Can
Jerry Butler Lyrics


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She looks in the mirror and stares at the wrinkles
That weren't there yesterday
And thinks of the young man that she almost married
What would he think if he saw her this way?

She picks up her apron in little girl-fashion
As something comes into her mind
Slowly starts dancing remembering her girlhood
And all of the boys she had waiting in line

Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife
You see everywhere any time of the day
An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me

The photograph album she takes from the closet
And slowly turns the page
And carefully picks up the crumbling flower
The first one he gave her now withered today

She closes her eyes and touches the house dress
That suddenly disappears
And just for the moment she's wearing the gown
That broke all their minds back so many years

Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife
You see everywhere any time of the day
An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me

Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife
You see everywhere any time of the day
An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me

Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife




You see everywhere any time of the day
An everyday housewife

Overall Meaning

who gave up the good life for me


The song "Can't Forget About You Baby" by Jerry Butler is a poignant tribute to the everyday housewife. The lyrics explore the innermost thoughts and feelings of a woman who has given up her dreams in order to create a home and family with her husband. As she stares at herself in the mirror, she laments the wrinkles that have suddenly appeared and wonders what her almost-husband would think of her now. She picks up her apron and dances, recapturing memories of her youth and the young men who once vied for her attention.


As the song progresses, we see the woman flipping through a photo album and reminiscing about her past. She touches a withered flower given to her by a long-ago lover and briefly imagines herself in the gown that once made heads turn. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the woman's sacrifices rendered all the more poignant by their anonymity. She is simply an everyday housewife, one of countless women who have given up their own aspirations in order to make a home for their families.


This song is a tribute to the everyday woman, and it resonated with many listeners when it was released in 1968. Today, it remains a classic example of a heartfelt and deeply personal ballad.


Line by Line Meaning

She looks in the mirror and stares at the wrinkles
She peers into the mirror analyzing every wrinkle that appeared overnight


That weren't there yesterday
She notices wrinkles that weren't present on her face just the day before


And thinks of the young man that she almost married
She remembers the young man she almost wed


What would he think if he saw her this way?
She wonders how he would react if he saw her aging appearance


She picks up her apron in little girl-fashion
She recalls her youth as she grabs her apron in an innocent manner


As something comes into her mind
A sudden thought enters her head


Slowly starts dancing remembering her girlhood
She begins to dance slowly, reminiscing about the happy moments of her youth


And all of the boys she had waiting in line
She recalls all the suitors who tried to win her heart


The photograph album she takes from the closet
She retrieves a photo album from the closet


And slowly turns the page
She begins to peruse the pages with deliberation


And carefully picks up the crumbling flower
She carefully takes the wilted flower he once gave her


The first one he gave her now withered today
She notices how the first flower he gave her has wilted with time


She closes her eyes and touches the house dress
She shuts her eyes and touches her house dress


That suddenly disappears
The dress disappears from her grasp


And just for the moment she's wearing the gown
She imagines herself wearing the extravagant gown she wore years ago


That broke all their minds back so many years
The dress that turned heads and captured hearts so many years before


An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me
A housewife who sacrificed her life to be with me


Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife
These are the fleeting dreams of the average housewife


You see everywhere any time of the day
These thoughts occur to many housewives throughout the day


An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me
A normal housewife who put aside her personal aspirations for the sake of our relationship


Oh, such are the dreams of the everyday housewife
These are the reveries of the average, ordinary housewife


You see everywhere any time of the day
These thoughts are prevalent and frequent among housewives at any time of the day


An everyday housewife
A usual and typical housewife




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Dwayne & Teen


on Ain't Understanding Mellow

This song is so meaningful and the Lyrics are always on point.!

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