I Canr Get Next To You
Al Green Lyrics

I, my, my, my, my
The singer is emphasizing that he is the singer of the song and draws attention to himself.

Oh I,
The singer repeats that he is the one talking and suggests excitement or frustration.

Can turn the gray sky blue, I
The singer boasts about his ability to improve things and create happiness out of sadness.

You see I can make it rain, when I want it to, oh I
The artist is saying that he has control over the elements and can create rain whenever he desires to do so.

I can build a castle from a single grain of sand, I
The artist boasts that he can create something grand out of something small through his imagination and ingenuity.

You see I can make a ship sail, on dry land tell 'em yeah
The singer is saying that he is capable of performing improbable feats; he can make a ship move on land, which is impossible.

I'm unhappy with all the powers I possess, yeah
Despite the singer's impressive abilities, he remains unhappy and unfulfilled.

Girl you're the key to my happiness and I
The artist believes that the one he is addressing is the missing piece that would lead to his happiness.

(I can't get next to you, babe)
The artist laments that he cannot be near the person he desires.

(I can't get next to you)
The artist is repeating his desire to be near the person he is addressing, but he cannot for some reason.

I've trying a long time
The singer has been attempting to be near the person he addresses for an extended period of time.

I don't know what to do
Despite his efforts, the artist is confused or unsure what to do next.

I,
The singer emphasizes himself once again.

Oh I,
The singer repeats himself to underline his focus.

I, oh Lord
The singer invokes a higher power to emphasize his desperation and need for assistance.

I can fly like a bird in the sky, oh I
The artist boasts his ability to achieve the impossible, which is to fly like a bird without any assistance or equipment.

And I can buy anything that money can buy, oh I
The artist suggests financial wealth and the ability to purchase anything.

Can turn a river into a raging fire, oh I
The singer suggests that he has the ability to manipulate nature and turn the water in the river into fire.

And I can live forever if I so desire, yeah
The singer suggests he is immortal, and therefore, he can live for eternity if he chooses to do so.

I'm unhappy with all the power I possess, yeah girl
Despite his extraordinary powers, the artist remains unhappy and unfulfilled without the person he is addressing.

'Cause girl your the key cause
The artist reiterates that the person he is addressing holds the key to his happiness.

Let me tell that
The artist is about to make a significant point that he wants to address explicitly.

I can turn back the hands of time,
The singer can manipulate time and reverse its flow.

You better believe I can, oh I
The artist emphasizes his point and wants the audience to believe his ability to bend time.

You see I can take the seasons change just by waving my hand, let me say I
The singer suggests that he can control the seasons simply by waving his hand, a seemingly impossible feat.

I can change anything from old to new girl, oh I
The singer claims his power to revamp and restore anything, even things that appear worn out and old.

All the things I want to do the most, you see, I'm unable to do, yeah
Despite his powers, the singer remains unable to accomplish the things that matter to him the most.

Unimportant these things that I'm trying to do here today
The artist realizes the insignificance of his attempts to do things today compared to his desire to be with the person he addresses that surpasses them all.

'Cause girl, you see, I
The artist emphasizes the importance of the person he addresses.

Let me, let me go
The singer may want to end this cycle of wanting so much but being unable to attain it.

I, Lord I've been working on it, baby
The singer has put effort into getting close with the addressed person.

I've been thinking about it
The artist has dedicated time and thought to figure out how to get near the person he addresses.

But you see, I've been trying to call you all day long
The artist attempted to communicate with the person he addresses purely to get closer to them.

But you see I don't have your phone number, honey, I
The artist is using not having the phone number of the addressed person as an example of his difficulty getting close to them.

I've been, I've been, thinking about you baby, something awful
The singer's desire to be close to the person he addresses is really strong, and he thinks about it all the time.

You see, I, oh I, sometimes I feel like I want to moan about it
The artist confesses a sense of despair and helplessness that makes him feel like complaining.

And I, I don't just know what to say about it
The singer is at a loss for words or action to take regarding his unattainable desire.