I Don't Know How To Love Him
Yvonne Elliman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changed, yes really changed
In these past few days, when I've seen myself
I seem like someone else

I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man. He's just a man
And I've had so many men before
In very many ways
He's just one more

Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love
Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny
I should be in this position
I'm the one who's always been
So calm, so cool, no lover's fool
Running every show
He scares me so

I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?
Yet, if he said he loved me
I'd be lost. I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope

I'd turn my head, I'd back away
I wouldn't want to know
He scares me so
I want him so





I love him so

Overall Meaning

The song "I Don't Know How to Love Him" by Yvonne Elliman is a powerful ballad that captures the feelings of a woman who is struggling to understand her emotions towards a man she loves. The opening line, "I don't know how to love him," sets the tone for the song and suggests that the woman is conflicted about her feelings. The next line, "What to do, how to move him," reinforces this idea and shows that she is unsure of how to pursue this relationship.


As the song progresses, the woman reflects on how much she has changed since meeting this man. She acknowledges that she has been transformed and is no longer the same person she once was. This is evident in the line, "In these past few days, when I've seen myself // I seem like someone else." This suggests that her experiences with this man have had a profound impact on her and have caused her to question her own identity.


The woman also grapples with the fear that comes with loving someone so deeply. She wonders if it is wise to be vulnerable and express her love openly. She asks herself, "Should I bring him down? // Should I scream and shout? // Should I speak of love // Let my feelings out?" These questions reveal her uncertainty about how to proceed with this relationship and her fear of being hurt.


As the song comes to a close, the woman admits that she loves this man deeply but is also afraid of what that love means. She says, "Yet, if he said he loved me // I'd be lost. I'd be frightened // I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope." The song ends with the woman torn between her feelings of love and fear, unsure of what to do next.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't know how to love him
The singer is uncertain about how to feel and act towards this man.


What to do, how to move him
The singer is unsure of how to reach or connect with this man emotionally.


I've been changed, yes really changed
The singer has experienced a significant transformation in her feelings and mindset recently.


In these past few days, when I've seen myself
The shift in the artist's feelings has become more apparent to her over a short period of time.


I seem like someone else
The artist's recent changes have made her feel like a different person.


I don't know how to take this
The singer is unsure of how to process or interpret her own feelings.


I don't see why he moves me
The singer is confused about why this man has such a strong effect on her emotions.


He's a man. He's just a man
The artist tries to remind herself that he is not a perfect or magical figure, but just an ordinary person.


And I've had so many men before
The artist has had multiple past romantic relationships.


In very many ways
The artist has experienced a variety of types of romantic relationships in the past.


He's just one more
The singer tries to minimize the significance of this man among her past lovers.


Should I bring him down?
The artist considers whether she should try to diminish this man's importance in her life.


Should I scream and shout?
The singer wonders if expressing anger or frustration would be appropriate in this situation.


Should I speak of love
The singer contemplates whether she should be honest and vulnerable about her feelings.


Let my feelings out?
The singer considers the possibility of expressing herself openly and honestly to this man.


I never thought I'd come to this
The artist is surprised by the intensity of her emotions and the uncertainty she feels.


What's it all about?
The artist is confused and questioning the meaning and significance of her feelings.


Don't you think it's rather funny
The singer finds the irony in the fact that she is experiencing these strong emotions for this particular man.


I should be in this position
The singer is surprised to find herself in a vulnerable and uncertain position in this relationship.


I'm the one who's always been
The artist has typically been confident, in control, and sure of herself in past relationships.


So calm, so cool, no lover's fool
The artist typically presents herself as confident and unaffected in romantic situations.


Running every show
The artist is used to being in control and directing how her romantic relationships progress.


He scares me so
Despite her typical confidence, this man has a strong negative emotional effect on her.


Yet, if he said he loved me
Despite her fear and uncertainty, the artist would be deeply affected by this man's expression of love.


I'd be lost. I'd be frightened
The idea of being in a relationship with this man scares and overwhelms the singer.


I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope
The singer is unsure of her ability to handle the emotional intensity of a relationship with this man.


I'd turn my head, I'd back away
The singer would try to avoid or escape this man's affections if he expressed love to her.


I wouldn't want to know
The artist would try to deny or avoid this man's feelings for her.


He scares me so
Despite her attraction and desire for this man, his effect on her emotions is overwhelmingly negative and frightening.


I want him so
Despite her fear and uncertainty, the singer is deeply attracted to and desires a relationship with this man.


I love him so
The singer has strong feelings of love for this man, but she is uncertain of how to act on or express those feelings.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice

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
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@k333nya

~LYRICS~

I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changed, yes really changed
In these past few days
When I've seen myself
I seem like someone else

I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man, he's just a man
And I've had so many men before
In very many ways
He's just one more

Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love?
Let my feelings out?

I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny?
I should be in this position
I'm the one who's always been
So calm, so cool
No lover's fool
Running every show
He scares me so

I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?
Yet, if he said he loved me
I'd be lost, I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope
I'd turn my head, I'd back away
I wouldn't want to know
He scares me so
I want him so
I love him so



All comments from YouTube:

@TheRoyalBavarian

Many singers could perform this song with fantastic vocals but I don't know how anyone could deliver the raw beauty that I hear in her voice. It's beyond just fantastic.

@michaelholtzman1463

This will be forever HER song..I don't care WHO sings it

@belabelasko8223

She has the pathos and sadness. In addition to quality vocal prowess.

@TRUMPFORPRISON2024

Helen reddy put it on mainstream

@draoi99

The director gave a private screening to Pope Paul VI. The pope loved the movie and said this song in particular had an "inspired beauty."

@andrewsmith5457

Greatest vocal of this song, ever. No one captures the emotion of despair and Love like Yvonne ❤

@jasonfeng1824

Many singers have covered this song but Yvonne Elliman will always be miles above the rest. So beautiful.

@gritsteel4559

I agree, miles and miles above ! heavenly

@frankievalentine6112

Sara Bareilles the only one who comes close!!

@kevinmalone3210

Yvonne Elliman's singing voice speaks for itself. Nothing more to say.

More Comments

More Versions