I've Got to Learn to Live Without You
Larry Norman Lyrics


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You came into my life, you took me off the shelf
You told my name to me and taught me what to do
But then you went away and left me by myself,
I feel completely lost and lonely without you

Why'd you go, baby? I guess you know,
I've got to learn to live without you
I've got to learn to live without you
I've got to learn to live without you, without you

Today I thought I saw you walking down the street
With someone else, I turned my head and faced the wall
I started crying and my heart fell to my feet
But when I looked again it wasn't you at all

Why'd you go, baby? I guess you know,
I've got to learn to live without you
I've got to learn to live without you
I've got to learn to live without you, without you
It's just no good without you, without you
It's just no good without you, without you
It's just no good without you

I've got to learn to live without you




I've got to learn to live without you
I've got to learn to live without you

Overall Meaning

Larry Norman's song "I've Got to Learn to Live Without You" tells the story of a person who's lost their love and is struggling to move on. In the first verse, the person expresses how their significant other taught them what to do and made them a better person. However, their partner then leaves them, and they feel lost and lonely without them. The chorus repeats the song's title and shows that the person knows they need to learn to live without their former love.


In the second verse, the person sees someone that looks like their ex-partner walking down the street with someone else. The person turns away and cries, feeling like their heart is falling to their feet. However, they soon realize that the person they saw wasn't their ex-partner at all. The song concludes with the final chorus repeating the idea that the person needs to learn to live without their former love.


Overall, the song portrays the feelings of heartbreak and the struggle to move on after a love is lost. It highlights the deep emotional pain that comes with losing someone and the difficulty of accepting that they are gone.


Line by Line Meaning

You came into my life, you took me off the shelf
You entered my life and made me feel seen and valuable.


You told my name to me and taught me what to do
You gave me guidance and helped me become a better person.


But then you went away and left me by myself,
You left me feeling abandoned and alone.


I feel completely lost and lonely without you
Your absence has left me feeling empty and without direction.


Today I thought I saw you walking down the street
I saw someone who reminded me of you and triggered memories of our time together.


With someone else, I turned my head and faced the wall
The thought of you being with someone else was too much to handle, so I tried to avoid it.


I started crying and my heart fell to my feet
The emotions I felt were overwhelming and caused me great sadness and despair.


But when I looked again it wasn't you at all
I realized that what I thought I saw was just a figment of my imagination and not really you.


It's just no good without you, without you
My life feels incomplete and unfulfilling without you.


I've got to learn to live without you
I need to find a way to move on and create a fulfilling life without you.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LARRY NORMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

John Gerritsen

Still an inspiration and i cover a lot of his songs .Thanks for sharing

SteveZodiac2001

Larry nails it.

Nate the Rocker Preacher

The perfect breakup song. Dedicated to my last love.

xMCxVSxARBITERx

I wish I can have someone to love someday! But I fear it will never be so! I guess I gotta learn to live without...love. 😢😢😞😩😔

Jenny Murray

Greg, I miss you so much. I am learning to live without you. :(

Frederick Olsen

Great song, so powerful! Just went through this and it is hard, but climbing back up as we speak. Some of the best music from Larry Norman, wish his life here was better in relationships, but he seemed to have this undying goal and believe. Reminds me of Apostle Paul, the determination. Just meant to be single?

ipsurvivor

Frederick Olsen - Larry eventually remarried and had a least one kid. Not saying that’s what you should do but I do hope it gets better in your life. Peace Brother.

Denise Menezes

I've got to learn to live without you.... ♫ 

ipsurvivor

Great song but I prefer the original running order of this album which had this song later. Larry had his reasons for changing this when it was released on his label in 1977... which I respect but I made myself a copy which restores the track sequencing. To me a slow track is cool 😎 to open an album but this imho fits better as later filler material. Selah...
he basically reversed the order of the first three songs which originally were:
•WHY DONT YOU LOOK INTO JESUS
•THE OUTLAW
•IVE GOT TO LEARN TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU

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