☝️ Key Points
- The song expresses deep sadness and despair over the loss of a loved one.
- The singer reminisces about an emotional moment with the person who left.
- The lyric 'You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows' shows that the other person also felt sorrow.
- The chorus 'I can't live if living is without you' shows the singer's inability to imagine a life without this loved one.
- The singer also feels lost and empty, and is unable to give more ('I can't give, I can't give anymore').
Interpretation
The song 'I Can't Live (If Living Is Without You)' by
Harry Nilsson is about the deep sadness and despair a person feels when they lose a loved one. The singer describes how he remembers one evening when he saw the face of the person who left him. The line 'You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows' suggests that despite this person's smile, their eyes reveal sadness and grief. This could indicate that the separation was painful for both sides.
In the chorus, 'I can't live if living is without you,' the singer expresses that he can't imagine a life without this person. He is so desperate and hurt that he feels he can't give anymore ('I can't give, I can't give anymore').
In summary, the song is about the pain and despair that can accompany the end of a relationship. The singer feels lost and empty without the loved one and can't imagine a life without them.