It pays to start by mentioning that Harvey, … Read Full Bio ↴HARVEY FUQUA, aka ""Harvey"
It pays to start by mentioning that Harvey, was in fact Harvey Fuqua, late of the Moonglows (they even take the time to mention that fact on the label). Fuqua had had a solid and very interesting career prior to this record, recording with the Moonglows, and duetting with Etta James on Chess.
He eventually found his way to Detroit, where he fell in with the various and sundry figures that would eventually give birth to the Motown organization.
Fuqua worked with Anna Gordy (sister of Berry), married Gwen Gordy (their other sister, who co-wrote this 45) and in addition to work on the Anna label (home to Barrett Strong’s ‘Money’) started his own Tri-Phi and Harvey labels where he would record a number of artists that would end up on Motown, like the Spinners, Junior Walker and Shorty Long.
If I Can't Have You
Harvey Fuqua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I can't have you
Oh, I can't love nobody
Unless I'm loving you
The way you hug me
The way you squeeze me
The way you kiss me
If I can't have you
I can't talk to nobody
Unless I'm talking to you
I don't wanna hold nobody
Unless I'm holding you
I can't be kissing nobody
Unless I'm kissing you
I just don't
I just don't
I just don't want to be bothered with nobody
Unless I'm bothered with you
The way you hug me
The way you squeeze me
The way you kiss me
If I can't have you
The lyrics to Harvey Fuqua's song If I Can't Have You are a clear indication of the singer's intense, all-consuming love for a particular person. The lyrics suggest that the singer is completely devoted to this single person and cannot imagine being with anyone else. To him, this person is everything - the only one who can bring him happiness, love, and fulfillment.
The repetition of the phrase "If I can't have you" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desperation and the fact that he is so firmly fixated on this one individual. He says that he can't love anyone else, hug anyone else, hold anyone else, kiss anyone else or even talk to anyone else - unless he is talking or interacting with the one he loves.
The way the singer describes the person he loves is also incredibly intimate and personal. He talks about the way they hug him, squeeze him, and kiss him, suggesting that this person is incredibly important to him on a physical level as well.
Overall, the lyrics of Harvey Fuqua's song If I Can't Have You explore the idea of a love that is so intense and so consuming that the person in question cannot even fathom being with anyone else. It is a powerful representation of the sort of all-consuming love that a person can sometimes feel, which can be both beautiful and deeply unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want nobody
I don't want anyone else
If I can't have you
If I can't be with you
Oh, I can't love nobody
Oh, I can't love anyone else
Unless I'm loving you
Unless I'm loving you exclusively
The way you hug me
The way you embrace me
The way you squeeze me
The way you hold me tightly
The way you kiss me
The way you give me affectionate kisses
If I can't have you
If I can't be with you
I can't talk to nobody
I can't have a conversation with anyone else
Unless I'm talking to you
Unless I'm having a conversation with you
I don't wanna hold nobody
I don't want to hold anyone else
Unless I'm holding you
Unless I'm holding you in my arms
I can't be kissing nobody
I can't be kissing anyone else
Unless I'm kissing you
Unless I'm kissing you passionately
I just don't
I simply cannot
I just don't
I simply cannot
I just don't want to be bothered with nobody
I just don't want to deal with anyone else
Unless I'm bothered with you
Unless I'm bothered with you exclusively
The way you hug me
The way you embrace me
The way you squeeze me
The way you hold me tightly
The way you kiss me
The way you give me affectionate kisses
If I can't have you
If I can't be with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MARK TAYLOR, PAUL MICHAEL BARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ollie Zaragoza
they made the best duets that really say something in the songs. The best, the best and thanks.
Jeff Zweygardt
Probably my favorite Etta song. They really knew how to make 'em back in those days.
TheNotreallyhere
I love Etta James and this song is amazing just like her others!
Susan Perkins
Amazing she's so fierce. Harvey complements her perfectly
Barbara Brown
This is my all time favorite!!!!!!
Tonya Trotter
I'm thinking about using this song as my husband & mine first dance when we renew our vows on 2 years. It will be our 25th!!
Eric Thompson
Happy 25th Anniversary 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🥂
Tonya Trotter
I love almost all of Etta James music!!
Paul Mora
I can't get tired of this jam....just need a shot or two in my system 😉
Robin's Eclectic Nest
one of the best that is hidden....love it