She began gospel singing with her mother in the Holloway Community Singers and she has also recorded with Albertina Walker in The Caravans gospel group. Holloway was also a cast member of the Chicago troupe of Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope.
Holloway found moderate disco success when she placed eighteen songs on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including four Number ones, and was featured on Dan Hartman's disco classic, "Vertigo / Relight My Fire". In the early 1980s, she had another dance hit with "Crash Goes Love", before she had her first Number one in the UK with "Ride On Time" by Black Box, which featured vocal samples from her own Salsoul recording, "Love Sensation". This happened again in 1991 when Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featured her vocals in the chart topping cover version of the song "Good Vibrations". Although both songs were notorious for initial copyright infringements (see: white label), they did help elevate Holloway to legendary status in the dance music/disco community.
A more recent dance chart entry was "Relight My Fire" (credited to Martin featuring Loleatta Holloway), which hit #5 in 2003.
Her latest hit "Love Sensation '06" peaked at #22 in the Dutch Top 40[1] and reached #37 on the UK Singles Chart as well as #49 in Australia.
Holloway died on March 21, 2011 from heart failure. She was 64 years old. She is survived by her four children.
So Can I
Loleatta Holloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You thought that I couldn′t last a day
Oh! Without you, baby
Well, I'm doing okay! (Okay!)
And I did (I did) survive
While you roam the streets and you played the fields
Like so many other guys, you think that being a player is such a victory
I get lonely too, and I need love the same as you
So whatever, whatever you do (just remember, so can I, so can I)
I can′t sit here waiting on you, baby (just remember, so can I, so can I)
You can leave me
Oh! Leave me if you will, but just remember (just remember, so can I, so can I)
So can I, so can I, I can do the same thing too
And like a fool, I just listen to
To all of your lies, your sweet talk and your charm
Oh! Just under your spell, baby
And like a fish I was caught (caught up!) And I couldn't get free
So if you can turn your back on me
And you can do it, oh, so easy
Don't worry about me, I′ll get by, baby
You see, I get lonely too, and I need love the same as you (I do!)
And now, whatever, whatever, whatever you (just remember, so can I, so can I)
I can′t sit here waiting you, baby (just remember, so can I, so can I)
And oh! You can leave me
Go ahead and leave me if you will (just remember, so can I, so can I)
But remember, so can I, I can do the same thing too
Oh Lord! Like a fool, like just listen to you! Oh, oh! (Just remember, so can I, so can I)
To all of your lies, your sweet talk and your charm, oh hey! (Just remember, so can I, so can I)
And like a fool, oh baby! I can't remember- (just remember, so can I, so can I)
The lyrics to Loleatta Holloway's "So Can I" tell the story of a woman who has been left by her lover but refuses to be defeated by it. The song begins with her addressing her ex-lover, acknowledging that they believed she wouldn't be able to survive without them. However, she confidently declares that she is doing just fine on her own. She emphasizes her ability to not only survive but also thrive without their presence in her life.
The lyrics then shift to the realization that her ex-lover, like many others, takes pride in being a "player" and thinks it is some sort of victory. She admits that she too gets lonely and craves love just like everyone else. She asserts that whatever her ex-lover chooses to do now, she is capable of doing the same. She no longer intends to sit around waiting for them.
The chorus repeats the phrase "So can I" as a powerful affirmation of her ability to move on and do whatever she wants, just like her ex-lover. She asserts that they can leave her if they please, but they must remember that she also has the power to do the same. The song concludes with her reflecting on the foolishness of falling for her ex-lover's lies and charm, but ultimately asserting her independence and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
So you left, you went away
You abandoned me and went off on your own
You thought that I couldn′t last a day
You believed that I couldn't survive without you
Oh! Without you, baby
But guess what? I'm actually doing just fine without you
Well, I'm doing okay! (Okay!)
I'm not only surviving, I'm thriving
And I did (I did) survive
I was able to endure and overcome your absence
While you roam the streets and you played the fields
While you freely engage in casual encounters and relationships
Like so many other guys, you think that being a player is such a victory
You believe that playing around and having multiple partners makes you successful
Oh! Just like you, baby
But just like you, I also feel lonely and crave love
I get lonely too, and I need love the same as you
I experience the same emotions and desire for affection as you do
So whatever, whatever you do (just remember, so can I, so can I)
No matter what you choose to do, remember that I am capable of doing the same
I can′t sit here waiting on you, baby (just remember, so can I, so can I)
I won't waste my time waiting for you to come back, because I can move on too
You can leave me
If you want to walk away from me
Oh! Leave me if you will, but just remember (just remember, so can I, so can I)
Just remember that I am capable of leaving you too
So can I, so can I, I can do the same thing too
I have the power to do exactly what you're doing
And like a fool, I just listen to
I foolishly believed and trusted in your words
To all of your lies, your sweet talk and your charm
I fell for your dishonesty, your persuasive words, and your charisma
And like a fish I was caught (caught up!) And I couldn't get free
I was ensnared like a helpless fish and couldn't break free from your hold
So if you can turn your back on me
If you have the ability to reject me
And you can do it, oh, so easy
And you find it effortless to abandon and disregard me
Don't worry about me, I′ll get by, baby
You don't need to concern yourself with my well-being, as I will be just fine
You see, I get lonely too, and I need love the same as you (I do!)
Just remember that I also experience loneliness and crave love, just like you do
And now, whatever, whatever, whatever you (just remember, so can I, so can I)
From now on, regardless of your choices, remember that I am capable of the same
I can′t sit here waiting you, baby (just remember, so can I, so can I)
I won't waste my time waiting for you, because I have the ability to move on too
And oh! You can leave me
Oh, you are free to leave me
Go ahead and leave me if you will (just remember, so can I, so can I)
Feel free to depart, but remember that I have the power to do the same
But remember, so can I, I can do the same thing too
But keep in mind, I am fully capable of doing what you are doing
Oh Lord! Like a fool, like just listen to you! Oh, oh! (Just remember, so can I, so can I)
Oh my goodness! I was foolish and blindly followed your words, just like a fool would
To all of your lies, your sweet talk and your charm, oh hey! (Just remember, so can I, so can I)
I fell for all the falsehoods, sweet words, and enchantment you presented, oh hey!
And like a fool, oh baby! I can't remember- (just remember, so can I, so can I)
And just like a fool, oh baby! I can't forget that I am capable of the same actions
Writer(s): Sam Dees
Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.