Why Can't We Be Friends – English Lyrics

• By: Smash Mouth

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

I seen ya, I seen ya

I seen ya 'round for a long long time

I really, I really

I really remember when you drank my wine

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

I seen ya, I seen ya

I seen ya walking down in China Town

I called ya, I called ya

I called ya but you did not look around, yeah, yeah

I paid my, I paid my

I paid my money to the welfare line

I seen ya, I seen ya

I seen ya standing in it every time

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

The color, the color

The color of your skin don't matter to me

As long as, as long as

As long as we can live in harmony, yeah, yeah

I kinda, I kinda

I kinda like to be the president

Then I could, then I could

Then I could show you how your money's spent

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Sometimes I don't speak right

But then I know what I was talking about

I know you're workin' for the CIA

They wouldn't have you in the Mafia, yeah

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Why can't we be friends

Key Grammar Structures

• I seen ya, I seen ya

  ➔ Non-standard past tense verb form

  ➔ The phrase uses 'seen' instead of the standard past tense 'saw'. This is a colloquial or non-standard usage, common in spoken English.

• As long as, as long as / As long as we can live in harmony

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction with repeated emphasis

  ➔ The phrase 'As long as' is repeated for emphasis, introducing a condition. It highlights the importance of the following clause.

• Then I could, then I could / Then I could show you how your money's spent

  ➔ Modal verb for hypothetical situation

  ➔ The modal verb 'could' is used to express a hypothetical or possible action in the future, based on a certain condition.

• Sometimes I don't speak right

  ➔ Adverb of frequency with negation

  ➔ The adverb 'Sometimes' indicates frequency, while 'don't' negates the action. This combination is common in spoken English.

• I know you're workin' for the CIA

  ➔ Contraction in present continuous tense

  ➔ The contraction 'you're' (you are) is used in the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action.

• The color, the color / The color of your skin don't matter to me

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement with negation

  ➔ The singular subject 'color' requires the verb 'don't matter' (does not matter) due to the negation. This is a common mistake in spoken English.