The acoustic rock band Jackopierce was formed by Jack O'Neill and Cary Pier… Read Full Bio ↴The acoustic rock band Jackopierce was formed by Jack O'Neill and Cary Pierce in their hometown of Dallas, Texas in 1988. Their style focused around vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars which earned the duo a loyal local following and soon began touring the country.

Over the next ten years, Jackopierce toured the world (3 continents, 10 countries, 44 US states) selling out venues everywhere they went. They shared stages with Dave Matthews Band, matchbox twenty, Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Vertical Horizon, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Lyle Lovett, No Doubt, Collective Soul, Train, Semisonic and many others. During that time, they sold over 400,000 records (four independent albums and two on A&M Records).

Jackopierce ended their decade-long run in 1998 with a sold-out farewell tour and the release of Decade, a retrospective double-CD featuring many fan favorites as well as new and live material. As of 2001, Jackopierce resumed playing at small venues around the country, and a new CD is reportedly in the mix for late 2007. Tour dates and locations can be found on the band's homepage.

Why can't we be friends
Jackopierce Lyrics

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you say there is no other
who treats you like i do.
but i talked to your father and mother,
and they both say its through.

now youve headed back tot he east coast
in a brand new car.
all my letters returned unopened

just to see how you are;

as you say
why cant we be
why cant we be
we be friends (X2)

you say the world isnt over
its just a different place
though youre no longer around me
you send pain by the case
and i guess this thing wasnt working
so ending it was best
but i just cant seem to menouver
this weight off my chest

as you say...

cuz im not ready

you say there is no other
who treats you like i do
but i found myself with another
and youve found someone else too
the pain is now in recession
and lucid are my thoughts
then you whisper for me to come closer
and it seems like you forgot
that you said

why cant we...

why must this be the end?
why cant we be
why cant we be
why cant we be friends
why wont you be my friend
cuz im not ready
im not ready

im not ready
im not ready

Overall Meaning

In Jackopierce's song Why Can't We Be Friends, the singer expressed his struggle in moving on from a failed relationship. He believed that he treated his partner well, who also claimed that no one else could do it like he did. But, the singer spoke with her parents who confirmed that the relationship had ended. Despite the heartbreak, he still wrote letters to her that were not answered. The singer questioned why they couldn't be just friends since the world was still revolving despite the breakup. However, he later admitted that he wasn't ready for a friendship.

The next verse talked about how the pain had subsided though he was still struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship. It wasn't working out, and both parties had to move on. But, the singer had difficulty letting go, and the heaviness in his heart was unbearable. The chorus repeated, and his partner whispered for him to come closer. The singer became hopelessly confused, and he asked why they couldn't remain friends.

Line by Line Meaning

you say there is no other who treats you like i do.
You claim that no one else can love you the way I do.

but i talked to your father and mother, and they both say its through.
I spoke with your parents, who told me that our relationship has ended.

now youve headed back tot he east coast in a brand new car.
You have returned to the east coast in a new vehicle.

all my letters returned unopened just to see how you are;
I sent you letters to check up on you, but they have all been returned unopened.

why cant we be why cant we be we be friends (X2)
You keep asking why we cannot be friends.

you say the world isnt over its just a different place
You claim that life goes on, despite the changes we experience.

though youre no longer around me you send pain by the case
Even though we are apart, you continue to cause me emotional pain.

and i guess this thing wasnt working so ending it was best
Our relationship was not functioning, so ending it was the best option.

but i just cant seem to menouver this weight off my chest
I am having a hard time moving on from the emotional pain of our ended relationship.

cuz im not ready
I am not prepared or willing to try to be friends again so soon.

you say there is no other who treats you like i do
You repeat that I am the only one who can love you the way you desire.

but i found myself with another and youve found someone else too
I have moved on and found someone new, just as you have.

the pain is now in recession and lucid are my thoughts
My emotional pain has started to fade, and I am thinking more rationally.

then you whisper for me to come closer and it seems like you forgot
You suddenly want me to come closer, even though you seemed to have forgotten that you ended our relationship.

why cant we be why cant we be why cant we be friends
You plead with me again to be friends, even though I am still not ready.

why must this be the end?
You question why our relationship must come to a close.

why wont you be my friend cuz im not ready im not ready im not ready im not ready
You wonder why I am not willing to be friends, but I am still too emotionally overwhelmed to try to be friends with you again.

Contributed by Sophie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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