The video was directed by Phil Harder and was released in June 2003. It features a jukebox where an unknown man puts a coin in the jukebox where Liz Phair appears on every record cover on the jukebox indicating the song's lyrics.
Why Can't I?
Liz Phair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking down the street, and I hardly know you (hardly know you)
It's just like we were meant to be
Holding hands with you when we're out at night
Got a girlfriend, you say it isn't right (isn't right)
And I've got someone waiting too
We're already wet, and we're gonna go swimming
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
Isn't this the best part of breaking up?
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
Someone who wants to be with you too
It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch (but wouldn't it)
But wouldn't it be beautiful?
Here we go, we're at the beginning
We haven't fucked yet, but my head's spinning
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
High enough for you to make me wonder
Where it's going
High enough for you to pull me under
Something's growing
Out of this that we can control
Baby, I am dyin'
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
(Whenever I think about you)
The lyrics of Liz Phair's song Why Can't I? depict the experience of a person who unexpectedly finds themselves attracted to someone they hardly know. The first verse describes how the two of them are walking down the street, seemingly meant to be together despite hardly knowing each other. The second verse continues with the realization that both of them have someone waiting for them, but the attraction persists anyway. The chorus repeats the question "Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?" and emphasizes the inevitability that they will give into the attraction and "get down to it."
The bridge of the song introduces a sense of uncertainty as things escalate between the two. High enough to make the singer wonder where things are going, but not enough to feel in control. The final chorus repeats the question with added urgency as the singer feels like they are dying from their uncontrollable attraction.
Overall, the lyrics of the song capture the electric feeling of unexpected attraction and the conflict and uncertainty that comes with it. The singer is struggling to understand their feelings and why they can't resist the other person, even when external circumstances make the attraction seem unwise or dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Get a load of me, get a load of you
Let's take a good, long look at each other.
Walking down the street, and I hardly know you (hardly know you)
We just met, but it feels like we've known each other forever.
It's just like we were meant to be
This connection between us is too strong to ignore.
Holding hands with you when we're out at night
I feel safe and comfortable with you by my side.
Got a girlfriend, you say it isn't right (isn't right)
You're in a relationship, but you can't deny your feelings for me.
And I've got someone waiting too
I'm also in a relationship, so this is a complicated situation.
What if this is just the beginning?
We don't know where this will lead, but we can't help our attraction to each other.
We're already wet, and we're gonna go swimming
We've already started down this path, and there's no turning back.
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
My feelings for you are so intense, they take my breath away.
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
I'm so overwhelmed by my emotions for you, I struggle to express them verbally.
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
We both know that we're going to act on our attraction to each other.
So tell me
I need to hear it from you - are you feeling what I'm feeling?
Isn't this the best part of breaking up?
Breaking up with someone is painful, but finding someone new is exciting.
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
I've found someone new, and I'm completely infatuated with you.
Someone who wants to be with you too
I'm thrilled to know that you feel the same way.
It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
We both know that we can't resist acting on our attraction to each other.
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch (but wouldn't it)
We know that we can't rush things, but we're excited to see where this goes.
But wouldn't it be beautiful?
Could you imagine how wonderful it could be if we pursued this together?
Here we go, we're at the beginning
We're starting a new chapter together.
We haven't fucked yet, but my head's spinning
We haven't taken things to the next level yet, but I can't stop thinking about it.
High enough for you to make me wonder
My feelings for you are so intense, I'm not sure if they're real or just a fantasy.
Where it's going
I'm not sure where this relationship is headed, but I'm excited to find out.
High enough for you to pull me under
My feelings for you are so strong, they're overwhelming me.
Something's growing
Our relationship is developing into something deeper and more meaningful.
Out of this that we can control
We can't control our feelings for each other, but we can control what we do about them.
