If I Can't Have You
Kylie Minogue & Sam Sparro Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish that I could save you
I wish that I knew how to save myself
I wish that I could replace you
But there can never be nobody else

Just two hearts, beat in time
Love has no reason and it has no rhyme
I wish that I could keep this tonight

Cuz if I can't have you
There's just no way that I'll forgive myself
I'll pay all my dues
Anything to make you change your mind
If I can't have you, I'll regret it the rest of my life
I'm drowning with you on my mind
I've got nothing to lose, if I can't have you

Now it's make or break it
I'm picking up the pieces on my own
You've got me feeling naked
With nothing but a beating heart exposed

Just too hearts, beat in time
Love has no reason and it has no rhyme
I wish that I could keep this tonight

Cuz if I can't have you
There's just no way that I'll forgive myself
I'll pay all my dues
Anything to make you change your mind
If I can't have you, I'll regret it the rest of my life
I'm drowning with you on my mind
I've got nothing to lose, if I can't have you

No one in space or time, can't even hold
We're all what we know, if I'd only known
If I could say one thing that hasn't been told
If it's wrong then it's wrong
When I know that it's right

Cuz if I can't have you
There's just no way that I'll forgive myself
I'll pay all my dues
Anything to make you change your mind
If I can't have you, I'll regret it the rest of my life
I'm drowning with you on my mind
I've got nothing to lose, if I can't have you





I've got nothing to lose, if I can't have you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "If I Can't Have You" by Kylie Minogue featuring Sam Sparro explore the overwhelming feeling of wanting someone so badly, but not being able to have them. The song is about the desperation that love can bring, where the singer wishes that they could save the person they love and, in turn, save themselves. However, when it comes down to it, they realize that they can't have this person and are willing to do anything it takes to make them change their mind. This ultimately leads to the fear and regret that comes with the possibility of losing this person forever.


The chorus, "if I can't have you, there's just no way that I'll forgive myself, I'll pay all my dues, anything to make you change your mind," portrays the singer's willingness to do whatever it takes to be with the person they long for. The lyrics, "no one in space or time can't even hold, we're all that we know, if I'd only known, if I could say one thing that hasn't been told," acknowledges that there is no one else in the world quite like the one they desire. Even though they may regret being so forward and desperate, it would be even worse to not have tried at all.


Overall, "If I Can't Have You" is a love song that emphasizes the strong emotions that come with wanting someone who is out of reach. Kylie Minogue and Sam Sparro deliver powerful vocal performances that express the pain and desperation of unrequited love. The lyrics remind listeners to take chances in love, no matter the outcome, because the regret of not trying can be much greater.



Line by Line Meaning

I wish that I could save you
I desire the ability to rescue you from your struggles


I wish that I knew how to save myself
I wish I had the knowledge to overcome my own obstacles


I wish that I could replace you
I wish there was someone else who could replicate your presence


But there can never be nobody else
No one can ever take your place in my life


Just two hearts, beat in time
Our hearts are in sync and connected


Love has no reason and it has no rhyme
Love is illogical and doesn't always make sense


I wish that I could keep this tonight
I want to hold on to this moment with you forever


Cuz if I can't have you
If I can't be with you


There's just no way that I'll forgive myself
I'll never be able to forgive myself for losing you


I'll pay all my dues
I'll do whatever it takes to make things right


Anything to make you change your mind
I'll do anything to convince you to stay with me


If I can't have you, I'll regret it the rest of my life
Losing you would be the biggest regret of my life


I'm drowning with you on my mind
Thoughts of you consume me and make it hard to breathe


I've got nothing to lose, if I can't have you
If I can't have you, I have nothing left to lose


Now it's make or break it
It's time to take action and either make our relationship work or end it


I'm picking up the pieces on my own
I'm trying to move on and heal from our breakup


You've got me feeling naked
You've made me vulnerable and exposed my true feelings


With nothing but a beating heart exposed
I'm showing my true emotions and leaving myself open to hurt


No one in space or time, can't even hold
No one, anywhere or anytime, can compare to you


We're all what we know, if I'd only known
Our experiences shape who we are, and if I had known better, I would have done things differently


If I could say one thing that hasn't been told
If I could express a new thought or idea about us


If it's wrong then it's wrong
If our relationship isn't meant to be, then it's not meant to be


When I know that it's right
But deep down, I know that our love is true




Contributed by Gianna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found