What Can I Do by Corrs Lyrics Meaning – The Heart’s Cry for Reciprocated Love
Lyrics
It’s been so long since we’ve talked
And I have been here many times
I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong
What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there
There’s only so much I can take
And I just got to let it go
And who knows I might feel better, yeah
If I don’t try and I don’t hope
What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there
No more waiting, no more, aching
No more fighting, no more, trying
Maybe there’s nothing more to say
And in a funny way I’m calm
Because the power is not mine
I’m just going to let it fly
What can I do to make you love me
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to make you care
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I say to make you feel this
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to get you there
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I do to make you love me
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to make you care
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I change to make you feel this
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to get you there
(What can I do to make you care)
And love me, love me
The Corrs, an Irish family band known for their blend of pop rock with traditional Celtic music, crafted a timeless ballad with ‘What Can I Do’. The song, seeped in the turmoil of unrequited love, masterfully captures the essence of romantic despair and the quest for emotional resolution.
Through a delicate combination of soulful vocals and stirring instrumentals, the track embarks on a journey of self-inquiry and the daunting spectre of love left unreciprocated. Here, we dissect the poignant lyrics of ‘What Can I Do’ and delve into its profound layers of meaning.
The Sleepless Echoes of Longing
The opening lines of ‘What Can I Do’ instantly set the stage for a heart fraught with insomnia—’I haven’t slept at all in days.’ It’s not merely the absence of sleep but the absence of peace. Romantic disquiet brews as the narrator ruminates on a communication chasm with their beloved.
Mulling over past interactions can often feel like a record stuck on replay, especially when one searches for that elusive error in the dance of love. The lyrics perfectly encapsulate this common human experience, inviting listeners into a space of shared vulnerability.
A Chorus That Cries out for Connection
‘What can I do to make you love me? What can I do to make you care?’ The recurring chorus of ‘What Can I Do’ resonates like a plea breaking the silence of unrequited feelings. It speaks volumes of our intrinsic desire to be seen, understood, and ultimately loved.
This raw appeal for affection is not a demand, but a submissive question that acknowledges the powerlessness one feels in the face of another’s disinterest. It’s a universal theme that has both haunted and comforted those who’ve experienced love’s one-way street.
When Hope and Desperation Waltz Together
At its core, ‘What Can I Do’ teeters on the delicate balance of hope and the bitterness of relentless chasing. Lyrics such as ‘There’s only so much I can take, and I just got to let it go,’ reveal the sheer emotional toll of loving someone who doesn’t love you back.
When the narrator contemplates letting go, it’s an intimate glimpse into the human psyche—recognizing when to fight for love and when to surrender to reality. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the bravest thing one might do is to stop fighting a battle that’s already lost.
Unmasking the Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beyond its obvious romantic implications, ‘What Can I Do’ delves deeper, serving as a metaphor for the struggle for acceptance in various facets of life. It could be the artist’s echo for genuine connection in an oft-superficial world, or a human’s search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.
The Corrs, through their music, invite us to interpret the lyrics on a personal level—whether it’s the quest for self-love, societal approval, or spiritual enlightenment. The song becomes a canvas for our personal insecurities and the lengths to which we’ll go to resolve them.
Embracing Serenity in the Face of Rejection
Arguably, the most powerful moment in ‘What Can I Do’ arrives in the form of acceptance with lines like ‘Maybe there’s nothing more to say, and in a funny way I’m calm.’ It captures that transformative point where one transcends their need for external validation.
In recognizing that the ‘power is not mine,’ there’s a subtle, yet profound shift from desperation to a tranquil surrender. It’s an ode to self-discovery and embracing the fact that not all love will be returned, but that does not diminish its beauty or its necessity in our lives.





