Can’t Remember to Forget You ft. Rihanna by Shakira Lyrics Meaning – The Tug-of-War of Passion and Reason
Lyrics
Said not to repeat
Yesterday’s mistakes
What I tend to do
When it comes to you
I see only the good
Selective memory
The way you make me feel, yeah
You gotta hold on me, I never met someone so different
Oh here we go
You’re a part of me now
You’re a part of me
So where you go I follow, follow, follow
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I keep forgetting I should let you go
But when you look at me
The only memory is us kissing in the moonlight
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
I can’t remember to forget you
I go back again
Fall off the train
Land in his bed, repeat yesterday’s mistakes
What I’m trying to say
Is not to forget
You see only the good
Selective memory
The way he makes me feel like
The way he makes me feel, I never seemed to act so stupid
Oh here we go
He a part of me now
He a part of me
So where he goes I follow, follow, follow
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I keep forgetting I should let you go
But when you look at me
The only memory
Is us kissing in the moonlight (oh)
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
I rob and I kill to keep him with me I
Do anything for that boy
I’d give my last dime to hold him tonight I
Do anything for that boy
I rob and I kill to keep him with me I
Do anything for that boy
I’d give my last dime to hold him tonight I
Do anything for that boy
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I keep forgetting I should let you go
But when you look at me
The only memory
Is us kissing in the moonlight (oh)
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
But when you look at me
The only memory
Is us kissing in the moonlight (oh)
Oh-oh ooh oh
Oh-oh ooh oh
I can’t remember to forget you
Released as a powerful collaboration, ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’ by Shakira featuring Rihanna reverberates with the tension of a love that’s hard to let go, despite the best of intentions. Pairing Shakira’s signature blend of pop-rock with Rihanna’s sultry R&B touch, the track is an anthem of longing, temptation, and the inescapable pull of an addictive relationship.
Underneath its catchy hooks and dynamic rhythms, the song delves into the complexities of a romance that’s as tumultuous as it is intoxicating. It’s a vivid portrayal of the struggle between moving on from the past and being repeatedly drawn back to a love that refuses to fade.
The Inescapable Grip of Nostalgia
Shakira opens the song with a confessional tone, acknowledging her propensity to make the same mistakes when it comes to an old flame. The lyrics suggest a conscious recognition of her selective memory, a cognitive dissonance where only the ‘good’ times are recalled, leaving the pain and the reasons for separation in the shadows.
This selective amnesia is set against a backdrop of the undeniable chemistry she shares with this lover. It’s a push and pull that’s familiar to many — knowing in your head that letting go is the healthiest choice, but feeling in your heart the gravity that pulls you back.
The Dance of Seduction and Willpower
The recurring line, ‘I can’t remember to forget you,’ is a linguistic dance of seduction and willpower, echoing the universal experience of trying to rationalize away an emotional truth. The heart’s memories embed themselves deeper than the mind’s resolve, and this chorus taps into that with melodic precision.
Shakira and Rihanna, both artists with histories of portraying strong female personas, embody the narrative of a woman wrestling with her independence and the magnetic allure of love. This struggle isn’t just personal; it’s an echo of the larger societal battle for emotional autonomy.
Colliding Worlds: Pop and Caribbean Influences
The musical landscape of ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’ forms the perfect battleground for its lyrical themes. Shakira’s pop-rock tactics meld with Rihanna’s Caribbean-influenced R&B, creating a sound clash that reiterates the tumult of the lyrical content.
The rhythms lure listeners into a dance, much like the hypnotic state of the lovers entangled in the song’s narrative. It’s a sonic reflection of the emotional disarray, where every beat is a heartbeat, and every riff is a tug at the strings of a frayed but not severed connection.
A Dark Confession: The Hidden Meaning
Embedded deeply in the bridge, there is a stark confession of the lengths one would go for love: robbing, killing, and sacrificing everything for the beloved. These lines serve as a hyperbolic testament to the intoxicating nature of the affair, where logic is forsaken for passion.
This dark dive adds a layer of intensity to the song, suggesting that this isn’t just about a challenging romance—it’s about the harrowing depths of obsession. It’s these lyrics that give ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’ its edge, a daring exploration of love’s shadowy side.
Memorable Lines That Echo in the Heartbeat of the Night
Beyond the commanding chorus, certain lines catch in the memory like the embers of a once-blazing fire. ‘The only memory is us kissing in the moonlight’ conjures the imagery of romance against adversity, a scene perfect for the silver screen.
It’s these moments that encapsulate the eternal conflict of heart versus mind—a universal theme that Shakira and Rihanna encapsulate within these compelling verses. These lyrics resonate because they’re more than just words; they’re echoes of every listener’s personal chapters of love and loss.
