The Famous Flames was an R&B vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd that perform… Read Full Bio ↴The Famous Flames was an R&B vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd that performed with James Brown during the early years of his career. On recordings such as "Please, Please, Please", "Try Me", "Think"," I Don't Mind ","Shout and Shimmy", "Bewildered", "Oh Baby, Don't You Weep", and "I'll Go Crazy" the group's smooth backing harmonies contrasted strikingly with Brown's own rough, impassioned delivery, and their synchronized dance steps were a prominent visual feature of his live shows. The Famous Flames performed with Brown on many of his live and studio albums, including his breakthrough Live at the Apollo, and appeared with him in the films The T.A.M.I. Show and Ski Party. They also made appearances on television programs including American Bandstand and Where the Action Is (both hosted by Dick Clark) and two episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show.

The Famous Flames appeared less and less often on record as Brown's music moved beyond his original R&B style and into the realm of funk; he later claimed that "[t]hey were a good stage act, but they couldn't really sing all that good." Their last studio recording with Brown was "Maybe the Last Time", the B-side of his 1964 proto-funk single "Out of Sight". They continued to appear with him on stage until 1968. After briefly leaving him in the late 60s, Byrd continued with Brown in a supporting vocal role into the 70s and beyond.

Can't Be the Same
James Brown And His Famous Flames Lyrics

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I'll never be the same
Stars have lost their meaning for me
I'll never be the same
Nothing's what it once use to be
And when the songbirds that sing
Tell me it's spring
I can't believe their song
Once love was king but kings can be wrong

I'll never be the same
There is such an ache in my heart
Never be the same since we're apart
Though there's a lot that a smile may hide
I know down deep inside
I'll never be the same never be the same again

I'll never be the same
Stars have lost their meaning for me
I'll never be the same
Nothing's what it once use to be
And when the songbirds that sing
Tell me it's spring
I can't believe their song
Once love was king but kings can be wrong
I'll never be the same
There is such an ache in my heart
Never be the same since we're apart

Though there's a lot that a smile may hide
I know down deep inside

Overall Meaning

that I'll never be the same again.

The lyrics of James Brown's "Can't Be The Same" is a reflection of lost love and the resulting profound heartache. The first stanza of the song is a declaration that the singer is forever changed due to the loss of his love. The lyrics are raw and honest, and they describe the emptiness that the singer feels inside. The second stanza of the song is an extension of the first stanza, with the singer lamenting how life seems to have lost its luster since his love has gone. The lyrics 'nothing's what it once used to be' nicely sums up the emptiness he is feeling.

The third stanza of the song brings in a metaphor that conveys his sadness. Spring is often symbolic of new beginnings and the freshness of life, but for the singer, it is just the opposite. Even though the songbirds are singing, proclaiming that spring has come, he cannot believe it, and he feels that love, which was once his king, has let him down. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection of lost love and how it can shake a person to their core, leaving them forever changed.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll never be the same
My life has changed so much that I am not the same person I was before.

Stars have lost their meaning for me
The things that used to bring me joy or light up my life now seem meaningless.

I'll never be the same
My experiences have changed me too much that I cannot become the person I was before.

Nothing's what it once use to be
Everything I once knew or had is different now, and I cannot go back to how things used to be.

And when the songbirds that sing
Even the sounds of nature that used to bring me comfort are now painful reminders of what I have lost.

Tell me it's spring
The hope and new beginnings that spring traditionally brings are not enough to change my current state of despair.

I can't believe their song
I am so hurt and disillusioned that I cannot find joy in things that used to give me hope.

Once love was king but kings can be wrong
The love that once ruled my world was not enough to sustain our relationship, and now I am left to pick up the pieces.

I'll never be the same
Despite my attempts to move on, the pain of losing you still lingers and will never truly go away.

There is such an ache in my heart
The emotional pain of losing someone I loved is still too heavy to bear.

Never be the same since we're apart
My life has been forever changed by your absence, and I cannot go back to the person I was before our relationship ended.

Though there's a lot that a smile may hide
Even if I try to put on a brave face, deep down, the pain and sadness are always with me.

I know down deep inside
I am well aware that my wounds will take time to heal, and the process of moving on will not be an easy one.

I'll never be the same never be the same again
The broken pieces of my heart cannot be put back together, and though I may try to move on, I will never be the same again.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Kahn, Matt Malneck, Frank Signorelli

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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