They began as studio engineers at Mickie Most's RAK recording studio in London, engineering music for British groups like the Pet Shop Boys, Young Disciples, and Robert Plant. In 1997 they were asked by a college friend, Nigel Godrich (who was busy producing 'OK Computer'), to remix Radiohead's "Climbing Up the Walls". They called the mix "the Zero 7 Mix" which stuck.
If I Can
Zero 7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it smarts when you've hurt and ignored
Oh, the sort that goes away
Even though I waited for you
Oh, how I adore you
You never saw my face
I traced your path each day
Now I watch you bleed
You had all I need
How I love you so
Now we'll never know
If I can't have you
I even did the research
Went to work, learned to flirt
Wore a skirt and faced dirt
And, ah, still you didn't notice
You never focused on me
You never saw my face
I traced your path each day
You never lifted your eyes to me, ah
Now I watch you bleed
You had all I need
How I love you so
Now we'll never know
If I can't have you
If I can't have you
If I can't have you
If I can't have you
The lyrics of "If I Can't Have You" by Zero 7 are about unrequited love and the pain it can cause. The singer of the song longs for someone who they adore, but that person either does not notice them or does not return their affection. The singer has tried various tactics to get the person's attention, including doing research, changing their appearance, and even facing rejection, but nothing has worked. The chorus repeats the phrase "If I can't have you," expressing the deep desire that the singer has for the person they love. The bridge of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer stating that they now watch the person they love bleed and that they had all that the singer needed, suggesting a jealousy or possessiveness that borders on obsession.
One interpretation of the song is that the singer is struggling with feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, believing that they are not good enough for the person they love. The line "you never focused on me" could reflect a deep-seated fear of rejection and an inability to understand why the person they love does not reciprocate their feelings. The bridge suggests that the singer may be willing to hurt the person they love if it means they can have them, which is a dangerous and unsettling sentiment.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever wondered
Have you ever asked yourself a question
If it smarts when you've hurt and ignored
If it hurts when you have injured and disregarded
Oh, the sort that goes away
The type of pain that disappears
Even though I waited for you
Despite waiting for you
Oh, how I adore you
Oh, how I love you deeply
You never saw my face
You never laid eyes on me
I traced your path each day
I followed your movements every day
We could be always together
We could have been together always
Now I watch you bleed
Now I see you suffer
You had all I need
You possessed everything I required
How I love you so
How much I love you
Now we'll never know
Now we will never know the extent of our love
If I can't have you
If I cannot possess you
I even did the research
I even conducted research
Went to work, learned to flirt
I worked hard and learned to flirt
Wore a skirt and faced dirt
I dressed up and faced criticism
And, ah, still you didn't notice
And yet, you did not take note
You never focused on me
You never gave me your attention
You never lifted your eyes to me, ah
You never glanced in my direction
If I can't have you
If I cannot possess you
If I can't have you
If I cannot possess you
If I can't have you
If I cannot possess you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY BINNS, SAM HARDAKER, SIA KATE I. FURLER, DEDI MADDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind