You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody
| "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by George Strait | ||||
| from the album Lead On | ||||
| B-side | "What Am I Waiting For" | |||
| Released | December 5, 1994 | |||
| Format | CD single, 7" single | |||
| Recorded | April 19, 1994[1] | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:21 | |||
| Label | MCA 54964 | |||
| Writer(s) | Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Brown, George Strait | |||
| George Strait singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" is a the title of a song written by Johnny MacRae and Steve Clark, and recorded by American country singer George Strait. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from his album Lead On.
Content
The song is about a man who proposes to his girlfriend, but she rejects it. In a play on the cliche, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink," the woman tearfully explains that—despite her best efforts—she is simply not in love with her boyfriend ("You can lead a heart to love, but you can't make him fall").
Critical reception
Larry Flick, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a fine ballad. He goes on to say that Strait and co-producer Tony Brown have "refined the song search process to a science, and the singer outdoes himself here."[2]
Chart positions
"You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of December 24, 1994.
| Chart (1994-1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] | 2 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[4] | 11 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 28 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 42 |
| Preceded by "Old Enough to Know Better" by Wade Hayes |
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks number-one single March 11, 1995 |
Succeeded by "This Woman and This Man" by Clay Walker |
References
- ↑ Latest Greatest Sraitest Hits (CD). George Strait. MCA Nashville. 2000.
- ↑ Billboard, January 7, 1995
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7968." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 13, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ↑ "George Strait Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for George Strait.
- ↑ "George Strait Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for George Strait.
- ↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
