About The Song
“If I Can’t Have You” is a classic disco song, written and produced by the Bee Gees in 1977. The first recorded version was by Yvonne Elliman, who released it as the A-side single for the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack in November 1977. The song reached the Top 10 in several countries, including the US, where it peaked at #1 and spent 2 weeks on the Hot 100 chart. It also reached #4 in the UK and #9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The Bee Gees also recorded their own version of the song as the B-side of their “Stayin’ Alive” single, which was released a month later.
Yvonne Elliman’s song “If I Can’t Have You” is a classic anthem of unrequited passion and longing. The meaning behind the song is love that is never quite attained, even though someone is deeply in love and their affections are not reciprocated. The lyrics express feelings of longing and regret, with Elliman singing about her inability to let go of the person she desires deeply. The song’s chorus is particularly memorable, with Elliman passionately singing “If I can’t have you / I don’t want nobody, baby”. The song’s composition and Elliman’s powerful vocals solidified its place in disco music history.