The band soon grew a live following and recorded their first demo songs, some of which would be officially released later in their career. The band's first single, "Fingers On It", received some minor recognition when it was featured in the 1986 movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane.
The group has released twelve studio albums as well as five live albums as of 2014, and they're perhaps best known for their hit singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" from their self-titled debut album, tracks that remain classic rock favorites. Despite becoming popular during the glam metal movement of the 80s, the band has little in common with many of those artists and has continued to record and tour since its formation, with the group being notable for its internal songwriting (influenced by classic pop such as The Beatles).
Coming out the gate with 1989's 'Enuff Z'nuff', the group received critical praise, with Allmusic saying that the band "deserves more respect than they'll probably ever receive." The album hit the #74 slot on the Billboard 200 top albums chart, with "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" both being top 40 hits on the Mainstream Rock chart. Sadly, though musically being inspired by bands such as Cheap Trick, Enuff Z'nuff's record label decided to present them in garish, tie-die outfits and foster a related glam image that the group resented.
There was more band member shuffling in May 2014 when guitarist Tory Stoffregen and drummer Randi Scott each left the band. Drummer Erik Donner joined on drums in June, while Enuff Z'Nuff continued touring as a 3-piece. In April 2016, the band continued with Chip Z'nuff as the lead singer, Tory Stoffregen back on lead guitar, Tony Fenelle (Ultravox) on guitar and Daniel B. Hill on drums.
Enuff Z'nuff released an album of older, previously unreleased original material in late 2016, titled Clowns Lounge. It mainly features demo material from studio sessions originally recorded in 1988 and 1989. Enuff Z'nuff released an album of new material with Chip Z'nuff on lead vocals, Diamond Boy, in 2018.
Enuff Z'Nuff released their 15th studio album, named Brainwashed Generation on July 10, 2020. In August 2021, a 3-CD set of formerly unreleased demo recordings titled Never Enuff was released.. A new cover album, Hardrock Nite, released on November 12, 2021 is a Beatles tribute record.
Enuff Z’Nuff consisting of Chip Z’Nuff on lead vocals and bass, Tory Stoffregen and Tony Fennell on guitars, and Dan Hill on drums will be releasing their new studio album Finer Than Sin on November 11, 2022.
If I Can't Have You
Enuff Z'Nuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you to be with me everyday
'Cause what would I do
Oh if I can't have you?
I want you to guide me
Helping me see the light of day
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
Oh if I can't have you
I'll be your daddy honey
I'll be your little boy
I'll give you all my money
I'll give you all my joy
And when your days are sunny
Those days I won't destroy
Ooh baby I'm giving, I'm giving
Giving, I'm giving, I'm giving
It all to you
Everything
Hoping you feel like giving it too
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
Oh if I can't have you
(If I can't have you)
You get me so excited
You make it so unreal
No matter how I fight it
That's just the way I feel
Don't take your love and hide it
Don't stop a spinning wheel
Ooh baby I'm giving I'm giving
You are everything
Hoping you feel like giving it too
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
Oh if I can't have
What would I do, oh yeah
What would I do if I can't have you?
(If I can't have you)
The singer of Enuff Z'Nuff's "If I Can't Have You" expresses his intense desire and need for his lover's companionship. He wants the person he loves to be with him every day because he feels lost without them. He admits to being sad and blue if he can't have their love and guidance. He graciously offers everything he has to their lover, including his money, happiness, and joy. He tells them that they excite him and make him feel unreal, and he can't deny the intense feelings that he has for them.
These lyrics capture the singer's deep emotions and his willingness to do everything to win his lover's affections. Although the song takes on a romantic tone, the lyrics seem to convey a sense of desperation and fear of losing someone important. The singer acknowledges that their relationship is like a spinning wheel and that he cannot imagine his life without their love.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you beside me
I want you to be next to me
I want you to be with me everyday
I want you to spend every day with me
'Cause what would I do
Without you, what would I do
Oh if I can't have you?
I'll be sad and blue if I can't be with you
I want you to guide me
I want you to show me the way
Helping me see the light of day
Helping me to become a better person
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
I will feel unhappy and depressed
Oh if I can't have you
If I can't be with you
(If I can't have you)
I'll be your daddy honey
A term of endearment to show how much he cares
I'll be your little boy
He is offering to be childish to show his affection
I'll give you all my money
Willing to financially provide for his love
I'll give you all my joy
Willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the one he loves
And when your days are sunny
When good things are happening in your life
Those days I won't destroy
He will not ruin their happy moments together
Ooh baby I'm giving, I'm giving
He continually wants to give to show his love
Giving, I'm giving, I'm giving
Giving is an important part of his ethos
It all to you
He wants to give everything he has
Everything
Absolutely everything he has to give
Hoping you feel like giving it too
He hopes his love reciprocates the desire to give
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
Without his love, he will be unhappy
Oh if I can't have you
If he can't be with the one he loves
(If I can't have you)
You get me so excited
He feels an excited energy when he is around his love
You make it so unreal
He feels like he's in a dream when he's with his love
No matter how I fight it
He cannot control his feelings for his love
That's just the way I feel
His love is genuine and natural
Don't take your love and hide it
He wants his love to be reciprocal and open
Don't stop a spinning wheel
He doesn't want anything to hinder their love's growth
Ooh baby I'm giving I'm giving
He continues to want to give all he can
You are everything
His love is his everything
Hoping you feel like giving it too
He wants his love to feel the same way about giving
'Cause I'll be sad and blue
Without his love, he will be unhappy
Oh if I can't have
If he can't be with the one he loves
What would I do, oh yeah
He doesn't know how to live without his love
What would I do if I can't have you?
He will be devastated if he can never be with his love
(If I can't have you)
Contributed by Anthony J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.