In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Hayes became famous as a recording artist in his own right, scoring with critically and commercially successful albums such as Hot Buttered Soul and Black Moses. Hayes is best known today for composing the score to the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft. That film's "Theme from Shaft" was one of the best-selling singles in Stax Records history, and Hayes became the first African-American to win an Oscar for a non-acting category when "Theme from Shaft" won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Song.
Isaac Hayes may be known to today's youngest generation as the voice of the character "Chef", the ladies' man/school cook, on the animated sitcom South Park from 1997 until his resignation from the show in March 2006. While Hayes' departure was tagged to a controversial South Park episode on Scientology that had supposedly offended him, Hayes rarely declared anything about the departure in first person.
I Can't Turn Around
Isaac Hayes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't turn around, no
My happiness is showing and my love chances growing
And I can't turn around, no
No more empty days and lonely nights
Girl, you've changed my, my whole life
Now my heartaches all are gone, now I'm not alone
My head is spinning from this brand new beginning
And I can't turn around, no no
Everything is sunny like the sweet taste of honey
And I can't turn around, no
Girl, you gave me what I needed so bad
Now that I got it, I'm so glad
Now my life is rearranged, now my luck is changed
Cause you gave me love, sweet love
You know, I almost forgot how it feels to love someone
But girl you came to me and you made me see
That happiness belongs to everyone
It's like going down the ski slope or stranded on a tightrope
I can't turn around, no
I said, your kiss is so inviting and your arm's so exciting
And I can't turn around, no
Oh, my love is strong as a mountain is tall
Girl, you got it, take it all
Now my life is rearranged, now my luck is changed
Cause you gave me love, sweet love
Come first, come, love is calling once again I'm falling
And I can't, I won't, I will not turn around
I said, my happiness is showing and my love chances growing
And I can't, I won't turn around, no
Oh, no more empty days and lonely nights
Cause you've changed my, my whole life
I said, yeah, you gave me what I needed so bad
Now that I've got it, I'm so glad, I say, I won't, I won't turn around
I say, it's like going down the ski slope, stranded on a tightrope
No, I won't turn around, I won't turn around
I say, I can't, I won't turn around
Cause of my feet on solid ground
I won't, won't turn around
You made me know how it feels to belong to someone
That's why I will not turn around
No I won't, I can't turn around
I won't, I can't turn around
I won't turn around
I say, I won't, I won't turn around
No, I won't, I won't turn around
I've got my life rearranged, my luck has changed
And said I can't, I won't turn around
No, I won't, I said I won't, I won't turn around
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I won't turn around
No, no, no, I won't turn around
No, no, no, I won't
The song "I Can't Turn Around" by Isaac Hayes is about the exhilarating feeling of being in love and how it has changed the singer's life. The first verse establishes that love is calling and the singer is falling for it, and they can't turn around and go back to their old life because their happiness is too apparent and their chances of love are growing. The singer notes that they no longer experience empty days and lonely nights, and that the person they love has changed their whole life. The chorus reiterates that the singer can't turn back now that they have found love, and they are grateful for the way their life has changed.
The second verse compares the feeling of love to going down a ski slope or being stranded on a tightrope - once you start, there's no turning back. The singer notes that their love is strong and that their partner has given them what they needed so badly. Finally, the bridge emphasizes that the experience of being loved and belonging to someone is so powerful that the singer refuses to go back to their old way of life.
Overall, "I Can't Turn Around" is a song about the transformative power of love and the way it can change a person's whole outlook on life. The lyrics discuss the joy and elation that come with finding love, and the idea that once you've found it, there's no going back.
Line by Line Meaning
Come first, come, love is calling and once again I'm falling
The singer is falling in love once again and feels that love is calling for them to pursue this new relationship.
And I can't turn around, no
Despite any doubts or fears, the singer feels compelled to continue forward in this new relationship and cannot turn back.
My happiness is showing and my love chances growing
The singer is becoming happier with their life and love, and their chances of success in this new relationship are improving.
No more empty days and lonely nights
The artist has left behind a period of loneliness and has found companionship in this new love.
Girl, you've changed my, my whole life
The artist attributes their newfound happiness and love to the person they are with, who has completely turned their life around.
Now my heartaches all are gone, now I'm not alone
The singer's previous heartaches and loneliness have vanished in light of this new relationship, and they feel a sense of togetherness with their partner.
Cause you gave me love, sweet love
The singer acknowledges that their new love has given them the love and affection they were missing before.
My head is spinning from this brand new beginning
The artist is feeling dazed and overwhelmed by the exciting start of this new relationship.
Everything is sunny like the sweet taste of honey
The artist feels that everything in their life is going well, just like the sweet taste of honey.
Girl, you gave me what I needed so bad
The artist acknowledges that their partner has given them something they were missing in their life and desperately needed.
Now that I got it, I'm so glad
The singer is thrilled to have found what they were missing and is grateful for their partner's role in that.
Now my life is rearranged, now my luck is changed
The artist feels that their life has shifted significantly because of this new relationship and their luck has changed for the better.
You know, I almost forgot how it feels to love someone
The singer had been without love for so long that they had forgotten what it felt like before their new partner came along.
But girl you came to me and you made me see
The singer's partner helped remind them what love feels like by being in their life.
That happiness belongs to everyone
The singer feels that everyone deserves love and happiness in their life, including themself and their partner.
It's like going down the ski slope or stranded on a tightrope
The artist uses these metaphors to describe the intense feelings and adrenaline rush associated with being in a new relationship.
I said, your kiss is so inviting and your arm's so exciting
The artist is drawn to their partner physically and feels enticed by their kisses and affectionate embraces.
Oh, my love is strong as a mountain is tall
The singer's love for their partner is intense and unwavering, comparable to a mountain standing tall.
Girl, you got it, take it all
The singer is willing to give everything they have to their partner, whom they view as deserving of it all.
Cause of my feet on solid ground
The artist feels grounded and secure in their new relationship and does not want to turn back now.
I won't, won't turn around
The artist feels certain and confident in their decision to continue forward with their partner and will not change their mind.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ISSAC LEE HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlesedward5523
"My happiness is showing, and my love Jones is growing, and I can't turn around!"
Oh Fuck YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@davidavery5114
This song was the inspiration for Farley'Jackmaster' Funks House music classic'Love Can't Turn Around'!🙂
@danceromel
Much respect to Isaac from Chicago, and the King of House dancing!!!
@sexyrob34
Black Moses thanks for this Jam ✌️
@thomasbrown3356
Thank You Ron Hardy! I would have never heard this song if you hadn't made it our Chicago House anthem. For them that didn't know or weren't there, it is what it was. 🏠
@njplr
Wow, I had almost forgotten about this one, for a long time a Garucci’s and ‘combs staple. Part of the glory of those long nights of uninhibited dancing was having deejays who knew how to work it, they skipped the boring parts delivered only the best, and kept mixing it out till you were in a frenzy. A fabulous era, that 75-83 heyday. Sometimes i look back and think Wow! how lucky we were to have all that. These kids today, I’m sure they are just as devoted to their clubs and music, but all of us who LIVED through that time, we know the truth. 84 King Forever.
@karenwaller9385
The Original track isaac Hayes thx for Sharing Housemusic
@chicitysheba4409
Being from Chicago and well engulfed in the party scene for years.....I appreciated edits but NOTHIN beats the audible beauty of an ORIGINAL!!!!!! YES SAH!!!!! WOOOOOOO
@charlesedward5523
Representing Mighty Humboldt Park, Campbell and Potomac!
@billymartin866
After all of these years, this cut still sounds fantastic. The great Ike has never been duplicated. Rest in Paradises Brother.