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,
[R.L.]
Yeah this is for my brothers in the hood
And the high risers, on the mansions with the maids
We gotta come together, come on y'all
Case, Ginuwine, Tyrese, and me R.L.
Help me sing it fellas, yeah
[Case]
I'm sitting here alone
Trying to face another day
Gotta stay strong, hmm
To endure this pain
[R.L.]
I'm dealing with right now
It flipped my whole life upside down
I don't want your help
I don't need your sympathy, no
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(See he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can't see)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can help me be the best man I can be)
(Oh I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(Oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Tyrese]
(Be the best man)
I made a big mistake
And I'm feeling so ashamed
And I don't want to lose my friendship over it
I've gotta keep the faith, yes I do
[Ginuwine]
Cause I'm still your boy, I've got your back
That'll never, never, never, never gonna change
So I can just cite the truth
And keep smiling in your face
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(He can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can??t see)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can help me be the best man I can be)
(I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
[Tyrese]
I keep struggling but I'm trying my best
I got some issues with my own confidence
Lord help me to forgive and forget
Can you please help me to be a better man?
[R.L.]
For the rest of the darkest nights
Shines the brightest sun
I hate the man I used to be
I'm better than before
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(He can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can know the wrong to make it right)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can't see)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, whoa I can be, oh I can be, oh I can be)
Help me be the best man I can
[Case]
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
Yes he is my brother, brother, brother, brother
[R.L.]
Sees when I'm down on my luck and I'm
Crying cause a woman done left me
I ain't got nothing cause it's cold outside
He'll give me a ride
When it's late at night
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
See sometimes I may go astray but he'll lead me back the right way
And tell me everything's okay
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
Brother, brother, brother, brother
Oh I know sometimes you'll need me and I got your back
Oh cause I know you got mine
Cause you're my brother
And I love you, love you, love you
You can count on me, sing it
Case, Tyrese and G, you are my brother, brother, brother
[Tyrese]
R.L oh my brother
Late up at night
If you need a helping hand just call on me
Talking 'bout my brothers, brothers, brothers
All across the world, my brothers yeah
I love you
Yeah this is for my brothers in the hood
And the high risers, on the mansions with the maids
We gotta come together, come on y'all
Case, Ginuwine, Tyrese, and me R.L.
Help me sing it fellas, yeah
[Case]
I'm sitting here alone
Trying to face another day
Gotta stay strong, hmm
To endure this pain
[R.L.]
I'm dealing with right now
It flipped my whole life upside down
I don't want your help
I don't need your sympathy, no
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(See he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can't see)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can help me be the best man I can be)
(Oh I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(Oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Tyrese]
(Be the best man)
I made a big mistake
And I'm feeling so ashamed
And I don't want to lose my friendship over it
I've gotta keep the faith, yes I do
[Ginuwine]
Cause I'm still your boy, I've got your back
That'll never, never, never, never gonna change
So I can just cite the truth
And keep smiling in your face
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(He can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can??t see)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can help me be the best man I can be)
(I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
[Tyrese]
I keep struggling but I'm trying my best
I got some issues with my own confidence
Lord help me to forgive and forget
Can you please help me to be a better man?
[R.L.]
For the rest of the darkest nights
Shines the brightest sun
I hate the man I used to be
I'm better than before
[All]
What can a brother do for me?
(He can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can know the wrong to make it right)
What can a brother do for me?
(He can be your eyes when you can't see)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, whoa I can be, oh I can be, oh I can be)
Help me be the best man I can
[Case]
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
Yes he is my brother, brother, brother, brother
[R.L.]
Sees when I'm down on my luck and I'm
Crying cause a woman done left me
I ain't got nothing cause it's cold outside
He'll give me a ride
When it's late at night
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
See sometimes I may go astray but he'll lead me back the right way
And tell me everything's okay
Cause he's my brother, brother, brother, brother
Brother, brother, brother, brother
Oh I know sometimes you'll need me and I got your back
Oh cause I know you got mine
Cause you're my brother
And I love you, love you, love you
You can count on me, sing it
Case, Tyrese and G, you are my brother, brother, brother
[Tyrese]
R.L oh my brother
Late up at night
If you need a helping hand just call on me
Talking 'bout my brothers, brothers, brothers
All across the world, my brothers yeah
I love you
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal
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this song is so great. i love the compliation of artists singing. I love the sound of the music, with the guys voices, it's great.
all of the r-n-b singers in this song are cute and I think this song is about brother hood and never turning your back on your brothers