely to be fleeting.


As the song progresses, the singer becomes more introspective, questioning his own emotions and the motives of his partner. He acknowledges that the thrill of their connection is deeply seductive, but laments that it is ultimately unsustainable, leaving him with nothing but unattainable dreams. Despite this recognition, however, the singer cannot resist the lure of his partner's charm and continues to crave her attention.


Taken as a whole, It Isn't Fair is a powerful depiction of the difficulties inherent in romantic love, and the ways in which our emotions can lead us astray. The song captures the frustration and longing that many of us experience in relationships that are ultimately unsatisfying or unsustainable, reminding us that even as we chase after the fulfillment of our desires, we may be leading ourselves further and further astray.


Line by Line Meaning

It isn't fair for you to taunt me.
It's not right for you to tease me in this way.


How can you make me care this way?
Why do you have the power to make me feel so strongly about you?


It isn't fair for you to want me If it's just for a day.
It's not fair for you to desire me if you only plan on being with me for a short time.


It isn't fair for you to thrill me.
You're not being fair by exciting me in this way.


Why do you do the things you do?
I don't understand your intentions and actions towards me.


It isn't fair for you to fill me With those dreams that can't come true, dear.
It's not right for you to give me hope for things that can't happen.


Why is it that you came into my life And made it complete?
I'm questioning why you came into my life and brought happiness to it.


You gave me just a touch of high life;
You introduced me to a life of excitement and possibility.


If this is love then I repeat
If this feeling is truly love, then I have to say


It isn't fair for you to taunt me.
It's not right for you to tease me in this way.


How can you make me care this way?
Why do you have the power to make me feel so strongly about you?


It isn't fair for you to want me If it's just for today.
It's not fair for you to desire me if you only plan on being with me for a short time.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Frank Warshauer, Richard Himber, Sylvester Sprigato

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
Comments from YouTube:

Karen Stewart

I absolutely love the introduction to this beautiful song sung by Don Cornell. What a beautiful classic.❤

Raymond price

It doesn't get better than this.

Bill Yee

This was one of my favorite musical recordings when I was growing up in the 1950s. I had this song on a 45 rpm EP disc.

Jettstreams

Thank you for uploading this wonderful song. I have the piano sheet music but I am not accomplished enough to play it to its full measure. Thanks for bringing the notes on the page to life.

David Thrower

I love that saxophone intro on this song.

Angie Gutierrez

Don Cornell... He's a great singer!!

chuck F

Love this song especially the beginning and lead in, reminiscent of those days.

barkingtree88

such passion!!!

kenneth pogwizd

One of my dad's favorite bands

Richard Podnar

Mine, too. He once wrote to my future mom about this song in a love letter he sent to her while stationed with the US Army at Ft. Knox. KY in early 1950.

More Comments

More Versions