Why Can't We Be Friends?

As long as we can live in harmony

Hi all,

Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, by War. If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.

Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics which are written in italics. Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.

(445 words)

Today’s song from 1975 is by a band called War. They recorded in a soul, funk or Latin style and had many hits in the 1970s and 1980s.

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've seen you 'round for a long long time

I remembered you when you drank my wine

Obviously, the two people know each other well enough to share a glass of wine together. They might be old friends who had a falling-out.

I've seen you walking down in Chinatown

I called you, but you could not look around

But you could not look around Why? Is the other person too worried about their own problems that they didn’t hear the person call? Did they not turn around because they didn’t want to be seen with the person singing the song?

The following lyrics mean that the singer has had to rely on welfare, a government support system for those in financial need. By stating "I paid my money," the singer says that even though he has contributed to society through taxes, he has still ended up in a situation where he needs government help.

People who receive welfare have to go to the welfare office each month. They stand in line and wait to get to the window where they can talk with a welfare assistant. Here, the singer sees his old friend waiting, too.

I paid my money to the welfare line

I see you standing in it every time

(Photo: Pixabay)

The color of your skin don't matter to me 

As long as we can live in harmony

I'd kind of like to be the President 

So I can show you how your money's spent

Sometimes, I don't speak right

But yet, I know what I'm talking about

The last verse uses humor and irony to talk about friendship, unity, and how discrimination is ridiculous. 

I know you're working for the CIA suggests that the person the singer is singing to is a secret agent. It’s a playful accusation that is very different from the song’s plea for understanding.

They wouldn't have you in the Mafi-A continues the humor by saying that the other person would not be accepted in the Mafia because she or he wouldn’t fit in because the person is an outsider or somehow different.

The main point of the song is that we need to break down barriers. It also points out how silly it is to have divisions between people. The playful tone and irony support the idea that despite differences or suspicions, friendship and respecting each other are the most important things.

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Question:

Have you ever had a falling-out with a friend? Did you make up and become friends again?

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Vocabulary

falling-out 仲たがい

welfare 福祉

contribute to 貢献

unity 団結

discrimination 差別

playful accusation ふざけた非難

plea 嘆願

outsider 部外者

make up 仲直り