In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Turn down the lights
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
Don't patronize me
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
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
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
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
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
Don't patronize me
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
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
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
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
Lyrics submitted by jatkins679
I Can't Make You Love Me Lyrics as written by Michael Barry Reid James Allen Shamblin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The most touching part of the song to me is :
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see The love you don't feel when you're holding me Morning will come and I'll do what's right Just give me till then to give up this fight And I will give up this fight
In such a short and simple stanza, so much is said. I know this feeling and it's amazing to me that it could be put so accurately into words.
To me, this is (obviously) a song about unrequited love, but it also conveys very realistically the pain and hesitation in trying to move on from it. It's sad because it's so simple and to the point. She wants to be close to him in whatever capacity he will accept her because she loves him, but she knows he doesn't feel that way toward her. It's a hard truth and this song is very honest about it.
Absolutely and completely heartbreaking...
Absolutely and completely heartbreaking...
I think it's about 2 people who are already in a romantic relationship, but then Bonnie's character realized just how much the man is unable to return the love that she's giving to him, so she decides that she has to move on (she may also have been thinking about how much she love's the man so much to the point where she just wants him to be happy & she knows that he will never be truly happy with her).
This song describes the moment before she leaves him. It is truly heart wrenching & touching. I love the fact that Bonnie never specified the gender of the character, making listeners relate to the character more easily. It's so sad how pretty much everyone can relate to this song (which is so beautiful).
my heart aches every time I hear this song, because I realise how I still love him, and how I will never get over him, I will only learn to live with the pain
this song is so true. there is nothing worse than loveing, wanting careing for someone so deeply and not being able to understand why they cant feel the same. im in this situation right now, i can imagine as i hear this song exactly how it feels to lay next to him, sleeping peacefully while i lye awake hoping he feels that power between us, but he doesnt and you cant make it happen, its so terrible and painful
This song was inspired by a news article about a man who got drunk and shot up his girlfriend's car. When the judge asked him if had learned anything from the experience he replied, "I learned, Your Honor, that you can't make a woman love you if she don't."
He doesn't love me, and I can't make him if he don't.
The song is about 2 people. One who knows its over but still loves the person. And just wants them to be honest and dont feed them lines. If its over its over. And the other person wants it to be over but wont say it.
this song says nothing about sex...i don't know why people keep thinking its about trying to love a guy who wants only sex cause thats not what shes saying. Also this song can be from a guys point of view, i can relate completely
yep.
It's about two people in a very caring relationship. one is in love and the other wont ever be. But each are having problems letting go, because they do mean a lot to each other- even if one isn't IN love with the other they still love them- are still meaningful in each others lives. and they keep going back for just one more good bye, or to try to be something in each others lives.
You nailed it 004gpm, this is exactly what is going with my boyfriend and myself. It's been nearly a year and he still does not have any love feelings for me at all, and yet he cares very deeply for me. But I am not angry...cannot blame or punish someone for how they do not feel.
I don't believe the song is only past tense, I believe it could be present tense. To me, the song is about a boy and girl in a very caring relationship, but the girl is hopelessly in love with him and she clearly knows he doesn't love her, he hasn't reached that understanding yet. To break it down:
"Turn down the lights, 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, don't patronize me."
"Cause I can't make you love me if you don't, you can't make your heart feel something it won't. Here in the dark, in these final hours I will lay down my heart and I will feel the power. But you won't, no you won't cause I can't make you love me."
"I'll close my eyes, then I won't see the love you don't feel when you're holding me. Morning will come and I'll do what's right. Just give me till then to give up this fight and I will give up this fight."