I Can Lyrics — Bajour

[ANYANKA]
I'm all washed up!
I’ve lost my touch!
I just don't have it
I failed in the clutch!
I'm just a has-been
A used-to-be!
I’m full of woe
And the woe is me!

[EMILY, spoken]
Anyanka, listen
That's no way to behave

[EMILY]
Don't give up! Don't give out!
Don't give in! Simply...

Find your weak spot
Smooth it over and glue it up
Faint not, fear not
Find your courage and screw it up!

[ANYANKA, spoken]
That's what I did
[EMILY]
Oh no, you didn't
Just sing out:

"I've got the guts, and the heart, and the nerve
And the will, and the way, and the plan!

And I know that I could
And I should, and I shall
And I will, and I must
And I can!"
Sing it!

[ANYANKA]
"I’ve got the g-guts, and the heart
And the n-nerve
And the will, and the way and th? plan!
And I know that I could
And I should, and I shall
And I will, and I must and...

[ANYANK, spoken]
I can’t. I just can't do it...

[ANYANKA]
I’ve gone too soft!
I'm weak as custard!
Can't mak? the grade!
Can't cut the mustard!
I’m like a tap dancer who's got the gout
I'd like to tap, but I'm all tapped out!
[EMILY]
Oh, Anyanka, listen!
You're not done in! You're not done up!
You're not done for!

But don't act weak and frail
Nobody's gonna "baby" ya
Be like Florence Nightingale

[ANYANKA, spoken]
Or Florence of Arabia?

[EMILY]
Right!

Think of Joan of Arc
On her burning pyre
If you were Joan of Arc
What would you say?

[ANYANKA]
Fire!

[EMILY]
You've got the guts, and the heart, and the nerve
And the will, and the way, and the plan!
Sing it!
[ANYANKA]
And I know that I could, and I should
And I shall
And I will, and I must and...

[ANYANKA, spoken]
I can't!
I just can't do it...

[EMILY, spoken]
Yes you can! Oh, Anyanka, listen
What you need is a change of scene
Change of mind, change of clothes!

I'll let you borrow some of mine...
Dress up, Gajo, and I'll take you uptown
To my mother's tea party

[ANYANKA]
Oh!

[EMILY]
"You've got the guts
And the heart and the nerve
And the will, and the way, and the plan!"

[ANYANKA]
And I know that I could
And I should, and I shall
And I will, and I must, and I...

[EMILY, spoken]
Go on, go on

[ANYANKA]
And I...

[EMILY, spoken]
Say it, say it

[ANYANKA]
I...
I can!

[EMILY]
Yes, you can!
Last Update: April, 20th 2026