You Can't Resist It
Lyle Lovett Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She was old enough
To know better
And she was strong enough
To be true
And she was hard enough
To know whether
He was smart enough
To know what to do

And you can't resist it
When it happens to you
No you can't resist it
When it happens to you

And you can tell your story
And you can swear it's true
But you can save your lying
For some other fool

And you can't resist it
When it happens to you
No you can't resist it
When it happens to you

She was old enough
To know better
And she was strong enough
To be true
And she was hard enough
To know whether
He was smart enough
To know what to do

And you can't resist it
When it happens to you
No you can't resist it
When it happens to you
And you can't resist it
When it happens to you




No you can't resist it
When it happens to you

Overall Meaning

The verses of Lyle Lovett's song "You Can't Resist It" depict a woman who is wise, strong-willed, and discerning when it comes to relationships. She knows that her partner needs to be intelligent enough to recognize what is best for them as couple. The repetition of the lines “She was old enough to know better and she was strong enough to be true, and she was hard enough to know whether he was smart enough to know what to do,” underscores the woman’s character traits and self-awareness.


The chorus of the song emphasizes that when someone falls in love with another, they cannot resist it. The emotions that come with love are simply too overpowering to ignore. The line "you can tell your story and you can swear it’s true, but you can save your lying for some other fool" implies that those who have never truly experienced love cannot fully comprehend it, and that trying to explain it to them is like trying to convince them of a tall-tale.


Overall, the song touches on the topic of love and the powerful emotions that come with it. It suggests that love cannot be controlled or resisted when it happens, even when a person knows better, and that only those who have truly felt it can understand its impact.


Line by Line Meaning

She was old enough
Despite her age, she was experienced and knowledgeable.


To know better
She understood the consequences of her actions and knew how to make wise decisions.


And she was strong enough
She had the emotional strength to face any difficulties or challenges that came her way.


To be true
She was honest with herself and others and stood up for her beliefs.


And she was hard enough
She was tough and resilient, able to handle whatever life threw at her.


To know whether
She had good judgment and could discern the intentions and character of others.


He was smart enough
She could tell if her partner was intelligent enough to handle the situation.


To know what to do
She recognized the appropriate course of action to take in any given circumstance.


And you can't resist it
When love overpowers you, you are unable to control your emotions and act rationally.


When it happens to you
Love is a powerful force that can consume you without warning.


And you can tell your story
You can share your experiences and feelings with others.


And you can swear it's true
You can attest that your story is honest and genuine.


But you can save your lying
You should avoid being dishonest or insincere about your feelings.


For some other fool
Being untruthful may work on someone else, but not on someone who's experienced love.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LYLE PEARCE LOVETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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

More Versions