"Why Can't I Have You" is a song by the American new wave band The Cars. The song, written by Ric Ocasek, appeared on the band's fifth studio album Heartbeat City. The song is a lush ballad.

"Why Can't I Have You" was first released on the Heartbeat City album in 1984. However, in January 1985, the song saw single release in America, Britain and Germany, making it the fifth single from Heartbeat City (the previous singles being "You Might Think", "Magic", "Drive", and "Hello Again"). Although it did not reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 like its four predecessors, the song managed to reach #33 on the U.S. charts, as well as #11 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The song was the final single from Heartbeat City released in America; in Britain, however, a sixth single, "Heartbeat City", was released after "Why Can't I Have You".

The B-side of "Why Can't I Have You" was the non-album track "Breakaway", described as having "Euro-disco undertones" in the liner notes from Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology.

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