You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody

"You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" is a song written by Johnny MacRae and Steve Clark, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from his album Lead On.

"You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody"
Single by George Strait
from the album Lead On
B-side"What Am I Waiting For"
ReleasedDecember 5, 1994
RecordedApril 19, 1994[1]
GenreCountry
Length3:21
LabelMCA 54964
Songwriter(s)Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae
Producer(s)Tony Brown, George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"The Big One"
(1994)		 "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody"
(1994)		 "Adalida"
(1995)

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."[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

References
  1. Latest Greatest Sraitest Hits (CD). George Strait. MCA Nashville. 2000.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Billboard, January 7, 1995
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7968." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 13, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  4. "George Strait Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  7. "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
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