(Who Says) You Can't Have It All

"(Who Says) You Can't Have It All" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in January 1994 as the fifth and final single from his album '' A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)''. The song peaked at number 4 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart and number 11 on the Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks chart. Jackson wrote the song with Jim McBride.

Content

The song is about a man who lost his woman. The narrator tells of the lonely scene of his bedroom alone. ''"A stark naked light bulb hangs over my head, There's one lonely pillow on my double bed."'' According to Jackson, it's one of his favorite songs he's written.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of ''Billboard'' magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "heartbreak, pure country waltz" and saying that nobody does this type of song better than Jackson. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, calling it a "pure country song" due to the fiddle. He goes on to say that Jackson's "equally forlorn voice singing the opening lyrics, 'A stark naked light bulb hangs over my head, there's one lonely pillow on my double bed', serves as confirmation that we're in for 3 minutes and 30 seconds of a deliciously straight-up country weeper that turns out to be one of Jackson's most satisfying singles yet.CountryUniverse.net
Song review

Music video

The music video was directed by Piers Plowden and premiered in early 1994.

Chart positions

"(Who Says)" You Can't Have It All" debuted at number 43 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of January 29, 1994.

Year-end charts

References

1994 singles
1992 songs
Alan Jackson songs
Songs written by Alan Jackson
Song recordings produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville singles
Songs written by Jim McBride (songwriter)

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