Ian Gillan (born on 19 August 1945), is a rock music vocalist best known as… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Gillan (born on 19 August 1945), is a rock music vocalist best known as the lead singer for legendary rock band Deep Purple. He is considered to be one of the foremost rock vocalists, who introduced into the rock music the vocal belting technique. In his prime he possessed a very wide vocal range which was rumored to be 4 and a half to 5 octaves and with seemingly effortless and fluid movement throughout it and with remarkable force and precision in the upper register.

Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.

Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.

Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.

Can I Get a Witness
Ian Gillan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah ah listen everybody (body), specially you girls (girls)
Is it right to be left alone when the one you love is never home
I love too hard my friends sometimes say
But I believe I believe that a woman should be loved that way
But it hurts me so inside to see you treat me so unkind
Somebody somewhere tell her it ain't fair

Can I get a witness (Can I get a witness)

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
Somebody (Can I get a witness)

Is it right to be treated so bad when you give her everything you had
Keep on talking in my sleep 'cause I haven't seen my baby all week
Now you kids you all agree is that the way it's supposed to be
Let me hear you, let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah

Up early in the morning with her on my mind
Took to find it out all night I been cryin'
But I believe a woman's a man's best friend
I'm gonna stick by hr till the very end
Well she causes so much misery how's a gal supposed to be
Somebody somewhere tell her it ain't right

Can I get a witness, can I get a witness
(Can I get a witness), I want a witness
(Can I get a witness), witness, witness
(Can I get a witness), witness, witness
(Can I get a witness)

Everybody knows especially you girls
That a love can be sad but my beloved's twice as bad
Now you kids do all agree that ain't the way it's supposed to be
Let me hear you, let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
Yeah, I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
Somebody (Can I get a witness)

Is it right to be treated so bad when you give her everything you had
Keep on talking in my sleep 'cause I haven't seen my baby all week
Now you kids you all agree is that the way it's supposed to be
Let me hear you, let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I want a witness (Can I get a witness)

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
Witness, witness, yeah, I want a witness

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ian Gillan's "Can I Get a Witness" reflect a man's plea for someone to witness the mistreatment he is receiving from his significant other. The singer feels unloved and neglected by the woman he loves, who is never home. Despite loving her intensely, he is hurt by the way she treats him, and he wonders if it is right to be left alone and treated so badly when he has given her everything. He is seeking a witness to testify to his suffering and help him persuade his lover to change her ways.

The singer goes on to reveal his dedication to the woman, stating that he believes a woman is a man's best friend and that he will stick by her until the very end. However, he is confused and hurt by her actions, causing him misery. The song ends with the singer still seeking a witness to his heartbreak, leaving the listener to imagine whether anyone will heed his call.

The song reflects the desperate cry for help that many people may feel when their love life is in disarray. It highlights the need for communication and empathetic listening in relationships to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah ah listen everybody (body), specially you girls (girls)
Listen up, everyone, but especially you girls.

Is it right to be left alone when the one you love is never home
Is it fair to be deserted when the one you love is never around?

I love too hard my friends sometimes say
My friends criticize me for loving too intensely.

But I believe I believe that a woman should be loved that way
But I think that a woman deserves to be loved deeply.

But it hurts me so inside to see you treat me so unkind
But it pains me so to see you treat me poorly.

Somebody somewhere tell her it ain't fair
Someone, somewhere, please tell her that it's not right.

Can I get a witness (Can I get a witness)
Can someone testify and back me up?

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I need someone to support and validate me.

Somebody (Can I get a witness)
Anyone out there who can vouch for me?

Is it right to be treated so bad when you give her everything you had
Is it just for her to treat me so poorly when I've given her my all?

Keep on talking in my sleep 'cause I haven't seen my baby all week
I talk in my sleep because I miss my baby who I haven't seen in a week.

Now you kids you all agree is that the way it's supposed to be
Do you young ones think this is how it's supposed to be?

Up early in the morning with her on my mind
I wake up early with her on my mind.

Took to find it out all night I been cryin'
I stayed up all night trying to figure it out, crying.

But I believe a woman's a man's best friend
But I truly believe that a woman is a man's closest ally.

I'm gonna stick by hr till the very end
I'm going to stay by her side until the very end.

Well she causes so much misery how's a gal supposed to be
She causes me so much pain and heartache, how is she supposed to behave?

Can I get a witness, can I get a witness
Can someone corroborate what I'm saying?

(Can I get a witness), witness, witness
Can I get a witness?

Everybody knows especially you girls
Everyone knows, especially you girls.

That a love can be sad but my beloved's twice as bad
A love can be sorrowful, but my love is doubly so.

Now you kids do all agree that ain't the way it's supposed to be
You young ones all agree this isn't how it should be.

I want a witness (Can I get a witness)
I need someone to testify and back me up.

Witness, witness, yeah, I want a witness
I want a witness, I want someone to support me and my feelings.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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