i can understand it

image credit… adler.edu

oh what a time the 70’s were. bell bottoms, qiana shirts, platform shoes, the gold chain, the nik-nik shirt, double belted high waisted baggie trousers, afros, r&b, the evolution of disco, the emergence of punk, the gentrification of shabby chic…..

this is one of the 1st songs i remember hearing in a gay bar. there was a small little disco called pq’s on the near north side of chicago. i was 15 when i first folded in with the crowd there. sometimes that tiny dance floor would be packed. a person couldn’t move really, so there was a lot of repeating moves and shifting weight.

the original version was by the song’s author bobby womack. much later in my life, i realized just why this particular song had been so popular with my gay comrades. it speaks of tolerance. and a different kind of love. a lover that is only part time, a love that requires understanding. you do yours.. i’ll do mine… i can understand it…

i can understand it… lyrics by bobby womack..

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

Woah, yeah, yeah
 Something sweet as a candy bar
 My girl in need
 Thats what you are
 Oh, I, I can understand it

Jack and Jill going up the hill
 Storybooks and fairytales
 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, yall
 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 cant 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 Im trying my best to make you happy
 Wake up early one morning and I find you packing
 Lord, you cant 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

Im going to find out can we keep the groove
 Is yall 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 yall
 Dont 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
 Dont 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, yall?
 Can I say it?
 Can I say it
 Look here yall
 I can understand it