Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt & Delbert McClinton
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt & Alison Krauss
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” is the third song on Bonnie Raitt’s Grammy-winning album from 1991, Luck of the Draw. The song, written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, sat on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks, peaking at No. 18. The words are sung from the perspective of someone experiencing unrequited...
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel somethin' 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
[Verse 2]
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holdin' me
Mornin' will come, and I'll do what's right
Just give me 'til then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
[Chorus]
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel somethin' 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
[Instrumental Break]
[Outro]
Don't try baby
Ain't no use in you tryin', baby
I Can’t Make You Love Me was written by Mike Reid & Allen Shamblin.
I Can’t Make You Love Me was produced by Bonnie Raitt & Don Was.
Bonnie Raitt released I Can’t Make You Love Me on Tue Oct 22 1991.
Of all the songs in my career, that one is the greatest gift. I think it stands among the best songs ever written.
Bonnie Raitt in the Rolling Stone