Can I Do It For You?
Memphis Minnie Lyrics


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I want to do something to you, I want to do something to you
Do anything in this world I can, I want to do something to you
Hear me saying, I want to do something to you

Naw, you can't do nothing to me, naw, you can't do nothing to me
I don't care what in the world you do, you can't do nothing for me
Hear me saying, you can't do nothing for me
Buy you a watch and chain, buy you a watch and chain
Buy you a watch and chain, I want to do something to you
Hear me saying, I want to do something to you

I don't want no watch and chain, I don't want no watch and chain
I don't want nothing in the world you got, and you can't do nothing for me
Hear me saying, you can't do nothing for me

Buy you a house and home, buy you a house and home
Buy you a house and home, I want to do something to you
Hear me saying, I want to do something to you

I don't want no house and home, I don't want no house and home
I don't want nothing in the world you got, and you can't do nothing to me
Hear me saying, you can't do nothing to me

Buy you a strip of land, buy you a strip of land
Buy you a strip of land, I want to do something to you
Hear me saying, I want to do something to you

I don't want no strip of land, I don't want no strip of land
I don't want nothing in the world you got, and you can't do nothing to me
Hear me saying, you can't do nothing to me

Buy you a diamond ring, buy you a diamond ring
Buy you a diamond ring, I want to do something to you
Hear me saying, I want to do something to you

I don't want no diamond ring, I don't want no diamond ring
I don't want nothing in the world you got, and you can't do nothing for me
Hear me saying, you can't do nothing for me

Can I do it to you, can I do it to you?
Do anything in this world I can, I want to do it to you
Hear me saying, I want to do do it to you

No you can't do it to me, no you can't do it to me




I don't care what in the world you do, but you can't do it to me
Hear me saying, you can't do it to me

Overall Meaning

The song "Can I Do It for You Part 1" by Memphis Minnie is a playful back and forth between a man and a woman. The woman is expressing her desire to do something for the man, to please him in any way she can. She offers to buy him a watch and chain, a house and home, a strip of land, or a diamond ring. However, each time the man responds that he doesn't want any of those things from her and that she can't do anything for him. Despite this, the woman persists in asking if she can "do it" for him, suggesting a sexual connotation to the phrase.


The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on power dynamics within relationships, and the tension between desire and rejection. The woman is offering to do things for the man, but he repeatedly turns her down, asserting his own agency and independence. At the same time, he seems to enjoy the attention and flattery, as he encourages her to keep asking. The song can also be seen as a feminist statement, as the woman is asserting her own sexuality and actively trying to please herself and her partner.


Line by Line Meaning

I want to do something to you, I want to do something to you
I want to take action towards you, I want to perform a certain activity that involves you


Do anything in this world I can, I want to do something to you
I am willing to do anything in this world just so I can involve you


Hear me saying, I want to do something to you
Listen to me because I am consistent and firm in wanting to act on you


Naw, you can't do nothing to me, naw, you can't do nothing to me
No, you are unable to act on me in any way


I don't care what in the world you do, you can't do nothing for me
I have no interest in anything you can offer or provide, so you cannot benefit me in any way


Hear me saying, you can't do nothing for me
Pay attention to what I am stating because you truly cannot do anything for me


Buy you a watch and chain, buy you a watch and chain
I am willing to purchase a watch and chain for you


Buy you a watch and chain, I want to do something to you
Purchasing a watch and chain for you is the activity I want to perform on you


I don't want no watch and chain, I don't want no watch and chain
I have no desire for a watch and chain or any material things you can provide


I don't want nothing in the world you got, and you can't do nothing for me
I am not interested in anything you possess or can offer and you cannot perform any action that would benefit me


Buy you a house and home, buy you a house and home
I am willing to buy you a place to live


Buy you a house and home, I want to do something to you
Purchasing a house and home for you is the activity I want to perform on you


I don't want no house and home, I don't want no house and home
I have no interest in a house and home or anything else you can provide


Buy you a strip of land, buy you a strip of land
I am willing to purchase land for you


Buy you a strip of land, I want to do something to you
Purchasing a strip of land for you is the activity I want to perform on you


I don't want no strip of land, I don't want no strip of land
I am not interested in a strip of land or any other possessions you can offer


Buy you a diamond ring, buy you a diamond ring
I am willing to purchase a diamond ring for you


Buy you a diamond ring, I want to do something to you
Buying you a diamond ring is the activity I want to perform on you


I don't want no diamond ring, I don't want no diamond ring
A diamond ring or any other material things you can offer do not interest me


Can I do it to you, can I do it to you?
Can I perform a certain activity on you?


Do anything in this world I can, I want to do it to you
I am willing to do anything in this world so I can perform the specific activity on you


Hear me saying, I want to do do it to you
Listen carefully because I am certain and firm about wanting to perform the activity on you


No you can't do it to me, no you can't do it to me
You are not able to perform the activity on me


I don't care what in the world you do, but you can't do it to me
Regardless of your actions, you cannot perform the activity on me


Hear me saying, you can't do it to me
Listen to me because I am certain and firm that you cannot perform the activity on me




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LAWLERS, MINNIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@tommytramp

A lot Like Mamma let me lay it on you by Blind Boy Fuller , AWSOME!!

@albertangeloro5832

covered by Jim Kweskin and Maria Muldaur.....great thanks

@sherrard5492

Chevrolet!

@albertangeloro5832

@Brenda Carter hi its on the Chevrolet Album...it ends with: "i can use a super-ball and you can do something for me, oh yeah you can do something for me."

@sherrard5492

@albert angeloro I had the Kweskin cover on vinyl back in the day. (That’s how old I am.) Jim Kweskin & Jug Band’s See Reverse Side for Title. (I still remember the album cover, but had to look up the title just now. That’s how old I am!!)

@albertangeloro5832

@Brenda Carter hello Brenda an honor and pleasure to meet you. i saw the band a few times in The Village at the Gaslight and Gerdes Folk City. i played flamenco guitar at the Cafe Flamenco on Bleecker St. that's how old i am...

@sherrard5492

@albert angeloro Ah, back in Southern California, I was only dreaming of ever getting to the Gaslight, etc.

But here we are, older and wise enough to still be tempted down the same musical path . . .

1 More Replies...

@fenandocastanonmanrriquez591

Precioso





Tono músical No aiy mas precioso ke un azul precioso músical

@staryjanek

💕

@JAZZHOBO

in 1990 Jim Kweskin and Another Jug Band member had a Shop in Portland, Oregon= Antiques, Books, and I had no idea how wonderful he was, I had a 1928 Kay Kraft Style C 2-Point Archtop Guitar bought at POrtland Music downtown, he told me a story about him hitch hiking with the same guitar some years before, and it was stolen wheile he was asleep by onother Tramp who cunningly Switched guitars from each other's cases, while Jim had it Tied to his Belt they still craftly stole it. He than thought again and said, I hope I din't jinks your guitar, Boxcar, you seem to be in love with it. Well, mine was stolen by Bushwackers in Seattle while I was in Jail, my Road Dog, a hobo called Danial Boone was keeping it foe me, and Bushwackers were Mome Guards who Beat Down tramps and stole our shit for Dope, got my guitar he visit me in Jail with Broken Arm and Big Cast on his Foot. I was transported to San Quentin by CDC and was in Prison another ...until 1996, when I was release I got a Gibson L1 1920's Guitar at RealGuitars in San Francisco-Ca.

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