How Can I
Alton Ellis And The Treasure Isle All-Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait a minute before you say another word
Now tell me...
Chorus:
What can you do
To stop a man from trying
I said I wanna know now
To stop a man from trying
I wanna know yes I wanna know now
What can you do
To stop a man from trying
I wanna know said I wanna know now
Nothing you can do
To stop a man from trying
Oh not with that big broad smile
And the sexy dress you wear
It's totally impossible
For a man with eyes not to stare
There is no reason to be so uptight
Now when you got everything alright
By now you should know you're
Every mans' fantasy
Chorus (repeat)
Hey girl check out your style
Brothers going wild It's hard to keep control
When your right there on that throne
So little don't cramp my style
Wave your hands give me a smile
'Cause after all I'm one of your fans
Chorus
In “I Can’t Stop Now,” Alton Ellis is addressing a woman who is trying to stop a man from pursuing her. The song’s opening lines are a plea to wait a minute and not say another word. The chorus repeats the rhetorical question, “What can you do to stop a man from trying?” implying that it is futile to try and stop someone from going after what they want. Ellis alludes to the woman’s beauty and her sexy dress, indicating that it is her attractiveness that is attracting male attention. He tells her there is no need to be uptight, as she has everything under control. The refrain reiterates that there is nothing she can do to prevent a man from trying.
In the second verse, Ellis shifts his focus to men who are admiring the woman. He encourages her to relax and enjoy her appeal instead of getting upset. He acknowledges that the woman is popular and that men are going wild over her looks. He implores her to wave her hands and smile at them, signifying that she should not be bothered by the attention.
“I Can’t Stop Now” celebrates the beauty of women and encourages them to embrace it rather than feeling oppressed by it. Ellis urges women not to be afraid of their power, but to enjoy it and let men admire them. The message is one of resistance to patriarchal attitudes that seek to control women’s behavior and choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Just wait a minute wait a minute
Hold on for a moment, don't act immediately
Wait a minute before you say another word
Pause for a moment and think before responding
Now tell me...
Ask me what you want to know
Chorus: What can you do, To stop a man from trying
What actions can prevent a man from pursuing what he wants
I said I wanna know now
I want to understand immediately
Nothing you can do, To stop a man from trying
No matter what one does, a man will still persist in his pursuit
I wanna know yes I wanna know now
I really want to understand the answer immediately
Oh not with that big broad smile, And the sexy dress you wear
A woman's attractive looks can be too irresistible for a man
It's totally impossible, For a man with eyes not to stare
It is difficult for a man not to be captivated by a woman's beauty
There is no reason to be so uptight, Now when you got everything alright
You shouldn't be worried when you have everything under control
By now you should know you're, Every mans' fantasy
You should know that every man is attracted to you
Hey girl check out your style
Hey girl, look at your unique and eye-catching combination of clothes and accessories
Brothers going wild It's hard to keep control
Men are getting enthusiastic and it's difficult to control them
When your right there on that throne
When you're there at your influential position
So little don't cramp my style
Don't diminish my enthusiasm when I'm around you
Wave your hands give me a smile
Show me your appreciation through your hand gestures and smile
'Cause after all I'm one of your fans
Because ultimately, I am one of your admirers
Chorus (repeat)
Repeating the same lines mentioned above
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: RICHARD DAVID HUGHES, TIMOTHY JAMES RICE-OXLEY, TOM CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind