I Could Never Be President
Johnnie Taylor Lyrics


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If I became President
I know I won't last a day
I would lower all the taxes
Just to suit your taste

I'd bring home all the fellers
From over in Vietnam
Station them around your door
So the world can't do you no harm

I'd name every street in the city
Honey, after you
In the fight against poverty
There's no limit to what I'd do

I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you
I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you, you, yeah

Honey I would make you
The first lady of the land
Don't you know, I'd place Presidential
Powers in your hand

Congress would veto the first bill
I would pass
First would be, ?Tear the White House down
Build you a house of glass?

And stake out the Navy
On every downtown street
So your little feet won't get so tired
When you go on a shopping spree

I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you
I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you, you, auh, auh

I could never be President
I could never be President

Honey to make sure
You never, never have a care
I'd open up the door to Fort Knox
Tell you to help yourself

And give you a nation
If that didn't seem to do
I'd send up a Gemini player
To stake a claim on the moon for you

I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you
I could never be President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you

I'd give you a nation
If that didn't seem to do
I could never be your President
Just as long as I'm lovin' you





No baby
Just as long as I'm lovin' you, auh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Johnnie Taylor's song "I Could Never Be President" express the idea that the singer would rather love and cherish their significant other than become the President of the United States. The lyrics start with the singer acknowledging that being the President would not suit him because he would focus solely on pleasing his partner instead of performing his duties as President. He then goes on to propose some ideas of what he would do if he were President. These ideas include lowering taxes, bringing the troops back home from Vietnam, and even naming streets after his significant other. The lyrics also imply that even if he did become President, his significant other would remain his priority.


The singer continues by mentioning a few more outlandish proposals, like tearing down the White House and building his significant other a house of glass. He even mentions sending a Gemini player to stake a claim on the moon for her. These proposals imply that he would stop at nothing to please and impress his significant other. Towards the end of the lyrics, the singer suggests that he would even give her the nation and an open door to Fort Knox. In the end, the singer reiterates that he would rather love and cherish his significant other than be the President of the United States.


Line by Line Meaning

If I became President
Imagine a scenario where I am the President


I know I won't last a day
I am confident that I wouldn't last a day in office


I would lower all the taxes
To please you, I would lower taxes for everyone


Just to suit your taste
To comply with your preferences


I'd bring home all the fellers
I'd bring every soldier home from Vietnam


From over in Vietnam
From the Vietnam War


Station them around your door
I'd place them around your home for your security


So the world can't do you no harm
So that you'd be protected from any harm from the outside world


I'd name every street in the city
I'd name every street in the city after you


Honey, after you
My dear, in honor of you


In the fight against poverty
In the battle to end poverty


There's no limit to what I'd do
I am willing to do anything to fight poverty


I could never be President
I cannot be President


Just as long as I'm lovin' you
As long as I am loving you, being President is not my priority


Honey I would make you
My dear, I would designate you


The first lady of the land
As the President's spouse, you'd be the first lady of the country


Don't you know, I'd place Presidential
You should know that I would give you Presidential


Powers in your hand
Authority to make Presidential decisions


Congress would veto the first bill
Congress would reject my first proposed legislation


I would pass
Which would be


First would be, ?Tear the White House down
For your sake, I would like to demolish the White House


Build you a house of glass?
And instead, build a glass house for you to live in


And stake out the Navy
I'd send sailors from the Navy


On every downtown street
To every street in the city center


So your little feet won't get so tired
So that you wouldn't have to walk too much


When you go on a shopping spree
During your shopping trips


I'd give you a nation
If giving you all this was not enough


If that didn't seem to do
If that doesn't make you happy


I'd send up a Gemini player
I'd send an astronaut in a Gemini spacecraft


To stake a claim on the moon for you
To claim the moon in your name


No baby
My dear


Just as long as I'm lovin' you
As long as I am loving you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BETTYE JEAN BARNES CRUTCHER, HOMER BANKS, RAYMOND E. JACKSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Al Gardner

Had the privilege of watching him record this. Stax Volt forever!!

Alan Wilson

Describe the scene man, shit!

prettycountrygirl2

Still loving this. One of my most favorites from Mr. Taylor. This is a SUPER SONG.

Ladyt Ellison

love this song and that funky beat!

Steve the music man

I remember when this came out, oh man, I was 12 years old and I so remember going to our little basement parties, this was a hot item. I could not get enough of this. I love this. I own the 45. I prefer the MONO version. Five stars and a fav. Thanks for posting. This is my all time fav song by Jonny Taylor.

Alexis Glenn

I absolutely love this song, you have to listen to the words!!!!

Cedric P

Great track!

Vanessa Hallman

I would appreciate someone downloading some of johnnie's old songs that are rarely played.  thank you.

Nick Plaskon

This is one of them, for sure

Edwin Mangum

Guitar play is smokin'!

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