Some songs don’t just tell a story—they grab hold of your heart and refuse to let go. My Heart Can’t Tell You No is one of those songs. Originally written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan, this haunting ballad has been recorded by both Rod Stewart and Sara Evans, each bringing their own unique emotional weight to it. But no matter the voice behind the lyrics, the song’s aching honesty remains the same: loving someone you know you shouldn’t.
At its core, this song is about the war between the heart and the mind. Logic says to walk away, to protect yourself from the pain of loving someone who keeps breaking your trust. But the heart? The heart is stubborn, unwilling to listen to reason, refusing to let go even when it knows better. It’s a sentiment so many can relate to—whether it’s staying in a relationship that’s no good for you, or holding onto feelings for someone who doesn’t deserve them.
Rod Stewart’s 1988 rendition is filled with a husky, aching vulnerability, while Sara Evans’ 2011 version leans into the raw, country-infused pain of unshakable love. Both versions deliver an emotional punch, capturing that heartbreaking moment when you realize you just can’t turn away from someone, no matter how much you should.
It’s the kind of song that stirs something deep inside—a reminder that sometimes, love isn’t a choice. It’s a force, a pull, a whisper in the dark that refuses to be ignored. And even when you know you should walk away, some loves are just too strong to resist.
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Lyrics
I don’t want you to come ’round here no more,
I beg you for mercy.
You don’t know how strong my weakness is
Or how much it hurts me.
‘Cause when you say it’s over with her,
I want to believe it’s true.
So I let you in, knowing tomorrow
I’m gonna wake up missing you,
Wake up missing you.
When the one you love’s in love with someone else,
Don’t you know it’s torture? I mean it’s a living hell.
No matter how I try to convince myself,
This time I won’t lose control.
One look in your blue eyes and suddenly
My heart can’t tell you no.
I don’t want you to call me up no more,
Saying you need me.
You’re crazy if you think just half your love
Could ever please me.
Still I want to hold you, touch you
When you look at me that way.
There’s only one solution I know:
You got to stay away from me,
Stay away from me!
When the one you love’s in love with someone else,
Don’t you know it’s torture? I mean it’s a living hell.
No matter how I try to convince myself,
This time I won’t lose control.
One look in your sad eyes and suddenly
My heart can’t tell you no,
My heart can’t tell you no!
I don’t want you to come round here no more,
I beg you for mercy.
When the one you love’s in love with someone else,
Don’t you know it’s torture? I mean it’s a living hell.
When the one you love’s in love with someone else,
Don’t you know it’s torture? I mean it’s a living hell.
Living hell
When the one you love’s in love with someone else,
Don’t you know it’s torture? I mean it’s a living hell.