I Want You I Need You
Roy Orbison Lyrics


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Those happy hours that we once knew
Though long ago, still make me blue
They say that time heals a broken heart
But time has stood still since we've been apart

I can't stop loving you
So I've made up my mind
To live in memory
Of old lonesome times

I can't stop wanting you
It's useless to say
So I'll just live my life in dreams of yesterday

I can't stop loving you
There's no use to try
Pretend there's some one new
I can't live a lie

I can't stop wanting you
The way that I do




There's only been one love for me
That one love is you

Overall Meaning

Roy Orbison's song "I Can't Stop Loving You" is a classic ballad about the heartache of lost love. The lyrics speak of the lingering pain that comes with a breakup, and the struggle to move on. The opening lines, "Those happy hours that we once knew, though long ago, still make me blue," set the stage for the rest of the song. Even though time has passed, the memories of happier times still haunt the singer.


The chorus, "I can't stop loving you, so I've made up my mind to live in memory of old lonesome times," captures the essence of the pain of lost love. The singer has decided to live in the past, unable to let go of the memories of the love he once had. The lyrics take on a resigned tone, as the singer admits that he can't stop wanting his lost love, and that pretending to move on by finding someone new would be futile.


The final lines of the song drive home the message of lost love, as the singer declares that there has only ever been one love for him, and that love is the one he has lost. Overall, "I Can't Stop Loving You" is a poignant ballad that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Those happy hours that we once knew
Memories of our past happy times still affect me even though they happened a long time ago


Though long ago, still make me blue
Even though those happy memories occurred a long time ago, they still make me feel sad and melancholic


They say that time heals a broken heart
People say that with time, the pain of a broken heart fades away


But time has stood still since we've been apart
However, time has not healed my broken heart since we have been separated


I can't stop loving you
I am unable to stop feeling deep affection towards you


So I've made up my mind
I have decided that


To live in memory
I will continue to exist and reminisce about our past together


Of old lonesome times
And remember the times when I was lonely without you


I can't stop wanting you
It's impossible for me to cease desiring your presence in my life


It's useless to say
There's no point in trying to articulate the extent of my feelings


So I'll just live my life in dreams of yesterday
Thus, I will spend my days living in memories of the past that we shared


There's no use to try
To attempt to forget my love for you is futile


Pretend there's some one new
I can't pretend that someone else has taken your place in my heart


I can't live a lie
It would be dishonest for me to pretend that I don't still love you


The way that I do
The intensity with which I love you


There's only been one love for me
Throughout my life, there has only been one person who I have truly loved


That one love is you
And that person is you




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Gibson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Haley Chatman

I love him singing this .. wish
it was longer. His voice is so heart-touching it is one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard ,💗💗💗💗🎸🎸🎸

TheTinorbison

What a rare one :) Thanks for upload this precious thing. Greetings from Portugal, ((^.~)) ~TheTinorbison~

Julie Zimmi

🥰🥰🥰Roy my angel😍😍😍

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