Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: show-tunes
Song Meaning of “If I Can’t Love Her” by Alan Menken
If I Can’t Love Her is a beautiful and heartbreaking song about a lover who, despite all their best intentions, can’t manage to be the one their partner needs in order to be truly happy. A confession of helplessness, the lyrics describe the silent pain the singer experiences because of their inability to love the person they care about in the way they desperately wish they could. The melody soothes, yet amplifies the sadness of the words as they depict the singer’s offering to set their beloved free from a relationship that is filled with nothing but sorrow and disappointment.
The song is an anthem of hope, in spite of the heartbreak. Even in their pain, the singer knows that by letting go, their loved one can find the true love and happiness they deserve. They recognize their own shortcomings, yet find comfort in the hope that someday, somewhere, their love will be rewarded. The words of the chorus, “And if I can’t love her, I’ll set her free,” convey the ultimate acceptance that happiness is not something to be forced – it must be given and received to be truly felt.
If I Can’t Love Her is a powerful song full of wisdom and understanding. It underscores the importance of being honest with ourselves and with those we care about, not holding onto something that no longer serves either one of us.