The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active… Read Full Bio ↴The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active from 1958 until 1983, whose repertoire included doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B.

The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.

Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.

Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)

Discography

Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire

Can't You See
The Impressions Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can't you see
That I still love you
By the way I act when your near
Woah-oh-oh though you hurt me
And don't deserve me

Yet I
Still love you dearly

And can't you see
My heart is longing
For a kiss from you, so sweet
I'm so lost, and so lonely, lonely, lonely

And sometimes
You haunt my sleep
I'm a ship that's tossed and driven
Under a thundering cloud above
But, some day I'm gonna drop my anchor
In the harbours of your love,
And we'll go sailing, just keep on sailing
Sailing, sailing, on the breakers of our love

And can't you see
That I still love you
By the way I act when your near
Woah-oh-oh though you've hurt me
And don't deserve me, you don't deserve me

Yet I
Still love you dearly
And can't you see
That I still love ya, I still love ya
Can't you see

That I still love ya, I still love ya
Can't you see

Overall Meaning

The Impressions' song "Can't You See" is a classic soulful ballad about unrequited love. The singer of the song is deeply in love with someone who has hurt them, but despite being mistreated, they cannot help loving the person. The chorus repeats the phrase "Can't you see that I still love you" which shows the desperation of the singer's longing for the other person.

The first verse of the song describes the singer's behavior when they are near the person they love. The singer's actions betray their true feelings, despite being hurt by the other person. The second verse reveals the singer's heartache and loneliness, how they miss the other person so much that the person even invades their dreams. The next lines describe the singer's hopes for the future: they dream of dropping their anchor in the harbors of the other person's love and going sailing together, a metaphor for their relationship. The final chorus brings the song full circle and reinforces the repeated "Can't you see" plea to the other person, reminding them that despite everything, the singer still loves them.

The song is a beautiful expression of the pain of unrequited love and the determination of the singer to stay true to their feelings even though the other person has hurt them. It shows the power of love to conquer all adversity and the universal human need to be loved and cherished.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't you see
Do you not understand

That I still love you
I still have strong feelings towards you

By the way I act when your near
My behavior clearly indicates my emotions

Woah-oh-oh though you hurt me
Despite the pain you caused me

And don't deserve me
And not worthy of receiving my love

Yet I still love you dearly
But I still have great affection for you

And can't you see
Do you not realize

My heart is longing
I yearn deeply for you

For a kiss from you, so sweet
To share a sweet, romantic moment with you

I'm so lost, and so lonely, lonely, lonely
I feel lost and alone without you

And sometimes you haunt my sleep
Thoughts of you occupy my dreams