Released December 5, 1994 Recorded April 19, 1994 Length 3:21 | Format CD single, 7" single Genre Country | |
B-side "What Am I Waiting For" | ||
"You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" is 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.
Contents
Content
The song is about a man who proposes to his girlfriend, but she rejects it. In a play on the proverb, "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 it 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."
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.