Bonnie Pointer and June Pointer first formed a secular singing duo in the late '60s and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area; Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer later joined them. The Pointer Sisters hooked up with David Rubinson who was a record producer affiliated with Bill Graham. They would perform onstage with the flamboyant Sylvester of The Cockettes, and they'd done some work as background singers on recordings by Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, Cold Blood and other San Francisco Bay Area groups.
Their big breakthrough was a cover of an Allen Toussaint composition originally recorded in 1970 by Lee Dorsey, the song was "Yes We Can Can" released by The Pointer Sisters in March 1973. The girls' voices were added over funky backing tracks laid down with the help of Rubinson's contacts like Tower of Power guitarist Willie Fulton. They sang live around a single mic, with Anita handling lead, and upon release the record soon hit Number 11 on Billboard's pop chart and Number 12 on the R&B chart. In 1974 the group surprised white audiences when they broke the color barrier in at The Grand Ol' Opry when performing their Country Grammy award winning country song "Fairytale" in Nashville. "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)" was a 1975 #1 R&B hit from their Steppin LP, with classic funky keys of Herbie Hancock on clavinet & wicked guitar stylings of Wah Wah Watson...
Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977 for a solo career, and in 1978, the remaining sisters switched labels to Planet & production duties went to Richard Perry who modernized their sound away from a nostalgia based act into a more contemporary look & sound for the 1980's.
They produced the album Energy, with a classic country flavored updates of Sly Stone's "Everybody Is A Star", and a rendition of another Allen Toussaint song called "Happiness". The Perry streak included 1984's Break Out, which did exactly that going triple platinum and winning two Grammys for the singles Automatic and "Jump (for My Love)". This period in the early 80's ostensibly represents the group's commercial peak as a charting act. Their last big hit was Neutron Dance from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.
As the '80s wound down, June Pointer recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio by 2001. Anita also did some solo project work, and had a minor hit with a song called, "Overnight Success."
Anita and Ruth still perform concerts under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. June suffered a stroke on February 27, 2006. While hospitalized, she was diagnosed with cancer, which had metastasized in her breast, colon, liver and bones. She died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on April 11, 2006 at the age of 52.
Yes We Can Can
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to get together with one another.
We got to iron out our problems
and iron out our quarrels
and try to live as brothers.
And try to find a piece of land
without stepping on one another.
And do respect the women of the world.
We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna get together we can work it out.
And we gotta take care of all the children,
the little children of the world.
'cause they're our strongest hope for the future,
the little bitty boys and girls.
We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna, yes we can can.
The Pointer Sisters' hit song "Yes We Can Can" is a call to action for viewers to work together and unite to make the world a better place. The lyrics are a plea for cooperation, respect, and kindness towards one another, as well as an emphasis on taking care of children, who are the future. The song urges people to work out their problems and quarrels with one another, and emphasizes the importance of finding a common ground without stepping on each other's toes. It also urges everyone to show respect towards women, by reminding them that everyone has a mother, and how important it is to treat them with reverence and care.
Overall, the message of the song is clear - if people can come together, respect one another, and work together, they can create a better world. The song offers hope and optimism, and inspires listeners to be kind, respectful, and compassionate towards one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Now's the time for all good men
There's no better time for men to come together
to get together with one another.
To unify and work towards a common goal
We got to iron out our problems
We need to resolve our issues
and iron out our quarrels
And settle our conflicts
and try to live as brothers.
And strive to coexist harmoniously
And try to find a piece of land
We must aim to secure a place
without stepping on one another.
Without impeding each other's progress
And do respect the women of the world.
It's important to value and honor women globally
Remember you all have mothers.
Keep in mind that everyone has a mother
We got to make this land a better land
We need to work towards improving our nation
than the world in which we live.
So that it's better than the current state of the world
And we got to help each man be a better man
We must assist one another in personal growth
with the kindness that we give.
By displaying acts of kindness
I know we can make it.
I believe in our ability to achieve it
I know darn well we can work it out.
I'm confident we can resolve any issues
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
We absolutely can do it
Yes we can can, why can't we?
There's no reason why we can't
If we wanna get together we can work it out.
With an earnest desire to unify, we can resolve any conflict
And we gotta take care of all the children,
We must take care of all the world's children
the little children of the world.
Small and young, they are our future
'cause they're our strongest hope for the future,
As they mature, they will be our best chance for a brighter tomorrow
the little bitty boys and girls.
Regardless of gender, all young children should be nurtured
If we wanna, yes we can can.
If we truly want to, we can and will achieve our goals
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rachelsong6188
LYRICS
Now's the time for all good men
To get together with one another.
We got to iron out our problems
And iron out our quarrels
And try to live as brothers.
And try to find peace within
Without stepping on one another.
And do respect the women of the world.
Remember you all have mothers.
We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna get together we can work it out.
And we gotta take care of all the children,
The little children of the world.
'Cause they're our strongest hope for the future,
The little bitty boys and girls.
We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna, yes we can can.
@erikianwalker
If this doesn't lift your soul, nothing will. I come back and listen to this every couple months. I never get tired of it. Great production by Allen Toussaint. I love that up front sound.
@ABlackCountryWoman
ME TOO
@kershabeaver3312
Everything about this song baseline drums guitar never gets old
@raywilcots5377
@Tara M Adams q++qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq+qqqqqqqq+qqqq a qqqqqqq+qqqq+qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq+q+++q+qqqq++qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq+++++
@tawannajohnson1077
Thar beat
@MD-lf3gt
The GREAT Allen Toussaint
@Historian212
RIP, Anita. It’s New Year’s Day 2023, and this is great inspiration. Thanks to the Pointer Sisters for all the great music over the years. ❤
@larrywilliams6648
@Historian. Amen to that! This song is still relevant to this day!
@americangiant1003
RIP Bonnie. July 11, 1950-June 8, 2020. A damn shame that this great group of ladies are not in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Wow. Their first major hit. Not to mention single handily bringing back the 1940’s swinging Jazz Female singing style made famous by the Andrew Sisters. Plus mixing in the Andrew Sisters sound into mid 1970s funk and pop. Brilliant. And there we dare add in, being at the time the only Black Ladies band that would have Country hits as well. IMO Very underrated among the best all Female groups in Rock/Pop/R&B music history. This is why I love 70s era music. Singers in pop/rock/soul and even country genres regularly experimenting beyond their regular genre. RIP Bonnie.
@SoulGemzEnt
Totally agree Bonnie is much more than a soundbyte on the news, I'm so glad the racial issues are in the news hopefully we can level the playing field in all areas, including music!