Teddy grew up navigating different worlds: he was a football player, a musical theater student and the grandson of a Pentecostal pastor. Teddy was exposed to a wider variety of music than most “country boys”. In high school and over the next few years he was in several bands, genres ranging from 80’s hair metal, funk, modern metalcore, soul, and country alternative bands.
These experiences make Teddy who he is as an artist.
In March of 2019, Teddy went on his first US tour as a hip-hop artist with his best friend Addy Maxwell, which he describes as freeing experience, as he was able to continue to expand into uncharted territory. With this in mind, Teddy began to explore integrating the various genres he loved: metal, pop-punk, soul/funk, country, gospel, r&b, and show-tunes, into one genre that is Teddy Swims.
Teddy is the accumulation of past projects. Swims stands for: someone who isn’t me sometimes, a reference to Teddy’s struggle to integrate the different parts of himself. For Teddy, the goal is to break barriers and bring people together. About the project, Teddy says, “There are no categories, no stereotypes, no statistic is a definite number. Until we learn to see every person as an individual, we will never truly reach unity.”
I Can't Make You Love Me
Teddy Swims Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices
Inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me close
Don't patronize
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
And you can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hour
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't
And I'll close my eyes
So I cannot see
The love that you don't feel
When you're holding me
Morning will come
And I'll do what's right
Just give me 'til then
To give up this fight
I will give up this fight
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
And you can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hour
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no, you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
And you can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hour
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
The song "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Teddy Swims is a cover of Bonnie Raitt's popular 1991 track. The lyrics of the song address unrequited love, heartbreak, and the inability to make someone love you back.
The first verse sets the scene with the singer asking their partner to turn down the lights, bed, and the voices inside their head. They ask their lover to lay down with them and hold them close without patronizing them or telling any lies. However, despite the plea, the singer knows that they cannot force their partner to love them back. The chorus repeats this idea, emphasizing that the heart cannot be persuaded to love something it does not want to.
The second verse speaks to the singer's struggle with accepting the reality of the situation. They close their eyes to avoid seeing the love that is not there, but they cannot escape it. The morning will come, and the singer will do what's right and give up the fight, but until then, they plead for more time.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of sadness, desperation, and acceptance. The singer knows the relationship is over, but they don't want to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn down the lights
Dim the lights in the room.
Turn down the bed
Prepare the bed for us to rest on.
Turn down these voices
Inside my head
Make the voices in my head quieter.
Lay down with me
Share the bed with me.
Tell me no lies
Be honest with me.
Just hold me close
Embrace me tightly.
Don't patronize
Don't treat me like a child.
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
My feelings can't force yours to change.
And you can't make your heart feel something it won't
Your heart can't feel something it doesn't want to.
Here in the dark, in these final hour
At this moment of intimacy.
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
I'll share my vulnerable feelings with you.
But you won't
But you won't reciprocate my feelings.
And I'll close my eyes
I will shut my eyes.
So I cannot see
To avoid painful feelings.
The love that you don't feel
The love that you don't have for me.
When you're holding me
Even when we're physically close.
Morning will come
A new day will dawn.
And I'll do what's right
I'll choose to do the right thing.
Just give me 'til then
Please allow me some time.
To give up this fight
To stop struggling with my feelings for you.
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't make someone love me if they don't want to.
And you can't make your heart feel something it won't
Your heart can't change its feelings just because I want it to.
Here in the dark, in these final hour
As this moment of intimacy comes to a close.
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
I'll be open and honest with you, even if it's hard.
But you won't, no, you won't
Despite my honesty, you won't reciprocate my feelings.
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't force you to love me.
Writer(s): Shamblin James Allen, Reid Michael Barry
Contributed by Adam V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tikvahestrada4066
Thank you for sharing, humbleness is an attractive trait
for any man to possess
Humbleness is a transparent Awareness
Willingness of heart comes from understanding and compassion
Drizzle a steady perseverance
&
Will result in
Esteeming their partner before their self
The labor of love commits to a constant ebb &flow of this above
The communication of love Is acknowledging, encouraging and spurring each other to do right
Key roots to steadying the course faithfully through the storms will result in healthy norms
@TeddySwims
Check out my live performance of "Lose Control" https://youtu.be/GZ3zL7kT6_c?si=mmrQuu_UpXu2wzSI
@sum7221
Beautifully done! I could listen to you sing ANYTHING 🔥 my new favorite artist!❤
@user-yw3by8nh7c
I’m.
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@philipcastle1686
Love 💘 teddy, from all f the Uk,we can keep you a secrect anymore,don't change,
@user-nr5eg3jp3s
@Teddy Swims - I really need 3 tickets for your consert in Oslo - for me and my two sons!!
@user-lh6uj8tv3i
I can recall going through a divorce years ago, and going to sit in front of the same lake every day after work until dark. A lot of men won't admit such hurt, that penetrates your heart, mind & soul! And, I'm sure I will lose my man-card due to such transparency, but I'm ok with that! I lost 30 pounds, couldn't eat, couldn't think, couldn't sleep & at times couldn't even breathe! I prayed & cried continually asking God to make my marriage work out, and for my ex-wife to come back home. Man, I tell you, I cried enough tears to fill up that entire lake. I missed her kisses, her touch, her hugs, her eyes, etc. It took me a year of the same routine, before realizing that "I couldn't make her love me, if she didn't, I couldn't make her feel something she wouldn't", so I finally mustered up the strength to move forward with life. I now carry a piece of that lake with me 20 years later! To all of you who had your hopes & dreams shattered, you "can't make someone love you if they don't, and you can't make their heart feel something it won't". I wish you the best, life will go on. Hang in there my friend, hang in there. - Jerel
@mariellexylenejaen7987
You did not, in any way, lose your man-card for admitting such hurt.
@mimmyzw7341
Im here looking at your message and crying my eyes out because I am going through some similar pain
@sandravenable7611
Beautiful words... It takes a man to admit feelings... You will not loose your man card over that comment that's a plus in my book... Always remember its someone for everyone.. You Never know you might see that person everyday.. Bless 🙏🙏🙏💕💕
@lancestewartlove1030
I felt this word for word, currently going through smh