James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul s… Read Full Bio ↴James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul singer during the mid-1960s. He has often been recognized as one of that era's greatest vocalists, placing him alongside an elite list that includes Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Born in Coahoma County, Mississippi in 1942, Carr's family had moved to Memphis when he was still a young child. It was here that he discovered music through the sound of Gospel, listening to artists such as Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. In 1963, he signed with the Memphis label Goldwax, and while on their roster, released a string of hit singles, including You've Got My Mind Messed Up and his signature tune, The Dark End Of The Street, penned by Dan Penn.

His life took a turn, though, as he became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as stints with manic depression that found him hospitalized in a mental health facility. He had almost disappeared entirely when he started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay.

Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, spending the end of his life in a nursing home in Memphis. At the age of 58, James Carr died there from his battle with the disease on January 7, 2001. It is said that he had been analphabetic.

I Can't Make It
James Carr Lyrics

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Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices
Inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me closely
Don't patronize

Don't patronize me

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Somethin' that it won't
And here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I will feel the power but you won't
No you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me
When you don't
When you don't
Yeah-hh

I'll close my eyes
'Cause then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're home with 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
You can't make your heart feel
Somethin' that it won't
And here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart
I will feel the power but you won't
No you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me

When you don't
When you don't

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of James Carr's "I Can't Make It" speaks of the heartbreak and desperation that often come with unrequited love. The singer in the song is desperately longing for love that is not returned, and he knows that no matter how hard he tries, he simply cannot make the other person love him if they don't.

The first verse and chorus of the song talk about being denied love and what can and cannot be done to change that. The singer implores the person to lay down with him, to hold him closely, and not to patronize him with false affection. He knows that he cannot make the other person love him if they don't, and that you can't force your heart to feel something that it won't.

In the second verse, the singer comes to terms with the fact that he will have to let go and accept the reality of the situation. He closes his eyes so that he doesn't have to see the love that is not there when they are together, and he resolves to do what's right in the morning. He knows that he will have to give up the fight for love because he cannot make the other person love him if they don't.

Line by Line Meaning

Turn down the lights
Lower the brightness of the room

Turn down the bed
Prepare the bed for sleeping by lowering its covers

Turn down these voices
Silence the thoughts in my head

Inside my head
Within my mind

Lay down with me
Lie beside me

Tell me no lies
Speak the truth

Just hold me closely
Embrace me tightly

Don't patronize
Don't talk down to me

Don't patronize me
Don't belittle my feelings

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I am unable to force you to love me if you don't feel that way

You can't make your heart feel
Your emotions are not under your control