Yes We Can

Album: Single Release Only (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This features some snatches of Barack Obama speeches. George confirmed to the London Times October 3, 2008 that he's an Obama supporter, "but the song's personal: it's about addiction, getting clean." He added that the second verse is for Amy Winehouse personally.
  • The song features a plaintive plea, "Please forgive these crimes against myself." The London Times asked George who he is asking for forgiveness? The singer replied: "Myself, of course – although with my addiction it was only later I realized that I was hurting my family and friends."
  • "Yes We Can" was something Barack Obama said repeatedly in his speeches as he ran for president in 2008. His supporters rallied around the phrase, and will.i.am produced a popular video based on his speech.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.