Can't Take It With You Lyrics
I am just a humble servant with a message here for you
Well I know you have good reasons and there's things you've got to do
But the boatman won't be waiting and he's leaving here with you
And you can't take it with you
No matter what you do
No you can't take it with you
Not the place you're going to
I am just obeying orders, I'm a simple soul like you
Well you really are persuasive, but I've heard it all before
And the boatman's getting restless as he stands upon the shore
And you can't take it with you
No matter what you do
No you can't take it with you
Not the place you're going to
Can't take it with you
The hooded figure of Death has come for you, as he comes for us all. Truly, you can't take it with you, and there's no bargaining your way out of it.
Death? Maybe. But what about these words then: "...I'm a simple soul like you..." ???
Death? Maybe. But what about these words then: "...I'm a simple soul like you..." ???
The song could also be about reaching the peak of your career (like when you are the archeologist who discovers a hithereto unknown pyramid way back in a previous century) and needing to accept the fact that from now on things can only go downwards: success, public attention, wealth. That would in my view also be in line with the meaning of the final song of the "Pyramid" album: "shadow of a lonely man".
The song could also be about reaching the peak of your career (like when you are the archeologist who discovers a hithereto unknown pyramid way back in a previous century) and needing to accept the fact that from now on things can only go downwards: success, public attention, wealth. That would in my view also be in line with the meaning of the final song of the "Pyramid" album: "shadow of a lonely man".
@klumprob That is an interesting take, and it could well be the songs intent. But, when faced with multiple theories, I always prefer to go with Occam and his hair removal system.
@klumprob That is an interesting take, and it could well be the songs intent. But, when faced with multiple theories, I always prefer to go with Occam and his hair removal system.
I think it's the greatest song of all Project songs : the only successful sample of 'the Ethereal mood" that Parsons/Woolfsons tried to make for the group as a signature.
It has 2 meanings... it could be literal... 1) think the last days of Vietnam and that crazy scene where there WAY TOO MANY people that all have been promised safe passage to some U.S, destination( tons of lies made to those people as well) and they are bum rushing the helicopters THROWING there lives accumulations away to get to the chopper... to stay was most certain death from the retaliation of the Vietcong...boatman is leaving(chopper's leaving and none are returning) 2)we have seen the story a million times before think "scrooge" how did he beg??? What did he say?? "heard it all before" I swear I didn't do this or that (you know that P.O.S. casey anthony killed her, kid and O.J. did it) typical human reasoning at the time of the expiration... I have things I never did, people that count on me blah, blah, blah