Can't Live Without You
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah
I know
We're runnin aground
And I see
It's getting ya down
It's hard enough trying to keep control
Holdin' on when I should let go
And I hear
What you're tryin' to say
And I see
That there's no other way
I admit it
You done your best
It ain't easy to accept
Can't live without you
You can't live with me

I know
That it's breakin your heart
And I'd help
If I knew where to start
I wanna ride
And my love is strong
But everything
I do is wrong
And I cry
Cuz I caused your pain
And if I could
Do it over again
I would
Never tell you any lies
It took so long to realize
I can't live without you
You can't live with me

If only could talk you into it
Get you to wait just a little bit
I know I could show you
I can change

I can't help how I feel inside
I talk to you
And there's no reply
Can't live without you
You can't live with me
Can't live without you




Can't live without you
And you can't live with me

Overall Meaning

In "Can't Live Without You," Joan Jett and the Blackhearts explore the complicated emotions and struggles that come with a failing relationship. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that they can see the relationship is suffering and they understand that it's hard for their partner to continue to hold on. Despite trying to hold on, there's a sense of inevitability in the air, the acknowledgement that a breakup is forthcoming. The line, "Can't live without you, you can't live with me," is a stark realization that the relationship is hurting both of them and neither can continue on as they have been.


The singer then goes on to describe the pain they feel in their heart, and how they wish they could help their partner but don't know where to start. They express their love but recognize that they have made mistakes that caused their partner pain. There's a sense of regret and longing to make things right, but it seems too late. The singer wishes they could turn back time and never have lied to their partner. That's why the line "It took so long to realize" is so powerful, revealing that the singer underestimated the significance of the lies they told.


In the bridge of the song, the singer expresses a willingness to change for the better and save the relationship. However, it appears to be too little, too late, as the final lines repeat the opening phrase, "Can't live without you, can't live without you, and you can't live with me," driving home the point that the relationship has come to a bitter end.




Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Acknowledgement that the conversation is being initiated


I know
Acknowledgement of understanding the current situation


We're runnin aground
Acknowledgement that the relationship is in trouble and not going well


And I see
Acknowledgement of having noticed that partner is unhappy


It's getting ya down
Acknowledgement of partner's distress caused by the relationship's problems


It's hard enough trying to keep control
Acknowledgement of the difficulty of keeping the relationship on track


Holdin' on when I should let go
Acknowledgement of needing to let go of what is not working


And I hear
Acknowledgement of listening to partner's concerns


What you're tryin' to say
Acknowledgement of trying to understand partner's point of view


And I see
Acknowledgement of observing how partner feels


That there's no other way
Acknowledgement that there are no other options except ending the relationship


I admit it
Acknowledgement of accepting and taking responsibility for own actions


You done your best
Acknowledgement of partner's efforts to make the relationship work


It ain't easy to accept
Acknowledgement that accepting the end of the relationship is not easy


Can't live without you
Acknowledgement of dependence on partner


You can't live with me
Acknowledgement that partner cannot continue in the relationship


I know
Acknowledgement of understanding partner's pain


That it's breakin your heart
Acknowledgement of partner's emotional distress


And I'd help
Acknowledgement of wanting to help partner


If I knew where to start
Acknowledgement of feeling helpless and not knowing what to do


I wanna ride
Acknowledgement of wanting to continue the relationship


And my love is strong
Acknowledgement of love for partner


But everything
Acknowledgement of all that has happened


I do is wrong
Acknowledgement of personal responsibility for relationship breakdown


And I cry
Acknowledgement of personal emotional distress


Cuz I caused your pain
Acknowledgement of causing partner's pain and suffering in the relationship


And if I could
Acknowledgement of personal powerlessness and inability to change the past


Do it over again
Acknowledgement of desire to change own behaviour


I would
Acknowledgement of remorse and willingness to improve


Never tell you any lies
Acknowledgement of past dishonesty and commitment to honesty in the future


It took so long to realize
Acknowledgement of delayed awareness of relationship's problems


If only could talk you into it
Acknowledgement of desire to persuade partner to continue the relationship


Get you to wait just a little bit
Acknowledgement of wanting a little more time to sort out the relationship's issues


I know I could show you
Acknowledgement of own ability to change and make the relationship work


I can change
Acknowledgement of willingness to change for the betterment of the relationship


I can't help how I feel inside
Acknowledgement of powerlessness over feelings


I talk to you
Acknowledgement of communication with partner


And there's no reply
Acknowledgement of partner's probable disinterest and rejection


Can't live without you
Acknowledgement of strong attachment to partner


Can't live without you
Acknowledgement of necessity of partner in life


And you can't live with me
Acknowledgement of partner's need to end the relationship for personal reasons




Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@EricLeborne

ce groupe ✨🎸
❤️❤️❤️💔
Ce rock’n roll🔥
Cette nana 🥰
Cette voix 🗣️
C’est années🕺💃
Merci ma belle pour nous avoir fait partager ce don
Et rien t’empêche de venir nous rejoindre en France de temps en temps
🔥🎸🥰😘🥹🤩…🕺💃🙏.😉



@lynnlinlinlin5497

Midnight, gettin' uptight, where are you?
You said you'd meet me, now it's quarter to two
I know I'm hangin' but I'm still wantin' you
Hey Jack, it's a fact they're talkin' in town
I turn my back and you're messin' around
I'm not getting jealous, don't like lookin' like a clown
I think of you every night and day
You took my heart, and you took my pride away
I hate myself for loving you
Can't break free from the the things that you do
I wanna walk but I run back to you
That's why I hate myself for loving you
Daylight, spent the night without you
But I've been dreamin' 'bout the lovin' you do
I'm over being angry 'bout the hell you put me through
Hey man, bet you can't treat me right
You just don't know what you was missin' last night
I wanna see you beggin', say, "Forget it" just for spite
I think of you every night and day
You took my heart, and you took my pride away
I hate myself for loving you
Can't break free from the the things that you do
I wanna walk but I run back to you
That's why I hate myself for loving you
I think of you every night and day
You took my heart, and you took my pride away
I hate myself for loving you
Can't break free from the things that you do
I wanna walk but I run back to you
That's why I hate myself for loving you
I hate myself for loving you
Can't break free from the the things that you do
I wanna walk but I run back to you
That's why I hate myself for loving you
I hate myself (ow, uh)
For loving you
I hate myself (ow, uh)
For loving you
I hate myself (ow, ow, ow)
For loving you
I hate myself (ow)
I hate myself
For loving you



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