We can't play this game anymore, but
Can we still be friends?
Things just can't go on like before, but
Can we still be friends?

We had something to learn
Now it's time for the wheel to turn
Things are said one by one
Before you know it's all gone

Let's admit we made a mistake, but
Can we still be friends?
Heartbreak's never easy to take, but
Can we still be friends?

It's a strange sad affair
Sometimes seems like we just don't care
Don't waste time feeling hurt
We've been through hell together

La la la la, la la la la
Can we still be friends?
Can we still get together sometime?

We awoke from our dream
Things are not always what they seem
Memories linger on
It's like a sweet sad old song


Lyrics submitted by Bobo192, edited by force263

Can We Still Be Friends Lyrics as written by Todd Rundgren

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Can We Still Be Friends? song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is great in Vanilla Sky. I just watched that movie and it seemed like an odd choice for the scene it was in, but it actually fit in really well. I recomend the movie and the song!

    zenzellaon July 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Like the lyrics posted, it always sounded like, and made sense that, Todd says "Things are said, one by one", but listening on headphones just now, I was positive he says "Things ascend, on by one"...

    So it hit me, Maybe there's a lyric sheet in my copy of "Hermit of Mink Hollow...lo and behold, what he actually says is: "Grains of Sand, one by one; Before you know it's all gone"

    Also, one post called this a "sugary" pop song - really? The melody, the vocal performance and, especially, those eerie keyboards and "la la la's" in the breakdown make this song some much larger than just a sugary pop song.

    I first heard this on a Robert Palmer 8-track that I bought at age 10 for "Bad Case of Loving You" (right around its release date), and the cover was ok, it was obvious this was a great song, but hearing the original was a revelation. It's been said Todd's a genius, and this song certainly is a work of genius!

    The song's eeriness is the reason it works so good in Vanilla Sky. Cameron Crowe has great taste in music (Eagles included).

    force263on May 27, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    omg i love this song

    expandon February 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    An okay song. Simple meaning. A tad bit to 80's-ish.

    Occams_Harmonyon September 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Song came out in the 70's not 80's.

    HDHon October 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song hits so close to home. Obviously it's about a relationship ending, and still wanting to be friends. Games were played, and hearts broken, yet still wanting to be on good terms with one another.

    awkwardkisson March 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is so amazing, so straight forward, Todd's vocals are haunting; a song like this could keep you up at night. One word: perfect.

    doublexfantasyon May 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Memory

    I love this song. Although it's one of Todd's more "sugary" ballads, it's really a superbly-crafted pop song. If you have a good ear for music, you'll notice right away that this song is something special. If we talk about its song true meaning, I believe this song was written about Bebe Buell (Todd's girlfriend of many years) and their final break-up. Obviously, this girl is still loved, cared for and still important in this guy's life. Sometimes things don't work out, but life will still go on and on and on :)

    Frenchedon March 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I so wish my ex would listen to this song and be friends again. We were great friends before we got together and I wish I could have that part of things back.

    riccaroni31on February 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was just driving along feeling teary about my former love and thinking that the friendship is what I miss most. While looking for some good drown in my sorrows music, this came on. It was so perfect and if only he would talk to me I would ask him, "Can we still be friends?"

    LaurelGon April 27, 2012   Link

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