Introduction
Ronnie Dunn’s “Somethin’ I Can’t Have” is featured on his fifth solo album, 100 Proof Neon, released July 29, 2022 via Little Will‑E Records . The record marked a deliberate return to the honky‑tonk, dance‑hall sound that defined Dunn’s early career—including his legendary run alongside Kix Brooks as Brooks & Dunn .
While “Somethin’ I Can’t Have” was not issued as a single, it emerged as a standout album cut. Fans on community forums have praised it as a top tier track on 100 Proof Neon, particularly highlighting the opening fiddle line as an emotionally resonant hook that sets the tone for the song’s longing theme .
Written and produced by Dunn himself, the song fits seamlessly into the album’s aesthetic: a personal project steeped in traditional country influences, rooted in the very atmosphere of Texas and Oklahoma dance floors that shaped his early driving sound . Although Dunn co‑wrote seven of 100 Proof Neon’s eleven tracks, this one helps underscore his artistic control and willingness to revisit that signature era’s storytelling style.
Though mainstream coverage of this specific song is scarce, the broader album received attention for its authenticity and nostalgia. In interviews, Dunn described 100 Proof Neon as a creative space to embrace his honky‑tonk roots and to literally dance again—with each track guided by the pulse of those old venues versus chasing modern trends .
“Somethin’ I Can’t Have” thus plays as a quietly powerful album track: blending introspective longing with Dunn’s distinctive baritone, framed by traditional instrumentation, all paying homage to the heartfelt, original country sound that made him an icon.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Well, forgive me bartender for givin’ in to my crazy
But that’s just how her leavin’ makes me
The whiskey helps the hurt, oh, but it don’t heal
The way her stone-cold gone is makin’ me feel
[Chorus]
Oh, she’s just somethin’ I can’t have
An old flame burnin’ in my past
A way-long gone that won’t come back
She’s just somethin’ I can’t have
[Verse 2]
These empty arms used to hold her almost every night
Learnin’ the hard way’s tellin’ me I shoulda held on tight
That jukebox keeps playin’, oh, some sad ol’ song
About somе fool who can’t let go and can’t move on
[Chorus]
She’s just somеthin’ I can’t have
An old flame burnin’ in my past
A way-long gone that ain’t comin’ back
Oh, oh-oh, she’s just somethin’ I can’t have
[Instrumental Break]
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[Outro]
She’s just somethin’ I can’t have
An old flame burnin’ in my past
Oh, a way-long gone, it ain’t comin’ back
She’s just somethin’ I can’t have
She’s just somethin’
She’s just somethin’ I can’t have