Yes We Can

Written by: 
Lee Dorsey, Allen Toussaint
24 Jan 2001

Now is the time for all you bad, bad boys,
To get out and treat your brother like your mother.
is the time for all you skinny little girls,
To get out and find yourself a lover.

When it all comes down;
When it tumbles down to the ground, as it will,
You're going to need somebody like me
Just to love you.

I know we can make it; I know very well.
I know we can make it; I know very well. - I'm telling you
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can, we can;
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can, we can.
Yes we can can, we can we can,
- I know, I believe we can!
we can can, we can we can;
- I know we can...

Now is the time for all you bad, bad boys,
To get out the backrider bag by now.
Now is the time for all you skinny little girls,
get out from behind the type writer.

When it all comes down,
When it crumbles to the ground;
You're going to need somebody, just like me
love you, love you.

I know we can make it; I know very well.
I know we can make it; I know very well. - I'm telling you
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can, we can;
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can, we can.

[guitar NOISE!]
[keyboard fun]

Now is the time for all you bad, bad boys,
To get out and treat your brother like your mother.
Now is the time for all you skinny little girls,
To get out and find yourself a real fat lover.

It will all come down;
It will crumble to the ground,
then you're going to need
like me just to love you.

I know we can make it; I know very well.
I know we can make it; yes I know very well. - I'm telling you
we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
we can can, we can;
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can, yes we can.
Yes we can can, yes we can, we can we can,
Yes we can can - I know we can!
I believe we can, yes we can
Yes we can, yes we can,
Yes we can, I believe we can...

sitenote:
The song, entitled Yes We Can, is usually credited to Allen Toussaint but in fact Lee Dorsey was the man who wrote it in 1970. In 1973 the Pointer Sisters made it into a big hit by tossing in an extra Can. Their lyrics were a bit different from John's though:

Yes We Can Can

(The Pointer Sisters)

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 a piece of land
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.