I Can't Make You Love Me

Album: Luck Of The Draw (1991)
Charted: 50 18
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  • 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 Writer/s: James Allen Shamblin, Michael Barry Reid
    Publisher: AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., O/B/O DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 27

  • Peter GreigI read another version in Mojo where they rated this song among the 100 best ever.
    It was about a man on death row reflecting on his last few hours before he'd be electrocuted for the murder of his girlfriend because she didn't love him anymore.
  • Anonymous from Guadalupe, AzPrince did a great job covering this song. In fact, his "Emancipation " album was his his 1st covering other people's music("I Can't Make U Love Me"; "One Of Us", "Betcha By Golly Wow ", and another I cannot remember).
  • Teeare from MarylandThis reminds me of a couple times when you wanted someone to love you, but they just don't and it finally dawns on you what you imagined in your head was just that and you feel like an idiot. I tear up every time this song is played.

    Bonnie may not have written this song, but she owns it. No doubt.
  • Mary Helen from HomeI just finished a playlist on youtube of breaking up songs (for my friend and fam, I am sending them songs all the time). But I wanted to use songs that were not the usual he /she left me broke my hera, etc. I am making a list no on songs of unrequited love and thought this would be first on that list. That's where I was t when I first heard that-- in fact just the situation in the lyrics. Ever thin that a song was written just for you??
  • Jeff from Kingston, TnVery emotional performance and genuine. Great break up song which makes you come to terms with a ending relationship. Along with Cryin by Roy Orbinson not many songs have this kind of impact.
  • Thomas from Macon, GaI love her performance and I love the melody but just looking purely at the lyric this may be the greatest song ever. I would put it right there with Clouds by Joanie Mitchell, Moon River by Johnny Mercer (the adjective Huckleberry gets a lot of points) and Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Paul Simon.
  • Dane from Lima,ohio, FlAnother perfect marriage of words & music.I love everything about it.As far as Linda Rondstat goes,the song they both covered is "Love has no pride."
  • Fine Brown Sugar from Kansas City, Moi am a black lady and i am truly in love with this song i sing it with her and we sound exact the same she has some soul in her
  • Paula from Laredo, TxYou just know when someone doesn't feel a damn thing for you. If you have to ask, it's a sure bet that he doesn't feel like you do. Oh, well. Heck of a song.
  • Snkefinger from Washington, DcThis song came out at the time my best friend, who I was and still am totally in love with, announced she was getting married and asked me to walk her down the aisle. I loved her so much. That was 8 yrs ago and this song still makes me cry.
  • Frank from Battle Creek, MiOh...And By The By...Try not to cry when listening to bonnie do it live or studio!!! :_(


    Sorry can't be done...If you own A HEART!
  • Frank from Battle Creek, MiEveryone that I have heard do this song ...Other Than Bonnie Raitt Has crippled This Song... I can sing it better than some...and I Mean It When I Sing It! I live It!!Boo Hoo Bonnie IS THE QUEEN!!!! GM... LAME Prince...GIRL MAN NANCY WILSON...Not of my heart Fame BONNIE RULEZ!!!! LLBR! Love Frank
  • Kylee from Hartford, CtNo matter how many people sing this song, there is no other version like Bonnie's.
  • Butchieboy from Everett, WaBonnie OWNS this song,...
  • Butchieboy from Everett, WaSuch feeling. So emotionally wrenching you must cry and revisit why you were or are there now,...
  • Norrie from Paisley, ScotlandThis is one of those songs that just makes you cry, I know I'm a big girl's blouse but I don't care, George Michael's cover is amazin, Bonnie Raitt rocks man.
  • Terry from West New York, Nji know that linda ronstadt did a recording of this song and i am trying to find it' yet it is not found on any internet links. i am currently going through my old vinyl albums searching for it to pinpoint where she sang this song. she did this well.
  • Peter from London, EuropeI have been in a situation where I wish i could make my woman love me,but she won't...listening to this song makes me feel hopeless and helpless at the same time, but will never give up loving her and fighting for her heart...don't you give up if she is worth it please! good luck
  • Suzanne from White Rock, CanadaI totally know the feeling of this song.
  • Angie from Derby, EnglandI'm a vocalist and covered this song recently.The beautiful melody and sad lyrics caught my ear when first hearing it a few weeks ago.
  • Mark from Humboldt, IaFound this tape in my ex-wife's car and knew it was about us when I first played it
  • Dan from Fairmont, MnOn the TV reality series RockStar: INXS, several of the female contestants tried to cover this song, with little success.

    They all remarked that it is one of the hardest songs to sing...the vocal range, breathing, and emotion contained in the song make it difficult to pull off for all but the most talented voices.
  • Galina from New London, CtI read about her in our local newspaper on the second to front page. Ilove this song
  • Susanna from Bridgeport, CtThis is the most heartbreaking song ever. Makes me cry when I hear it -- cause anyone who has ever been in this situation knows true heartache, loneliness and desperation to get back, even for one night what they once had.
  • Lara from Hackensack, Njthey initially wrote this as uptempo bluegrass, for an artist like randy travis.
  • Michael from Fort Lauderdale, Flwho wrote the lyrics and who wrote music or was it a joint effort by both allen and mike.which one of the two is more lyrically oriented?
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcBruce Hornsby played piano on this. I personally consider this the best song of the nineties.
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