Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: rock-n-roll
Song Meaning of “You Can’t Make Love to Somebody (Alternate Version 1)” by Carl Perkins
This song explores the idea of loneliness and heartache as a result of a failed romance. The narrator is addressing a former lover and reflects on the good times they experienced while they were together. He struggles to accept the fact that his partner has moved on, and that no amount of wishing or wishingful attempts will make them love again.
The title itself suggests the futility of being able to make love to someone when the feelings have gone. The narrator has let go of the relationship, and while it hurts to move on, he knows he can’t force someone to feel something that’s no longer there.
The alternate version of the song is a dejected ballad about the reality of lost love and the difficulty of dealing with the pain it causes. The somber lyrics, slow tempo, and lack of a bridge reinforce the idea of resignation, the narrator accepting defeat in the face of this unrequited love.
Ultimately, Carl Perkins’ ‘You Can’t Make Love to Somebody’ is a reminder of the fragility of relationships, and that sometimes even the strongest feelings can’t save love that has already folded.