Signed to Lyric Street Records in 2003, Rushlow released two singles and one album (Right Now) on the label that year. After disbanding in 2004, Rushlow and Harris formed a duo known as Rushlow Harris, which was signed to Toby Keith's Show Dog Nashville label in 2006.
Before the foundation of Rushlow, lead vocalist Tim Rushlow was co-lead vocalist with Brady Seals in the band Little Texas, a six-piece band which charted several Top Ten country singles in the mid-1990s, including the Number One hit "My Love". In 1997, Rushlow left for a solo career. His first cut was the musical track "Totally Committed" on comedian Jeff Foxworthy's 1998 album of the same name. Tim Rushlow signed to Atlantic Records in 2000, charting the Top Ten single "She Misses Him" that year. Other singles from his self-titled debut album, however, failed to make Top 40, due in part to the closure of his label in 2001. He formed the group Rushlow after deciding that he was not made for a solo career, saying: "I did some shows and I had a band and a bus, but I never felt real comfortable as the Tim Rushlow solo guy with this band that was not named, that was just sort of 'Tim's backup band.' It just never really felt right."
One of the group's first members was Tim's cousin Doni Harris, who had previously sung backing vocals on his solo album. Later, Rushlow and Harris had spotted Kurt Allison, as well as Allison's roommates Rich Redmond and Tully Kennedy, all of whom were backing another singer at a bar, and eventually Billy Welch was added to the lineup as well. The group was signed to Lyric Street Records, on the condition that they assume the name Rushlow and perform as a self-contained band, with no additional studio musicians. The lead-off single, "I Can't Be Your Friend", was a Top 20 country hit in 2003, and the group also entertained U.S. troops in Bahrain, Germany, Italy and Spain. ("I Can't Be Your Friend" was later covered by the dance group DHT in 2006.) The song served as the lead-off to Rushlow's debut album Right Now, which produced only one more chart single on the country charts.
Rushlow's six members disbanded in early 2004, after being dropped from Lyric Street. Two years later, Tim Rushlow and Doni Harris reunited, forming a duo called Rushlow Harris, which signed to the Show Dog Nashville label (owned by Toby Keith) in 2006. Rushlow Harris charted two singles of its own that year.
I Can't Be Your Friend
Rushlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I've given it a lot of thought.
This thing that's come between us can't be ignored.
I've taken all I can;
This is where it's gotta end.
'Cause I can't be your friend anymore.
An' I can't be accused,
How many nights have you shown up at my door?
I hope you understand,
That this wasn't in my plans,
But I can't be your friend anymore.
An' it's killin' me to know you,
Without havin' a chance to hold you.
An' all I wanna do is show you,
How I really feel inside.
You can run to me,
You can laugh at me,
Or you can walk right out that door.
But I can't be your friend anymore.
Instrumental break.
So, baby, now it's up to you:
Do I win or do I lose?
Will my heart fly or lie broken on the floor.
Well, take me as I am,
'Cause I wanna be your man.
But I can't be your friend anymore.
An' it's killin' me to know you,
Without havin' a chance to hold you.
An' all I wanna do is show you,
How I really feel inside.
You can run to me,
You can laugh at me,
Or you can walk right out that door.
But I can't be just friends anymore.
We can't be just friends anymore.
The song "I Can't Be Your Friend" by Rushlow is a heartfelt track about a person who has come to the realization that they can no longer continue as friends with someone they are romantically interested in. The lyrics express the singer's honesty in their decision and their acknowledgement of the pain it has brought to both parties. The song opens with the singer admitting that they have given it much thought and that the situation they are in cannot be ignored. While they have been there for the other person countless times before, they have reached their limit and they must end the friendship. The chorus emphasizes this, stating that they cannot be friends anymore. The singer can't deny their feelings any longer and this friendship is preventing them from acting on their true feelings.
The second verse emphasizes how difficult it has been for the singer to maintain a friendship with somebody they are secretly in love with. They wish they could show their true feelings and hold the other person but instead they must remain just friends, causing the singer heartache. The instrumental break that follows allows the listener to take in the lyrics and the emotions sung so far while the repetition of the chorus drives home the main message that the singer can't and won't maintain their friendship with the person of interest. In the final verse, the other person is given a choice - to take the singer as they are, the person they love, or to walk away. The singer has come to terms with their emotions and know what they want, but they can't just be friends with someone they want to be more than that.
Line by Line Meaning
This might come as quite a shock,
I know this news may be surprising,
But I've given it a lot of thought.
But I have thoroughly considered this decision.
This thing that's come between us can't be ignored.
The issue that has arisen between us cannot simply be dismissed.
I've taken all I can;
I have reached a personal limit;
This is where it's gotta end.
Therefore, this is where our relationship has to end.
'Cause I can't be your friend anymore.
Because I cannot maintain a platonic friendship with you any longer.
An' I can't be accused,
And I cannot be blamed
Of not bein' there for you.
of not being there for you when you needed me.
How many nights have you shown up at my door?
How many times have you come to me in the middle of the night?
I hope you understand,
I hope you can see and accept
That this wasn't in my plans,
that this was not what I expected or intended,
But I can't be your friend anymore.
and because of that, I cannot be your friend anymore.
An' it's killin' me to know you,
And it pains me to be acquainted with you
Without havin' a chance to hold you.
without having the opportunity to hold you in my arms.
An' all I wanna do is show you,
All I desire is to demonstrate to you
How I really feel inside.
how much I actually feel for you.
You can run to me,
You have the option of coming to me in times of need,
You can laugh at me,
You can choose to make fun of or mock me,
Or you can walk right out that door.
Or you can choose to leave without turning back.
But I can't be your friend anymore.
But I cannot remain your friend anymore.
So, baby, now it's up to you:
Therefore, it is now your decision,
Do I win or do I lose?
Do I emerge victorious or defeated from this situation?
Will my heart fly or lie broken on the floor?
Will my heart soar with joy or shatter into pieces on the ground?
Well, take me as I am,
So, accept me for who I truly am,
'Cause I wanna be your man.
because I want to be in a romantic relationship with you.
But I can't be your friend anymore.
However, I cannot continue to be your friend any longer.
We can't be just friends anymore.
We cannot continue to maintain a purely platonic friendship from now on.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Coltergeist212
Jason aldean's Drummer, Bass, and Lead Guitar players are in this!!
@MiahTheStormWolf
Tim Rushlow has written thousands of hit songs for other artists, but this was the first time he tried having his own band. Shame they only put out one album.
@Ash6777
Nice song.
@Amelia073
Forgot to add: singer is crazy hot.
@Amelia073
Skips, and appear to be wrongly set on slow mo. Please fix.