Baby, I am dyin'
I can't handle the intensity of my emotions for you any longer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards, Scott Spock, Liz Phair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dannymoulton4829
@@laurabennett9498 Not the dean of rock critics, Robert Christgau
Exile in Guyville [Matador, 1993] A
Whip-Smart [Matador, 1994] **
Juvenilia [Matador, 1995] A-
Whitechocolatespaceegg [Matador/Capitol, 1998] A
Liz Phair [Capitol, 2003] A
Somebody's Miracle [Capitol, 2005] *
Funstyle [Rocket Science Ventures, 2010] *
Soberish [Chrysalis, 2021] A-
@theharshtruthoutthere
Lamentations 5:7
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
Daniel 9:5
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Matthew 27:4
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Psalms 106:6
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Exodus 32:31
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Lamentations 5:16
The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
Psalms 41:4
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
1 Kings 8:50
And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jeremiah 33:8
And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Souls, search BIBLE + FREEMASONRY.
For the masons need to be exposed. For they and their deeds are the most sick and evil.
@theroyalcrownedtiger1207
I miss older songs like this, I graduated about 2 years before this song came out, and I wanted to get older,and I have, I wish I could go back to those great years, big mistake on wanting to be older, aging just comes naturally. should not have rushed it.
I wish I could become my old self again from way back then, and visit the past, with time travel, but as far as I know, its not possible or kept very secretly by special research government division of science and space, probably something like area 51.
Way back then was much better, things leading up to today has changed so much since then, and not for the better, the quality of most music today has fallen down so much, the music of approx 15 years was alot better.
Sweet memories of way back then, and the bitter memories of today, and from some years before today, the sweet and bitter memories of life.
Alot of things today, I do not enjoy about life, way back then, I was really living the life at its top best, but life goes on and I carry life on by the few things I enjoy today, and have enjoyed way back then, I guess its how life goes on, for now at least, until something better happens somehow.
Sighs....I want my old life back, but then again today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow, I miss the life of back then, the past is remembered and kept close, and the current is what is mostly dealt with,...
Don't rush wishing / wanting to become older, cherish the earlier years, as one only gets to live life just once, the earlier years are alot more enjoyable, although the later years can also be enjoyable it also becomes more complicated and stressful, when time goes by, its not something that can be turned back, like it was before, memories can last a lifetime, and bring feel good moments, but cannot bring life back it was in its previous state, and if it can, its only a small portion of it, most of it will be current, not the past.
Enjoy the earlier years and live it up, but also be thoughtful, caring, cheerful, and responsible too, I wish I had lived up more, regretting it with the years gone by, now just trying to make things better 1 by 1, sort of like a puzzle...
Comment / Click on thumbs up, if you agree or like what I wrote, if you don't agree or did not like it much, response not needed.
Don't do what I did and have regrets.
Have a nice day and enjoy life.
@elizabethzhang293
[Verse 1]
Get a load of me, get a load of you
Walking down the street and I hardly know you
It's just like we were meant to be
Holding hands with you when we're out at night
Got a girlfriend, you say it isn't right
And I've got someone waiting too
[Pre-Chorus]
What if this is just the beginning?
We're already wet and we're gonna go swimming
[Chorus]
Why can't I breathe
Whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak
Whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Whenever I think about you...
[Verse 2]
Isn't this the best part of breaking up?
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
Someone who wants to be with you too
It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch
But wouldn't it be beautiful
Pre-Chorus]
Here we go
We're at the beginning, we haven't fucked yet
But my head's spinning
[Chorus]
Why can't I breathe
Whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak
Whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
[Bridge]
High enough for you to make me wonder
Where it's going
High enough for you to pull me under
Somethin's growing
Out of this that we can control
Baby, I am dyin'
[Chorus]
Why can't I breathe
Whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak
Whenever I talk about you?
Why can't I breathe
Whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak
Whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
[Outro]
Whenever I think about you
Whenever I think about you
Whenever I think about you
Whenever I think about you
@Fajowski50
Nostalgia is a crazy ass drug. Makes you incredibly happy and sad at the same time.
@JaysonT1
Nostalgia is a liar.
@jenn2398
You’re absolutely right.
@carmengracepuentes7953
YEAH It makes me feel present and free and makes me peaceful and my soul and vibe stops having glitches :)
@inthujankulasingam5135
Why Thornberry?😯
@francoarthur8063
facts
@maeveismyname
Jenna & Matt ❤️
@alejandraangelicavargaspen1861
Awkward? YES!
@amandasunshine2
Jenna & Julien ❤️
@deniseharvey5038
😂😂😂 yassssss!!!!