This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Well you call your mamma tiger
And we all know you are lying
And your boyfriend's name is eagle
And he lives up in the sky (high high)
Watch out the tiger don't go claw the eagle's eye
But let the eagle take the tiger by surprise
Scratch out her eyes
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Well your sister's got the feline touch, she touches up your mind
And your eagle lover likes his little bit of evil loving all the time
Don't let the cat get into the eagle's nest at night
Because the eagle could say "yes" without a fight
Scratch out her eyes
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Uh uh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
AAAAH!
Honey, honey
Honey, honey, honey
Make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Aah!
Make a stand for your man
And we all know you are lying
And your boyfriend's name is eagle
And he lives up in the sky (high high)
Watch out the tiger don't go claw the eagle's eye
But let the eagle take the tiger by surprise
Scratch out her eyes
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Well your sister's got the feline touch, she touches up your mind
And your eagle lover likes his little bit of evil loving all the time
Don't let the cat get into the eagle's nest at night
Because the eagle could say "yes" without a fight
Scratch out her eyes
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Uh uh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can (Can the can honey)
AAAAH!
Honey, honey
Honey, honey, honey
Make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Aah!
Make a stand for your man
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Can the Can Lyrics as written by Nicholas Barry Chinn Michael Donald Chapman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is a incentive for girls to keep guys which today is very necesary where women cheat being whores and expect men to act like home man. According to songwriter Nicky Chinn, the words "can the can" mean " ... something that is pretty impossible, you can't get one can inside another if they are the same size, so we're saying you can't put your man in the can if he is out there and not willing to commit". So what she is saying is that women have to take initiative and pursue men in commitment which if you ask me it suits to todays society and leaves the decision making for the man. I can say that MAN WILL SURELY MAKE A KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISION IF HE'S THE EDUCATED MAN because presumably the woman will choose the best( which in my oppinion it will not happen as womens reputation go down with their prostitution.)