Can Can
Frank Sinatra & Maurice Chevalier Lyrics


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I took each word she said as gospel truth
The way a silly little child would
I can't excuse it on the grounds of youth
I was no babe in the wild, wild wood
She didn't mean it
I should have seen it
But now it's too late
I thought I'd found the girl of my dreams
Now it seems
This is how the story ends
She's gonna turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"
I thought for once it couldn't go wrong
Not for long
I can see the way this ends
She's gonna turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"
Why should I care though she gave me the air
Why should I cry
Heave a sigh
And wonder why
And wonder why

I thought I found the gal I could trust
What a bust, this is how the story ends




She's gonna turn me down and say
"Can't we be just friends?"

Overall Meaning

The song "Can't We Be Friends?" is about a man who has been rejected by a woman he believed was the girl of his dreams. He confesses that he took every word she said as truth and didn't see through her lies. He was convinced that they had a future together and thought everything would work out between them. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and the woman ended up leaving him. The man pleads with the woman to remain friends with him after their relationship ends, but he knows deep down that he will always wonder why things didn't work out.


The lyrics depict the pain and confusion one feels when faced with rejection. The singer's vulnerability is evident in his plea to stay friends with the woman who has broken his heart. He questions why he should still care about someone who has rejected him, but he can't help but wonder if they could still be friends. The song is a reminder that even when things don't go our way, it's essential to maintain a positive, respectful relationship with others. In the end, the singer realizes that he was naive to believe that his relationship with the woman would last, but he still hopes that they can remain friends.


Line by Line Meaning

I took each word she said as gospel truth
I trusted every word she said without question


The way a silly little child would
I believed her like a naive child


I can't excuse it on the grounds of youth
I can't blame my foolishness on my age


I was no babe in the wild, wild wood
I should have known better than to be so trusting


She didn't mean it
She didn't intend to deceive me


I should have seen it
I should have realized the truth


But now it's too late
But now it's too late to change the situation


I thought I'd found the girl of my dreams
I thought I had found the perfect partner


Now it seems
However, it now appears


This is how the story ends
This is how the relationship ends


She's gonna turn me down and say
She's going to reject me and suggest


"Can't we be friends?"
"Can't we just be friends?"


I thought for once it couldn't go wrong
I thought this relationship was foolproof


Not for long
But this was not the case


I can see the way this ends
I know how this relationship will end


Why should I care though she gave me the air
Why should I be upset even though she rejected me


Why should I cry
Why should I shed a tear


Heave a sigh
Or let out a sigh


And wonder why
And ponder about the reason


I thought I found the gal I could trust
I believed I had found a woman I could rely on


What a bust, this is how the story ends
But it turned out to be a disappointment, and this is how the relationship concludes


She's gonna turn me down and say
She's going to reject me and suggest


"Can't we be just friends?"
"Can't we have a platonic friendship?"




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kay Swift, Paul James

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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