I could hardly believe it
When I heard the news today
I had to come and get it straight from you
They said you were leavin'
Someone's swept your heart away
From that look upon your face, I see it's true

So tell me all about it
Tell me 'bout the plans you're makin'
Oh, tell me one thing more before I go

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone

Too proud for cryin'
Didn't come here to break down
It's just a dream of mine is coming to an end
And how can I blame you
When I built my world around
The hope that one day
We'd be so much more than friends
I don't wanna know the price I'm gonna pay for dreaming
Oh, even now it's more than I can take

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone

Now I don't wanna know the price I'm gonna pay for dreaming
Oh, now that your dream has come true

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?
Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on?
When all that I've been livin' for is gone


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? Lyrics as written by Michael Bolton Doug James

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

How Am I Supposed to Live Without You? song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is kinda cheesy.. but I like it and appreciate it a lot. He sings this song with his whole heart and soul!!! its great. Its hard to take the song seriously though because of the video clip... his hair!!!! hahaha, you gotta love it though!!!! Great, passionate and heart-breaking song. Very relatable.

    daydreamer82on June 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's amazing that I find songs with lyrics that perfectly fit me in genres that I'm not particularly interested in. Maybe there's a punk cover somewhere....

    TGXIIIon July 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    say what you will, sure i know its bolton but damn if he doesnt he hit the right note on this song

    poohblueskyon June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yes, he sings it well. But does it seem to anyone else that all he does is whinge about some chick and how he didnt do anything to get her?

    shadydudeon September 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    plus, his hair is funny.

    shadydudeon September 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    good breakup song

    LettingYouGoon December 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Is it just me, or does watching this video not make you want to make love to a rat??

    billyperryon May 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    While this song is sung beautifully, what I hear is a guy who is friends with a woman who he is in love with but she is not in love with him and wants to just be friends. He stays friends with her in hopes that she will change her mind. This, in my opinion, is cruel to do to someone. Someone thinking you're their friend but in the end, you only were because they were hoping you'd want more. If he loves her like that, tell her and let her decide. Otherwise, don't do that to someone.

    DnJLoveon March 24, 2023   Link

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