Laura Lee (born Laura Lee Newton, 9 March 1945, Chicago, Illinois) is an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Laura Lee (born Laura Lee Newton, 9 March 1945, Chicago, Illinois) is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women’s experience.

Lee was born in Chicago, but as a child relocated to Detroit with her mother. After a few years, she was adopted by Rev. E. Allan Rundless, who had previously been a member of the Soul Stirrers, and his wife Ernestine, who led a gospel group, The Meditation Singers. Featuring Della Reese, they were the first Detroit gospel group to perform with instrumental backing. The group recorded on the Specialty label in the mid 1950s, appeared on the LP Della Reese Presents The Meditation Singers in 1958, and in the early 1960s recorded for Checker Records.
As Laura Lee Rundless, she replaced Reese in The Meditation Singers in 1956, and over the next few years toured widely around the country. In 1965, as Laura Lee, she launched her secular solo career as an R&B singer in clubs in Detroit, although she also continued to record occasionally with The Meditation Singers. She first recorded solo for Ric-Tic Records in 1966, with "To Win Your Heart".
The following year, she signed with Chess Records and, after initially recording in-house with the label's producers in Chicago, it was decided to send her to Rick Hall’s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to record "Dirty Man". This became her first hit, reaching #13 R&B and #68 pop. She stayed with Chess until 1969, also recording "Up Tight Good Man" (#16 R&B) and "As Long As I Got You" (#31 R&B)).
A short spell with Atlantic subsidiary, Cotillion resulted in two singles and then in 1970, Lee moved to former Motown producers, Holland, Dozier and Holland’s newly established Hot Wax label in Detroit. One of her first recordings for Hot Wax, "Women’s Love Rights", became one of her biggest hits, reaching #11 on the R&B chart in 1971 and #36 pop. In 1972, "Rip Off" became her biggest R&B hit at #3 but only climbed to #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also recorded an album, Two Sides of Laura Lee, while in a relationship with singer Al Green. Most of her material on Hot Wax was produced by William Weatherspoon, formerly with Motown.
Lee left Invictus / Hot Wax in 1975 and signed with Ariola Records, but became seriously ill shortly afterwards and retired from the music industry for several years. She returned in 1983 with a gospel album, Jesus Is The Light Of My Life, on which she worked with Al Green. By 1990 she was recovered from her illness, and had been ordained as a minister. She has continued recording music, mostly gospel.
A Swedish garage rock band did an unexpected homage to Lee by baptizing themselves as Division of Laura Lee.
She made an appearance in the 1973 Blaxploitation film Detroit 9000, as a singer in the opening scenes.

Wedlock Is A Padlock
Laura Lee Lyrics

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Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you 'round
For a long long time
I really 'membered you

When you drink my wine

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you walkin'
Down in Chinatown
I called you but you
Could not look around

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I bring my money
To the welfare line
I see you standing
In it every time

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

The color of your skin
Don't matter to me
As long as we can
Live in harmony

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I'd kinda like
To be the President
So I can show you
How your money's spent

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Sometimes, I don't
Speak too bright
But yet I know
What I'm talking about

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I know you're working
For the CIA
They wouldn't have you
In the Mafia

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by Laura Lee depict the desire for unity and harmony despite social differences. The song touches on the concept that despite people's varying backgrounds and beliefs, it is possible to coexist and build relationships. Lee's lyrics express the idea that it is not necessary to share a cultural identity to befriend each other, as long as there is an acceptance of all backgrounds.

Although the song was released in 1972, "Why Can't We Be Friends?" has become increasingly relevant today due to social and political circumstances worldwide. The song exemplifies how music can be used as a tool to unite people from different walks of life.

Overall, through the simple repetition of the question, "why can't we be friends?" Laura Lee communicates the desperate need for people to come together and accept each other, despite their apparent differences.

Line by Line Meaning

Why can't we be friends?
The singer repeatedly asks why they can't be friends with the person they're addressing.

I seen you 'round
The singer has seen the person they're addressing around for a long time.

For a long long time
The singer has known the person they're addressing for a long time.

I really 'membered you
The singer remembers the person they're addressing after they drink their wine.

When you drink my wine
The singer remembers the person they're addressing after they drink their wine.

I seen you walkin'
The singer has seen the person they're addressing walking in Chinatown.

Down in Chinatown
The singer has seen the person they're addressing walking in Chinatown.

I called you but you
The singer called out to the person they're addressing, but they didn't turn around.

Could not look around
The person the singer called out to, did not turn around.

I bring my money
The singer brings their money to the welfare line.

To the welfare line
The singer brings their money to the welfare line.

I see you standing
The singer sees the person they're addressing standing in the welfare line.

In it every time
The person the singer is addressing is standing in the welfare line every time.

The color of your skin
The singer doesn't care about the person they're addressing's skin color.

Don't matter to me
The singer doesn't care about the person they're addressing's skin color.

As long as we can
The singer doesn't care about the person they're addressing's skin color, as long as they can live in harmony.

Live in harmony
The singer wants to live in harmony with the person they're addressing.

I'd kinda like
The singer says they would like to be the President.

To be the President
The singer says they would like to be the President.

So I can show you
The singer wants to be President so they can show the person they're addressing how their money is spent.

How your money's spent
The singer wants to be President so they can show the person they're addressing how their money is spent.

Sometimes, I don't
The singer sometimes doesn't speak clearly.

Speak too bright
The singer sometimes doesn't speak clearly.

But yet I know
Despite not always speaking clearly, the singer says they know what they're talking about.

What I'm talking about
Despite not always speaking clearly, the singer says they know what they're talking about.

I know you're working
The singer knows the person they're addressing works for the CIA.

For the CIA
The singer knows the person they're addressing works for the CIA.

They wouldn't have you
The singer says the Mafia wouldn't have the person they're addressing.

In the Mafia
The singer says the Mafia wouldn't have the person they're addressing.

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD DUNBAR, EDYTHE WAYNE, SCHERRIE PAYNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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