The punk-pop trio Ruth Ruth came together in 1994, initially playing gigs f… Read Full Bio ↴The punk-pop trio Ruth Ruth came together in 1994, initially playing gigs for free at New York City's Continental nightclub. Their occasional shows became a residency and by the following year, vocalist/bassist Chris Kennedy, guitarist Mike Lustig, and drummer Dave Snyder had signed a record deal with American Recordings. Debut album Laughing Gallery, produced by Ted Nicely (Fugazi, Girls Against Boys), was released in October 1995 and followed by the EP Little Death in 1996. Jumping to RCA, Ruth Ruth resurfaced in 1998 with Are You My Friend? ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

If I Can't Have You
Ruth Ruth Lyrics

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Maybe I'll follow you
From work today
Maybe I'll ride home
With you on the train
Maybe I'll walk behind you
To be sure
Then hide behind a paperback
I've read before

I'll die if I know you've been untrue
If I can't have you

I wake up with a pain
I can't begin to share
I wake up phone in hand
In 3 day underwear
I wake up and I call you
But get your machine
I wonder where you are
And then I fall into a dream

I'll die if I know you've been untrue
If I can't have you

I'm getting ready
I'll be over, count to 10
I'm getting ready
I can't wait to live again

I'll die if I know you've been untrue
If I can't have you

If I know you've been untrue
If I can't have you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ruth Ruth's song "If I Can't Have You" explore the obsessive and possessive nature of someone who is deeply in love and fearful of losing their partner. The singer is willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that their partner remains faithful, even contemplating stalking them on their way home from work. The mention of hiding behind a paperback suggests a level of nervousness and perhaps even guilt about their actions.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'll die if I know you've been untrue, if I can't have you," reinforcing the singer's desperation to keep their partner and the irrationality of their fears. The painful emotions they experience are reflected in the lines "I wake up with a pain I can't begin to share" and "I wonder where you are and then I fall into a dream." The repetition of "I'm getting ready" in the final verse suggests that the singer is preparing to take some kind of action, perhaps confronting their partner or confessing their feelings.

Overall, the lyrics of "If I Can't Have You" convey a sense of intense longing and insecurity, highlighting the destructive nature of possessive love.

Line by Line Meaning

Maybe I'll follow you
I am contemplating stalking you

From work today
I am considering following you from your place of work

Maybe I'll ride home
I am thinking about taking the same train as you

With you on the train
I want to be in close proximity to you

Maybe I'll walk behind you
I am considering following you on foot

To be sure
I want to make sure you are not hiding anything from me

Then hide behind a paperback
I plan on concealing my actions by pretending to read a book

I've read before
I have chosen a book that I have already read to avoid actually reading it

I'll die if I know you've been untrue
The thought of you being unfaithful is unbearable and may lead to my demise

If I can't have you
The only acceptable outcome for me is to have you all to myself

I wake up with a pain
The thought of being without you causes me emotional pain