Layton & Johnstone were an American vocal and piano duo in the 1920s and 19… Read Full Bio ↴Layton & Johnstone were an American vocal and piano duo in the 1920s and 1930s, consisting of Turner Layton and Clarence “Tandy” Johnstone. After forming in New York City in 1922, they moved to England two years later and met with immediate success. Between 1924 and 1935, they sold over 10 million records. They appeared at top venues in London, Paris and across Europe, and gave command performances for the British royal family on numerous occasions. They also appeared frequently on BBC Radio.

I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Layton & Johnstone Lyrics

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Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from
simply rotten to something worse
Who knows, some day I will win too.
I'll begin to reach my prime.

Now though I see what our end is,

All I can spend is just my time.

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.

You have a lifetime before you.
I'll adore you, come what may.

Please don't be blue for the present,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Overall Meaning

The song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is a melancholic tune that speaks about the struggles of being broke and not being able to provide anything tangible for the one you love. The first verse is particularly emotive as the singer describes how tough it is to be without money, citing his luck as something that's gone from bad to worse. He expresses a glimmer of hope in the second verse by saying someday he will win and reach his prime. The chorus is the most poignant part of the song where he laments that love is all he has to offer, and he wishes to give diamonds and other luxuries but can't afford to. The upbeat melody of the chorus shows a sense of optimism that love is enough to overcome the financial challenges they face.

In the third verse, the singer encourages his lover to dream and scheme with him, in the hopes that they will find happiness together someday. He also reminds her that Rome wasn't built in a day, indicating that their struggles are only temporary, and they need to pay their dues to get ahead. In the final chorus, he emphasizes that he loves her and will adore her no matter what, despite not being able to afford all that she deserves. The song has a bittersweet ending as he sings, "I can't give you anything but love, baby."

Line by Line Meaning

Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
Being broke is really hard and not something to joke about.

It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
Being broke is not funny, it's a terrible thing to happen to a person.

My luck is changing, it's gotten from simply rotten to something worse
Things keep getting worse for me when I thought they might improve.

Who knows, some day I will win too. I'll begin to reach my prime.
Maybe someday things will turn around for me and I will reach my peak.

Now though I see what our end is, All I can spend is just my time.
I realize that we don't have much left and all we can do is make the most of the time we have together.

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
I may not have anything material to offer you, but I can show you love.

That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
Love is the one thing I have in abundance, and it's the most valuable thing I can offer you.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile. We're sure to find Happiness and I guess All those things you've always pined for.
Let's dream and plan together, because we're bound to find happiness and all the things you've always wanted.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby. Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I want to see you looking your best, with fancy jewelry that even a store like Woolworth's doesn't carry.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby. I can't give you anything but love.
Until we are lucky enough to afford those fancy things, you know that all I can give you is my love.

Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
We can't expect everything to happen quickly or easily, like building Rome took time and effort.

You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
You have to work hard and pay a price for the things you want in life.

But I am willing to wait, dear, Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
I am willing to be patient and wait for our luck to turn around, and I won't forget how important you are to me.

You have a lifetime before you. I'll adore you, come what may.
You have your whole life ahead of you, and I will always love you no matter what happens.

Please don't be blue for the present, When it's so pleasant to hear you say
Don't be sad right now, because it's so nice to hear you say sweet things to me.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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