The history of the group starts with the instrumental outfit, The Nite-Liters which had originally been formed in 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky by Tony Churchill and Harvey Fuqua, and featured, in its heydey, besides Churchill on tenor sax and vibes, Charlie Hearndon on guitar, James Baker on keyboards, Robin Russell on drums, Robert "Lurch" Jackson on trumpet, Austin Lander on baritone sax, Leroy Taylor on bass, and, later, Carl McDaniel on guitar. (Earlier members included Johnny Graham, later of Earth, Wind & Fire) and Jerry Bell. Under this name the group had a few hits before the formation of New Birth proper. In 1969, Vernon Bullock had thought of creating an ensemble of groups for a touring company, and Harvey Fuqua and Tony Churchill soon took an interest. After discovering a male vocal group, The Now Sound, which featured Bobby Downs, Ron Coleman, Gary Young and an individual known as "Slim," and a female vocal group, known as Mint Julip, which featured Londee Loren, Tanita Gaines, Janice Carter and Pam Swent, they brought them together with The Nite-Liters and additional vocalist, Alan Frye and called the newly formed ensemble New Birth. The band came together in 1970 with their self-titled debut on RCA. Their second album, Ain't No Big Thing, But It's Growing, yielded a minor hit with their cover of Perry Como's "It's Impossible", in 1971.
Later that year, Bullock discovered a group from Detroit, Michigan called Love, Peace & Happiness which featured former Marvelettes singer Ann Bogan and brothers Leslie and Melvin Wilson. Finding that they had the spark that was missing from the New Birth ensemble, he paired them with the Nite-Liters and original members of New Birth, Londee Loren, Bobby Downs and Alan Frye. In 1972, the reorganized group (as a seventeen-piece ensemble) hit the R&B top ten with their cover of Bobby Womack and The Valentinos' "I Can Understand It", which paved the way for the band's future success. By the time the song hit the stores, however, Ann left to devote time to her family, leaving Londee Loren as the sole female member. Due to a brief dispute with their management company, their next hit, "Until It's Time for You to Go" featured, instead of the group members, future Supremes member Susaye Greene as lead vocalist.
In 1974, the group issued their hit album, It's Been a Long Time, which spawned the hits including the title track and their cover of the psychedelic single "Wildflower", which became a top ten hit in the UK singles chart. After the release of their sixth RCA album, Comin' From All Ends, the group split from RCA, Fuqua and their management company and signed with Buddah.
New Birth's Buddah debut, Blind Baby, featured the group's only number-one R&B single, a cover of the Jerry Butler classic, "Dream Merchant". After the release of the 1977 album, Behold The Mighty Army, the Wilson brothers split from the group following in-fighting and growing tensions in the group.
The group returned in 1979 James Baker, Tony Chruchill and Austin Lander introduce Jerry Bell as their new lead vocalist with Platinum City and in 1982 with the I'm Back album. Leslie Wilson had left the group to replace Jeffrey Osborne in L.T.D.. Jerry Bell left the group in 1981 to become the lead vocalist for Motown's Dazz Band.
The Wilsons toured with a new ensemble as New Birth in 1994, and released a few albums under the new name in the decade since. Drummer Robin Russell released a solo CD entitled Drum Beats in 2004 and Jerry Bell re-recored there hit "It"s Been Such A Long Time" 2010 for Lotus Records/ Bunglo/ Universal Records Music Group.
Since the group's initial split, their songs have been covered from the likes of Jamie Foxx, who sampled their cover of "Wildflower" for his 2005 hit, "Unpredictable". R&B group Something for the People sampled their "It's Been a Long Time" for their 1996 hit, "My Love is the Shhh". Rap artist Lil' Wayne sampled "You Don't Have to Be Alone" from their self-titled album in his song "La La" and Jerry Bell "It"s Been Such A Long Time 2010.
Singer Gary Young died in 2018.
Discography
As The Nite-Liters
* Nite-Liters (RCA Records, 1970)
* Morning, Noon & the Nite-Liters (RCA, 1971) US #167, US Black Albums #31
* Instrumental Directions (RCA, 1972) US #198, US Black Albums #41
* Different Strokes (RCA, 1972)
* A-Nal-Y-Sis (RCA, 1973) US Black Albums #34
Love, Peace & Happiness-
* Love Is Stronger (RCA, 1971)
* Here 'Tis (RCA, 1972)
As New Birth
* The New Birth (RCA, 1971)
* Ain't No Big Thing, But It's Growing (RCA, 1971) US #189, US Black Albums #50
* Comin' Together (RCA, 1972) US Black Albums #40
* Birth Day (RCA, 1973) US #31, US Black Albums #1
* It's Been a Long Time (RCA, 1974) US #50, US Black Albums #7
* Comin' From All Ends (RCA, 1974) US #56, US Black Albums #20
* Blind Baby (Buddah Records, 1975) US #57, US Black Albums #17
* Love Potion (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) US #168, US Black Albums #22
* Behold the Mighty Army (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) US #164, US Black Albums #28
* Disco (RCA, 1977)
* Reincarnation (RCA, 1977)
* Platinum City (Capitol Records, 1979)
* I'm Back (1982)
* God's Children (PNEC Records, 1998)
* I Am Blessed (Trio Records, 2004)
* Lifetime (Orpheus Records, 2005)
[edit] Singles
Year Title Chart Positions
U.S. Pop Singles U.S. Black Singles
1971 "It's Impossible" 52 12
"K-Jee" 39 17
1972 "(We've Got to) Pull Together" - 27
"Afro-Strut" 49 24
"I Don't Want to Do Wrong" - 41
1973 "I Can Understand It" 35 4
"Until It's Time for You to Go" 97 21
1974 "I Wash My Hands of the Whole Damn Deal, Part I" 88 46
"It's Been a Long Time" 66 9
"Wildflower" 45 17
1975 "Comin' From All Ends" - 76
"Dream Merchant" 36 1
"Grandaddy (Part I)" 95 28
1976 "The Long and Winding Road"
I Can Understand It
The New Birth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better when he works out of his own band
Can you understand that? I can understand that
Woah, yeah, yeah
Something sweet as a candy bar
My girl in need
That's what you are
Jack and Jill going up the hill
Storybooks and fairy tales
I, I can understand it
And if our love gets to be anything but this
If someone gets to feel your warm and tender kiss
Oh, tell me, baby, how will I ever understand it, baby?
Get on down, baby
Gonna do it on the good foot, yeah
Gonna do it on the right foot, baby
Gonna do it on the left foot, baby
Look here, y'all
Something cool but not too cold
Girl, you got to give to get, you know?
I, I can understand it
Try my best to make you happy
Woke up early one morning, find you packing
Lord, Lord, Lord, you can't make me understand it
I know sometimes that you wanna get away from home
But I get upset when you stay too long
Oh, your love, baby, your love
How will I ever understand it?
Get on down
Gonna do it on the good foot
Gonna do it on the right foot, baby
Gonna do it on the left foot
Ooh baby
I can understand it
Baby, I can understand it
Oh, I have no choice about the situation
But I'm trying my best to make you happy
Wake up early one morning and I find you packing
Lord, you can't make me understand it
I get a job and I work all the time
When I get home you better lay it on the line
Your love, baby, your love
How will I ever understand it?
Get on down
Gonna do it on the good foot
Gonna do it on the right foot
I can understand it
You do yours
Ill do mine
Can you understand it?
Can you understand it?
Can you understand it, baby?
I can understand it
Can you understand it?
I can understand it, baby
Can you understand it?
I can understand it, baby
Break it down
God Almighty
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Yeah
I'm going to find out can we keep the groove
Is y'all ready for this?
Look here
Ooh, yeah, baby
I can understand it, oh
Can you understand it?
Baby, baby, baby
Get on, get on, get on, get on down
Do in on the good foot, there it is
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Look here y'all
Don't put down a man with a better hand
Old Les trying to do the very best he can
You wear your hair long, baby
I wear my hair short
Come on, baby, talk that talk
I can understand it
Can you understand it?
Baby, baby, baby
Get on down
Look here
Gotta say it one more time
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Look here
Don't put down a man with the better hand
Old Les trying to do the very best he can
You wear your hair long, baby
I wear my hair short
Come on, baby
Talk that talk
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
Hey, Baby
Yeah, look here
Can I say it?
Can I say it now, y'all?
Can I say it?
Can I say it
Look here y'all
I can understand it
The New Birth's song "I Can Understand It" is a groovy melody with lyrics that reflect on how people should understand one another's differences, be grateful for what they have, and make necessary compromises to move forward. The opening lines, "I know everybody realizes that a man works / Better when he works out of his own band," suggest that individuals can achieve more when they have the autonomy to pursue their interests. The singer recognizes this, and he can understand that others do too.
The chorus, "Something sweet as a candy bar / My girl in need / That's what you are / Oh, I, I can understand it," shows the singer's admiration for his significant other's sweetness and how he can understand her needs. They may face some obstacles as implied in the line, "Jack and Jill going up the hill / Storybooks and fairy tales," but the singer still accepts and understands what they share.
Towards the end, the lyrics shift to the singer's frustration when he finds his girlfriend is leaving him. He laments, "Wake up early one morning and I find you packing / Lord, you can't make me understand it," as he struggles to comprehend why she is leaving. However, the repeated refrain, "I can understand it," throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desire to understand and communicate with his loved one. Overall, the lyrics encourage empathy, understanding, and flexibility in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I know everybody realizes that a man works
Better when he works out of his own band
Can you understand that? I can understand that
People understand that one works best when working independently rather than as a part of a group, and I too can comprehend that.
Woah, yeah, yeah
Something sweet as a candy bar
My girl in need
That's what you are
Oh, I, I can understand it
You are like something sweet to me, like a candy bar, and as my girl in need, I can relate to that.
Jack and Jill going up the hill
Storybooks and fairy tales
I, I can understand it
I understand the concept of Jack and Jill going up the hill as depicted in storybooks and fairy tales.
And if our love gets to be anything but this
If someone gets to feel your warm and tender kiss
Oh, tell me, baby, how will I ever understand it, baby?
If our love changes from what we currently share and someone else gets to experience your warm and tender kiss, I would not be able to understand it.
Get on down, baby
Gonna do it on the good foot, yeah
Gonna do it on the right foot, baby
Gonna do it on the left foot, baby
Get ready to dance and groove to the rhythm, starting with the good foot, then the right and left foot as well.
Look here, y'all
Something cool but not too cold
Girl, you got to give to get, you know?
I, I can understand it
Hey everyone, let me share an idea; be cool but not too aloof. And girl, you must give to receive, and I get that.
Try my best to make you happy
Woke up early one morning, find you packing
Lord, Lord, Lord, you can't make me understand it
I always strive to keep you happy, but one day I woke up to find you packing your bags, and I can't comprehend why.
I know sometimes that you wanna get away from home
But I get upset when you stay too long
Oh, your love, baby, your love
How will I ever understand it?
I understand that you need to take a break and get away, but it saddens me when you stay away for too long, and I cannot fathom the reasons for your love.
Get on down
Gonna do it on the good foot
Gonna do it on the right foot, baby
Gonna do it on the left foot
Ooh baby
I can understand it
Let's dance and get the rhythm right, starting with the good foot, then the right and left foot; and all along, I understand what you are trying to convey.
Baby, I can understand it
Oh, I have no choice about the situation
But I'm trying my best to make you happy
Wake up early one morning and I find you packing
Lord, you can't make me understand it
I realize that I cannot do much about the situation, but still, I try my best to keep you content. Only to find the next morning that you are leaving, and I cannot fathom why.
I get a job and I work all the time
When I get home you better lay it on the line
Your love, baby, your love
How will I ever understand it?
I work hard all day, and when I come home, I expect you to express your love for me correctly. But how can I decipher the meaning behind your love?
Get on down
Gonna do it on the good foot
Gonna do it on the right foot
I can understand it
You do yours
Ill do mine
Can you understand it?
Can you understand it?
Can you understand it, baby?
I can understand it
Can you understand it?
I can understand it, baby
Can you understand it?
I can understand it, baby
Let's dance to the beat and do our thing; I'll do mine, and you do yours. Can you comprehend it? Because I can, baby. Can you? I can, baby!
Break it down
God Almighty
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Yeah
Let's take a break and worship the Almighty God. Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, and Amen!
I'm going to find out can we keep the groove
Is y'all ready for this?
Look here
Ooh, yeah, baby
I can understand it, oh
Can you understand it?
I'm going to ensure that we maintain the groove, and are you ready for it? Look here; I'm sure that I understand it. But do you understand it as well?
Baby, baby, baby
Get on, get on, get on, get on down
Do in on the good foot, there it is
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Look here y'all
Don't put down a man with a better hand
Old Les trying to do the very best he can
You wear your hair long, baby
I wear my hair short
Come on, baby, talk that talk
I can understand it
Can you understand it?
Baby, let's get down and dance to the beat, beginning with the good foot. Don't be too judgmental and put down someone who does better than you. We must try our best, even if we have different hairstyles. So, speak up, and let's have a conversation. And oh yes, I can understand it. Can you understand it too?
Gotta say it one more time
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Look here
Don't put down a man with the better hand
Old Les trying to do the very best he can
You wear your hair long, baby
I wear my hair short
Come on, baby
Talk that talk
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
I gotta
You gotta
Hey, Baby
Yeah, look here
Can I say it?
Can I say it now, y'all?
Can I say it?
Can I say it
Look here y'all
I can understand it
Let me say it again; Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. Don't be too hasty to disregard someone who does better than you. Old Les is trying his best, so let's not judge. Hair length does not matter, so come on, and let's have a conversation. You have to, I have to; we all must. Hey baby, listen to me as I explain, can I say it? Yes, I can understand it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Bobby Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind