About The Song
Title: I Can’t Get Next to You
Artist: The Temptations
Genre: Soul, Psychedelic Soul
Release Date: July 28, 1969
Album: Puzzle People
Writers: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Key Themes: “I Can’t Get Next to You” is a soulful and energetic song that expresses the frustration of being unable to connect with a desired love interest. Despite the theme of unrequited love, the song is delivered with an upbeat and infectious energy that became a hallmark of The Temptations’ style.
Musical Style: The Temptations’ rendition of “I Can’t Get Next to You” is rooted in soul and features elements of psychedelic soul, a subgenre characterized by its fusion of traditional soul music with psychedelic rock influences. The song is marked by its lively instrumentation, including prominent horns and a driving rhythm section.
Cultural Impact: The song became a massive hit for The Temptations, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its success highlighted the group’s versatility in adapting to evolving musical trends and solidified their reputation as one of the most influential soul groups of the era.
Legacy: “I Can’t Get Next to You” remains a classic in The Temptations’ discography and a defining song of the late 1960s. Its energetic and innovative approach to soul music, incorporating elements of psychedelic rock, contributed to its lasting impact on the evolution of the genre.
The Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You” is celebrated for its infectious energy, vocal harmonies, and its role in pushing the boundaries of traditional soul music during a time of musical experimentation in the late 1960s.
Video
Lyrics
“I Can’t Get Next To You”
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Hold it, hold it, listenI can turn the gray sky blue
I can make it rain whenever I want it to
Oh, I can build a castle from a single grain of sand
I can make a ship sail, huh, on dry land
But my life is incomplete and I’m so blue
‘Cause I can’t get next to you (I can’t get next to you, babe)
Next to you (I can’t get next to you)
I just can’t get next you (I can’t get next to you, babe)
(I can’t get next to you)
I can fly like a bird in the sky
Hey, and I can buy anything that money can buy
Oh, I can turn a river into a raging fire
I can live forever if I so desire
Unimportant are all the things I can do
‘Cause I can’t get next to you (I can’t get next to you, babe)
No matter what I do (I can’t get next to you)
Uh-yah
Ooh
Ooh
Chicka boom, chicka boom
Chicka boom, boom, boom
I can turn back the hands of time, you better believe I can
I can make the seasons change just by waving my hand
Oh, I can change anything from old to new
The things I want to do the most, I’m unable to do
Unhappy am I with all the powers I possess
‘Cause, girl, you’re the key to my happiness
And I, oh I can’t get next to you
Girl, you’re blowing my mind
‘Cause I can’t get (next to you)
Can’t you see these tears I’m crying?
I can’t get (next to you)
Girl, it’s you that I need
I gotta get (next to you)
Can’t you see these tears I’m crying?
I can’t get (next to you)
I, I, I, I, I can’t get (next to you)
I, I, I, I, I can’t get, now (next to you)
Girl, you’re blowing my mind
‘Cause I can’t get…