British reggae singer born Steven James Lewis aka CJ Lewis. He had a number… Read Full Bio ↴British reggae singer born Steven James Lewis aka CJ Lewis. He had a number of big hits in the mid-90s with reggae-flavoured cover versions of songs originally by artists such as The Searchers, Stevie Wonder and The Emotions.
He is now in a group called American Yard aka AY. You can visit him and hear music at www.myspace.com/americanyard

Can't take it
C.J. Lewis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh no, look it happened again
And I was having such a good day too then I started thinking
About the end
Just like someone the bank is coming for
I'm gazing sadly at the oil paintings on the walls and the Persian rugs on the floor
You can't take it with you, you know
Last planes got no room to stow
No shampoo or toothpaste, no wallet or phone

You can't take it with you, you know
Money isn't gonna buy you any real friends
But it sure can buy you some brand new ones, and a brand new place, and a brand new Benz
Why don't we get started on your own personal retirement plan
Florida condo or European cruise you're gonna have to watch it slip through your hands
So if you can't take it with you you might as well what the heck
Just drop a hundred in the tip jar and pick up the entire check
Money isn't fake cause you want a good deal
If you hold it too tight, then it isn't really real
Cause
You can't take it with you, you know
Last planes got no room to stow

No duty free champagne, perfume or cologne
You can't take it with you, you know

Overall Meaning

"Cant Take it In" by CJ Lewis is a song that touches on the theme of prosperity and mortality. The song’s message primarily drives home the concept that material possessions are ephemeral and do not last forever, especially when one is on their deathbed. The first line “Oh no, look it happened again” refers to death, which is inevitable for everyone irrespective of their social status. The singer reflects on a moment when they were having a good day, enjoying their luxuries, but the inevitable thought of their end made them realize that they can't take it with them. The song is a reflection of a person who has an epiphany that their material possessions are not what will make their legacy.

The second verse asks the listener to start their own retirement plan and not be carried away by the idea of buying onto material pleasures. The line "Money isn't gonna buy you any real friends" explains that real life friends and companionship come from the relationship. Furthermore, the third verse suggests that one should enjoy what they have while they are still alive, and if possible, help others in the process. The song's message is simple yet profound and resonates with audiences who understand that death makes a mockery of the quest for material possessions.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh no, look it happened again
Something bad has occurred again and it's distressing.

And I was having such a good day too then I started thinking
The day was going well until the thought of the end dawned on me.

About the end
Thinking about what happens when life comes to an end.

Just like someone the bank is coming for
The feeling of having to give up everything to pay debts and bills.

I'm gazing sadly at the oil paintings on the walls and the Persian rugs on the floor
Feeling sad when looking at the opulence one can't retain forever.

You can't take it with you, you know
We can't carry our wealth and belongings when we die.

Last planes got no room to stow
There's no space to keep our things when taking the last flight.

No shampoo or toothpaste, no wallet or phone
We can't even take our basic necessities like toiletries, wallets and phones.

Money isn't gonna buy you any real friends
We can't buy genuine friendship with money.

But it sure can buy you some brand new ones, and a brand new place, and a brand new Benz
Money can purchase new acquaintances, a luxurious dwelling, and posh vehicles.

Why don't we get started on your own personal retirement plan
We should start planning and saving for retirement.

Florida condo or European cruise you're gonna have to watch it slip through your hands
Even if we have grand retirement plans like owning a Florida condo or a European cruise, it's bound to slip away eventually.

So if you can't take it with you you might as well what the heck
If we can't take our belongings with us after we die, then we should splurge and spend it all for our present happiness.

Just drop a hundred in the tip jar and pick up the entire check
We could be generous, drop a large tip and pay for everyone's expenses.

Money isn't fake cause you want a good deal
Money is real and valuable, even if we wish to use it for a bargain.

If you hold it too tight, then it isn't really real
If we clutch too tightly onto our money, it becomes less real and significant.

Cause
Explanation and reason for the lyrics.

You can't take it with you, you know
Reiteration that we can't carry our wealth when we die.

Last planes got no room to stow
Restatement of the fact that there's no space to keep our things when taking the last flight.

No duty free champagne, perfume or cologne
Elaboration that even luxury goods like champagne, perfume and cologne can't be taken with us when we leave for good.

You can't take it with you, you know
Final warning that we can't take our belongings when we pass away.

Lyrics © DistroKid, Songtrust Ave
Written by: LEWIS PHILIP KNUDSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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