Can't Give You Anything
The Stylistics Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from
simply rotten to something worse
Who knows, some day I will win too.
I'll begin to reach my prime.

Now though I see what our end is,
All I can spend is just my time.

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.

You have a lifetime before you.
I'll adore you, come what may.

Please don't be blue for the present,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.





Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Overall Meaning

The Stylistics' "Can't Give You Anything" is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who is in love with a woman, but he is too poor to give her anything except love. The song is full of desperation, sadness, and love. The opening line of the song, "Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The man acknowledges that he cannot provide for his lover but promises to love her nonetheless.


The second stanza of the song talks about the man's luck turning from bad to worse. Despite this, he remains optimistic and believes that he will eventually win and be able to provide for his lover. However, he knows that for now, all he can give her is his time. In the chorus, the man tells his lover that he can't give her anything except love but promises to dream and scheme with her in the hopes of finding happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
Being broke is not easy, young one.


It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
This is not a laughing matter, youngster; it's a curse.


My luck is changing, it's gotten from simply rotten to something worse.
My luck is getting worse instead of better.


Who knows, some day I will win too.
Perhaps someday I will experience success as well.


I'll begin to reach my prime.
I'll enter the best and most successful period of my life.


Now though I see what our end is,
However, I can see what the outcome will be for us both,


All I can spend is just my time.
All I can give you is my time.


I can't give you anything but love, baby.
I can only offer you love, my dear.


That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
That is the only thing that I can provide in abundance.


Dream awhile, scheme awhile
Let's dream and plan for a while


We're sure to find happiness and I guess all those things you've always pined for.
We'll surely find happiness and all the things you've always wanted.


Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
I'd love to see you looking great, my dear.


Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I can't buy you the finer things in life like diamond bracelets from Woolworth's.


Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
Until that fortunate day arrives, you know perfectly well that I can't fulfill your desires.


Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
Success takes time and patience, young one.


You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
You have to work hard to get what you want, youngster.


But I am willing to wait, dear,
But I am willing to be patient, my love,


Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
I will not forget my role as your partner in this relationship.


You have a lifetime before you.
You have your whole life ahead of you.


I'll adore you, come what may.
I will love and cherish you, no matter what the future holds.


Please don't be blue for the present,
Please don't be sad or upset at present times,


When it's so pleasant to hear you say
When it is nice to hear you say


I can't give you anything but love, baby.
I can only offer you love, my dear.


That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
That is the only thing that I can provide in abundance.


Dream awhile, scheme awhile
Let's dream and plan for a while


We're sure to find happiness and I guess all those things you've always pined for.
We'll surely find happiness and all the things you've always wanted.


Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
I'd love to see you looking great, my dear.


Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I can't buy you the finer things in life like diamond bracelets from Woolworth's.


Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
Until that fortunate day arrives, you know perfectly well that I can't fulfill your desires.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@dianebarnaby-watler6877

I would give anything to bring back these Groups of yesteryear. The songs they sang had meaning. They had style and charisma. They had it all. Most of all very entertaining. These songs are timeless. Kudos to the songwriters and all who were involved to make these beautiful songs. 🙂🙂🙂

@yington

Which song are you on about?

@andersoncleyton5916

Músicas, que nos faz voltar ao passado e fazer tudo diferente. Mas nem tudo podemos mudar!!! ❤️🎶

@luanova2022

Eu vou amar esses caras para sempre!🍎

@20079037

Yo tengo 20 años pero esta canción me ENCANTA! creo que mi generación se esta criando sin grandes bandas como THE STYLISTIC, THE PLATTERS y muchas mas de los años 50's, 60's y 70's !!!! eso es muy penoso ahora las producciones musicales son muy descartables! Esta canción tiene todos los ingredientes que la transforman en LEYENDA E INOLVIDABLE. ESTO SI QUE ES MÚSICA!

@nigelbeaumont1109

JOSE BRINGAS ..... this is America..., we speak English.

@caroljoclark9643

One of the most beautiful  loves songs ever written.

@sampono1962

Written by Van McCoy?

@bobbywall172

Carol Jo Clark oh yes!! Saw them in Winston Salem a few years ago,!sang every song, the crowd was wild!!!!

@paulkmetko6979

These singers are good i like the oldies are the best.

More Comments

More Versions