I Can't Get Next to You
Thee More Shallows Lyrics


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Oh I, I can turn a grey sky blue
You see I can make it rain when I want to
Oh yes I, I can build a castle from a single grain of sand
You see I, I can make a ship sail on dry land
Let me say I can fly like a bird in the sky
I can buy anything that money can buy
I can turn a river into a raging flood
I can live forever if I so decide

But I can't get next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe

Let me tell you I, I can turn back the hands of time
Oh you better believe I can, oh yes yes
I can make the seasons change just by waving my hand
Let me say I, I can change anything from old to new girl
Oh yes I can
Oh I can do anything that I want to girl
Oh yes indeed

But I'm not happy
Oh no I'm not
With all the powers I possess
'Cause you hold the key
Oh yes, yes, yes
To my happiness

And I can't next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe
No, I can't get next to you babe

And I've been working on it
Oh yes I have
Such a long, long time
And I've been thinking about it




Oh yes I have
Such a long, long time

Overall Meaning

The song "I Can't Get Next To You" by Thee More Shallows is a cover of the classic hit by The Temptations. The lyrics express the power and abilities of the singer, as they claim to be able to do extraordinary things such as turning a grey sky blue and making it rain when they want to, building a castle from a single grain of sand, and even flying like a bird in the sky. They also claim to have the ability to turn back the hands of time and change anything from old to new with just a wave of their hand. Despite their impressive capabilities, the singer confesses that they cannot seem to get close to someone they desire. They have tried everything they can think of, but they still cannot achieve their desired outcome. They explain that this person holds the key to their happiness, and without them, they are not happy, despite all of their powers.


The lyrics can be interpreted in various ways, but at their core, they speak to the universal struggle of unrequited love. The singer may have all the power and abilities in the world, but they cannot control the feelings or actions of the person they desire. They are powerless when it comes to matters of the heart, highlighting the limitations of power in the face of emotions. Additionally, the song can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of placing one's happiness solely on another person. The singer's desperation to be close to this person suggests that they have given too much power to someone else, making them vulnerable to disappointment and heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh I, I can turn a grey sky blue
I have the power to turn something dull and depressing into something bright and cheerful.


You see I can make it rain when I want to
I have the power to control nature and make it rain at will.


Oh yes I, I can build a castle from a single grain of sand
I have the ability to create something massive and impressive from something small and insignificant.


You see I, I can make a ship sail on dry land
I have the power to defy the laws of physics and make something impossible happen.


Let me say I can fly like a bird in the sky
I possess the ability to soar high above and see the world from a different perspective.


I can buy anything that money can buy
I have endless wealth and can purchase anything I desire.


I can turn a river into a raging flood
I am capable of manipulating nature and causing destruction on a massive scale.


I can live forever if I so decide
I hold the power of immortality and can choose to live forever.


But I can't get next to you babe
Despite my extraordinary powers, I am unable to be close to you.


Let me tell you I, I can turn back the hands of time
I possess the power to go back in time and change history.


Oh you better believe I can, oh yes yes
I am telling the truth and my powers are real.


I can make the seasons change just by waving my hand
I am capable of controlling the natural cycles of the Earth.


Let me say I, I can change anything from old to new girl
I can transform anything from something old and worn out to something shiny and new.


Oh I can do anything that I want to girl
There is no limit to what I can achieve with my powers.


But I'm not happy
Despite my abilities, I am not content.


Oh no I'm not
I am deeply dissatisfied with my life and situation.


With all the powers I possess
Even though I am incredibly powerful.


'Cause you hold the key
The reason for my unhappiness is because I cannot be close to you.


To my happiness
You are the only thing that would make me truly happy.


And I've been working on it
I have been trying to find a way to be close to you.


Oh yes I have
I have been putting in a lot of effort and time into this.


Such a long, long time
It has been a very long and difficult journey for me.


And I've been thinking about it
I have been constantly reflecting on my situation.


Oh yes I have
I have spent a lot of time pondering and considering all possibilities.


Such a long, long time
This has been an ongoing struggle for me for a significant period of time.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Cate IsTonic

This is so eerie but beautiful at the same time. Thee More Shallows is a rare gem.

fractaljack

A rare talent for anyone to turn a cover into an original... simply brilliant.

Eric Gustot

Incredible....impossible to get it out of my head. Fantastic work they did.

anita porras

This song in your voice is one of my favorites 🌠✳️.. Good night

stellasbee

I love the Al Green version--it's friggin' fantastic--but the original was done by the Temptations.

NS J

Well, it may appear, on the surface, to be lame, but, in reality, it'd be true, cos this is an outstanding cover....

Vanishing Pixels

Enormous !!!

Flo M

BEST COVER EVER

Eric Gustot

fyi The original was from Al Green...so completely different.

Nicola Pippia

Goodbye

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