Barbra Streisand has recorded more than 60 albums, almost all with Columbia Records. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut The Barbra Streisand Album which won two Grammy Awards in 1963, followed by The Second Barbra Streisand Album, The Third Album, My Name Is Barbra, etc.) are considered classic renditions of theater and nightclub standards, including her version of Happy Days Are Here Again. Beginning with My Name Is Barbra, her albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials.
Starting in 1969, Streisand tackled contemporary songwriters; like many talented singers of the day, she found herself a fish out of water in attempts to tackle rock, but her vocal talents prevailed and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album Stoney End in 1971. The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a big hit for Streisand.
Streisand's 1980 album, Guilty featured the songwriting, production and vocal talents of Barry Gibb and was the best-selling album of her recording career. During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent in the pop charts, with number-one records like The Way We Were, Evergreen, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (her duet with Donna Summer), and Woman In Love; some of these came from soundtracks of her films. She recently took part in supporting Haiti in singing "We are the World 25th anniversary.
When the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. - only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. [1]
[1] In 1982, New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote that Streisand was "the most influential mainstream American pop singer since Frank Sinatra."
Anything You Can Do
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can do anything better than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Sooner or later I'm greater than you
No, you're not
Yes, I am
No, you're not
Yes, I am
No, you're not
Yes, I am, yes I am
I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge
I can get a sparrow with a bow and arrow
I can live on bread and cheese
And only on that?
Yes
So can a rat
Any note you can reach I can go higher
I can sing anything higher than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
Anything you can buy I can buy cheaper
I can buy anything cheaper than you
Fifty cents
Forty cents
Thirty cents
Twenty cents
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Anything you can say I can say softer
I can say anything softer than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
I can drink my liquor faster than a flicker
I can do it quicker and get even sicker
I can open any safe
Without being caught?
Sure
That's what I thought (you crook!)
Any note you can hold I can hold longer
I can hold any note longer than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
No, you can't
Yes, you can!
Anything you can wear I can wear better
In what you wear I'd look better than you
In my coat
In your vest
In my shoes
In your hat
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Anything you can say I can say faster
I can say anything faster than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
I can jump a hurdle
I can wear a girdle
I can knit a sweater
I can fill it better
I can do most anything
Can you bake a pie?
No
Neither can I
Anything you can sing I can sing sweeter
I can sing anything sweeter than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Oh, yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't, can't, can't
Yes, I can, can, can, can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
I'm superior, you're inferior
I'm the big attraction, you're the small
I'm the major one, you're the minor one
I can beat you shootin', that's not all
Anything you can sing, I can sing louder
I can sing anything louder than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Anything you can buy, I can buy cheaper
I can buy anything cheaper than you
Fifty cents
Forty cents
Thirty cents
Twenty cents
No you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
I could be a racer, quite a steeplechaser
I can jump a hurdle even in my girdle
I can open any safe
Without being caught?
Yes
That's what I thought
Anything you can dig, I can dig deeper
I can dig anything deeper than you
Thirty feet
Forty feet
Fifty feet
Sixty feet
No you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Anyone you can lick, I can lick faster
I can lick anyone faster than you
With your fist
With my feet
With your feet
With an ax
No, you can't
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
Any school where you went I could be master
I could be master much faster than you
Can you spell?
No I can't
Can you add?
No I can't
Can you teach?
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
The song "Anything You Can Do" is a duet that was written by Irving Berlin for the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" in 1946. The musical tells the story of the legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley, played by Ethel Merman, and her romantic relationship with fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler, played by Ray Middleton. In the song, Annie and Frank engage in a playfully competitive dialogue, each trying to outdo the other in various skills and abilities.
Throughout the song, Annie and Frank engage in a friendly competition about who is the better shooter, singer, spender, and even who can say certain things softer or faster. The song is often used today as a comedic trope, where people engage in a similar argument, quoting the famous line "Anything you can do, I can do better."
Despite the song's light and playful tone, it also highlights themes of gender equality and women's empowerment. At a time when women's roles were often limited and restricted, Annie Oakley was a trailblazer for women in sports and entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
Anything you can do I can do better
I can outperform you in any task
I can do anything better than you
I am more skilled than you in everything
No, you can't
You are too inferior to ever beat me
Yes, I can
I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!
I am highly confident in my abilities
Anything you can be I can be greater
I am more superior than you in every aspect
Sooner or later I'm greater than you
I will eventually surpass you in all your accomplishments
No, you're not
You're not superior than me in any way
Yes, I am
I am more superior than you in every aspect
Yes, I am, yes I am
I am highly confident in my abilities
I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge
I am highly skilled in shooting small birds
I can get a sparrow with a bow and arrow
My aim is so great I can hunt birds with a classic weapon
I can live on bread and cheese
I can cope with less than the best
And only on that?
Are you sure it's enough for you?
Yes
I am completely confident I can tough it out
So can a rat
Even a rat can survive on so little
Any note you can reach I can go higher
I can sing higher than you
I can sing anything higher than you
I always hit high notes without a problem
Anything you can buy I can buy cheaper
I can get anything cheaper than you
Fifty cents
I can get that item for only fifty cents
Forty cents
I can get that item for less than fifty
Thirty cents
I can still get that item for even less
Twenty cents
I can find that item even cheaper
Anything you can say I can say softer
I can speak more gently than you
I can say anything softer than you
I am naturally good at being gentle in my speech
I can drink my liquor faster than a flicker
I am great at drinking games
I can do it quicker and get even sicker
I can outdrink you and still be okay
I can open any safe
I have skills that may or may not be legal
Without being caught?
Can I do it without getting in legal trouble?
Sure
I am highly confident I can do it and come out clean
That's what I thought (you crook!)
I knew you were planning something illegal
Any note you can hold I can hold longer
I can hold high notes longer than you
I can hold any note longer than you
I can sing any note and keep singing it for longer
Yes, you can!
You surely have the talent to keep up
Anything you can wear I can wear better
Any outfit you wear, I can wear better
In what you wear I'd look better than you
I can pull off any outfit better than you
In my coat
I can look better in a simple coat than you
In your vest
A vest might suit you better, but not as much as me
In my shoes
No matter what shoes I wear, they'll suit me well
In your hat
My hat game is superior than yours
Anything you can say I can say faster
I have rapid fire comebacks
I can say anything faster than you
I have a quick mind and will beat you to the punch
I can jump a hurdle
I have the agility to jump objects
I can wear a girdle
I am so talented, I can wear a constricting garment
I can knit a sweater
I am skilled enough to create soft and cozy garments
I can fill it better
Whatever it is, I can make it better
I can do most anything
Given the chance, I am confident I can excel
Can you bake a pie?
Can you create a delicious dessert from scratch?
No
My skills have limits after all
Neither can I
I am not even going to try, it seems hard
Anything you can sing I can sing sweeter
I can sing everything better than you; I have a sweeter voice
I can sing anything sweeter than you
Again, I have the best singing voice
Oh, yes, I can
I can and I will sing everything better
No, you can't, can't, can't
You may as well give up since I excel in singing
Yes, I can, can, can, can
My confidence levels are through the roof
I'm superior, you're inferior
I am the best and you are beneath me
I'm the big attraction, you're the small
I am the star and you are just the supporting act
I'm the major one, you're the minor one
I have the leading role and you have a lesser position
I can beat you shootin', that's not all
I am also better than you at shooting
Anything you can sing, I can sing louder
My singing voice is also louder and superior to yours
Anything you can buy, I can buy cheaper
Again, I can find a cheaper price on anything you buy
No you can't
I put an end to your boasting, this time around I do not believe you
I could be a racer, quite a steeplechaser
I have the ability to to run and complete races, even over difficult courses
I can jump a hurdle even in my girdle
I can overcome obstacles even when faced with difficult odds
That's what I thought
I knew you had it in you all along
Anything you can dig, I can dig deeper
I can dig holes deeper than you
I can dig anything deeper than you
My skill level at digging runs circles around yours
Thirty feet
I can dig a hole thirty feet deep
Forty feet
I can dig a hole that is forty feet deep
Fifty feet
Look at me digging a hole that is fifty feet deep
Sixty feet
I am still digging and have reached sixty feet deep
I can lick anyone faster than you
I am faster and more efficient at anything than you
With your fist
Even in a fight, my reflexes and wit will put you in your place
With my feet
I definitely have stronger kicks than you
With your feet
Your kicks won't reach as far as mine
With an ax
If I have to use a weapon, I will be better at it than you
Any school where you went I could be master
My knowledge and skills surpass yours in any given field
I could be master much faster than you
Even when starting from scratch, I will surpass you in no time
Can you spell?
Do you have the ability to spell correctly?
No I can't
Even spelling might be too difficult for me
Can you add?
Are you good at arithmetic?
Can you teach?
Are you even qualified to impart knowledge to others?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Riju
Hearing Melissa sing assures me for her role as Ursula.
Blezzing
Yep just a few more months til then
Maddie Grace
She slayed it. I can’t even believe how well she did
robtru84
Was really singing Melissa McCarthy
Mya
Didn't even know Melissa McCarty can sing! This makes me so happy I love this.
KatTheBooknerd
I didn't either. She sounds amazing. Omg.
luis malveiro
she had a little help..... if u know what i mean
aaliyahlee91
ikr? i love them both!
flourchylde49
That pitch-correcting thingy is a wondrous invention.
Jean Bean
flourchylde thank you for noticing that too