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