How Can I
"Fats" Waller and His Rhythm Lyrics
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It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from
simply rotten to something worse
Who knows, some day I will win too.
I'll begin to reach my prime.
Now though I see what our end is,
I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find
Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.
Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
You have a lifetime before you.
I'll adore you, come what may.
Please don't be blue for the present,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say
I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find
Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.
The lyrics to "How Can I" by Fats Waller and His Rhythm depict a narrator who is facing financial hardship and expressing their inability to provide material wealth to their loved one. The opening lines, "Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse," set the tone for the song, highlighting the frustration and despair the singer feels due to their financial situation.
While acknowledging that their luck may change someday, the singer admits to their current struggle, stating, "Now though I see what our end is, all I can spend is just my time." They long for a better future, where they can offer the person they love more than just love itself. The lyrics suggest that despite their financial limitations, the singer hopes to achieve happiness and fulfill the desires their loved one has always had.
The song also emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance. The line, "Rome wasn't built in a day, kid. You have to pay, kid, for what you get," reminds the listener that success and the ability to provide may take time and effort. The singer expresses their willingness to wait for their loved one and assures them of their adoration.
Overall, "How Can I" explores the challenges of being financially unstable and unable to give material possessions, while highlighting the strength of love and the hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
Wow, it's really difficult to be without money, my dear.
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
It's not funny at all, my dear, it's a terrible misfortune.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from simply rotten to something worse
My fortune is improving, it has transformed from just being bad to becoming even worse.
Who knows, some day I will win too.
Who knows, one day I will also experience success.
I'll begin to reach my prime.
I will start to achieve my highest point of excellence.
Now though I see what our end is,
However, now I understand what our future holds.
All I can spend is just my time.
All I have to offer is my time and presence.
I can't give you anything but love, baby.
I am unable to provide you with anything other than love, my dear.
That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby.
Love is the only thing I have in abundance, my dear.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile
Let's dream and plan together for some time.
We're sure to find Happiness and I guess
I'm certain that we'll discover happiness, I suppose.
All those things you've always pined for.
All those things you have longed for constantly.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Oh, I would love to see you looking wonderful, my dear.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
Diamond bracelets that cannot be found at Woolworth, my dear.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
Until that fortunate day, you are completely aware, my dear.
Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
As they say, Rome was not constructed in a single day, my dear.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
You need to make payments, my dear, for what you receive.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
However, I am prepared to be patient, my dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
Your loyal companion, my dear, will always remember.
You have a lifetime before you.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
I'll adore you, come what may.
I will love and cherish you, no matter what happens.
Please don't be blue for the present,
Please don't be sad at the moment,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say
When it brings me so much joy to hear you say
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind