Can't Help Lovin
Jerome Kern Lyrics
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I love my mister man and I can't tell you why
There ain't no reason why I should love that man
It must be somethin' that the angels done plan
Fish gotta swim
Birds gotta fly
I gotta love one man till I die
Tell me he's lazy
Tell me he's slow
Tell me I'm crazy, maybe, I know
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
When he goes away
That's a rainy day
But when he comes back that day is fine
The sun will shine
He can come home as late as can be
Home without him ain't no home to me
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
Jerome Kern's classic, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," is a love song that is powerful and bittersweet at the same time, a popular standard of the 1930s. In the song, a woman speaks passionately, confessing her love for a man she cannot articulate her reasons for loving. She simply knows no alternative. Her love seems instinctive, almost animal-like, as the metaphors of fish swimming and birds flying suggest. The singer finds her own love for her "mister man" inscrutable; a mystery that begs to be solved. The song evokes a sense of longing that is both robust and unpredictable. The narrative unfolds through a single voice, a speaker who testifies to the power of love.
The song is structured to highlight the repetition of the phrase "can't help lovin' dat man of mine," which reinforces the idea that the woman's love is irrevocable. The structure also allows for a quick-moving, catchy melody that makes the song easy to sing and remember. But despite the song's upbeat melody, it is the lyrics that give the song its charm and depth, evoking a feeling of longing, joy, and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh listen, sister
Listen carefully, my friend
I love my mister man and I can't tell you why
I love my husband so much, but I cannot explain why
There ain't no reason why I should love that man
There is no logical reason why I should love him
It must be somethin' that the angels done plan
It's as if the angels have set our love in motion
Fish gotta swim
Fish have to swim, it's in their nature
Birds gotta fly
Birds have to fly, it's in their nature
I gotta love one man till I die
I have to love my man until my last breath
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
I cannot resist loving my man
Tell me he's lazy
Tell me he is unproductive or inactive
Tell me he's slow
Tell me he moves at a leisurely pace
Tell me I'm crazy, maybe, I know
Tell me I am insane, it's possible, but I already know
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
I cannot resist loving my man
When he goes away
When he is absent
That's a rainy day
That's a sad and gloomy day
But when he comes back that day is fine
When he returns, that day is perfect
The sun will shine
The world becomes brighter and happier
He can come home as late as can be
He can return home as late as possible
Home without him ain't no home to me
Without him, there is no home for me
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
I cannot resist loving my man
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sleepy9082
Lyrics
Oh listen, sister
I love my mister man
And I can't tell you why
There ain't no reason why I should love that man
It must be something that the angels did plan
The chimney's smoking
The roof is leaking in
But he don't seem to care
He can be happy with just a sip of gin
I even love him when his kisses got gin
Fish got to swim, birds got to fly
I got to love one man 'til I die
Can't help loving that man of mine
Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow
Tell me I'm crazy (maybe I know)
Can't help loving that man of mine
When he goes away that's a rainy day
And when he comes back that day is fine
The sun will shine
He can come home as late as can be
Home without him ain't no home to me
Can't help loving that man of mine
@frenchfries427
Oh, listen, sista
I love my mista man
And I can't tell you why
There ain't no reason
For me to love that man
It must be something
That the angels done play
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly
I gotta love one man 'til I die
Can't help loving that man of mine
Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow
Tell me I'm crazy, maybe, I know
Can't help loving that man of mine
When he goes away
That's a rainy day
But when he comes back
That day is fine
The sun will shine
He can come home
As late as can be
Home without him
Ain't no home to me
Can't help loving that man of mine
@mariaddis9341
I'm 46 and we sang this in Show Choir at my high school! I can still jingle a tune in the shower and in the car.
@pharaohkt81
My grandmother sang this to my grandfather in his final days. Such a sad love story. Grammy Kitty is a champ. She couldnt help it. Loved my papa.
@jennsmiles3633
I am a home health aid. And my client used to sing this and she learned how to fly this morning.flay high and rest easy
@sfden50
Ella OWNS any song she does - The BEST
@davidallen2518
Ella's voice makes you forget about life's problems.
@teresariestenberg8848
A true classic. Written by a musical theatre legend and sung by a legend.
@pamtebelman2321
Was just thinking about the similarities between Jewish music and African-American music, and the beauty of the minor and major chords complimenting each other. This song exemplifies that powerful beauty.
@labuenavida2572
Silky-smooth as only Ms. Ella's sound is. Uniquely blessed.
@shanedeleon5376
That high note... her pitch was always sensational, but that was outstanding. She sang that one like a french horn.
@leoseries
Showboat is my favourite musical. I have seen many performances and heard many versions of this song but I have never heard the word "DAT" in the lyrics.