I Can Help

Album: I Can Help (1974)
Charted: 6 1
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Songfacts®:

  • Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge brought Billy Swan a little RMI organ as a wedding present. Billy was fiddling around with it when the chorus "I can help" appeared, and within a few minutes he had written the lyrics.
  • Swan often took his medium-sized dog to his recording sessions. While Swan was recording "I Can Help," the dog became playful and started tugging at Swan's pant leg. He finished the take - and earned the applause from the band mates that is heard at the end of the released song.
  • Swan wrote Clyde McPhatter's 1962 hit "Lover Please." He went on to write some popular country songs, but this was his only hit as an artist. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 2

Comments: 19

  • Henry from PhoenixThe lyric isn't "I've got two for me," it's "Take a tip from me." If you call up his 2003 live performance on YouTube, it couldn't be clearer.
  • David from Los AngelesWhat does it mean, "I've got two for me." Is he referring to his testicles?
  • David Petrelle from FloridaI've read that this song was offered to Elvis but Swan could never get it him, so Swan just issued it himself.
  • Glenn Lego from Rockford Illinois Is this song about a guy wooing a woman who is a widow or a single mother? I have thought that it was. One of the lines is “If your child needs a daddy, I can help. “
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenGreat story about the dog.
  • Melinda from AustraliaDouble wow, I thought this was a 1950’s song. Whenever I’ve lucky enough to hear it, I’ve imagined 1950’s young people dancing in that old fashioned way they used to. But nope, 1974 it came out. I love the swinging tempo of this song. I jus love the subject too.. lyrics too. It’s all so innocent. A by gone era, when men were really sure about their role. And women didn’t see their offer as some kind of offense. Or threat. Golly I wish we could go back to those days.
    You couldn’t write a song like this these days without being criticised to hell.
  • Tony from San DiegoWow Barry, I have also always thought this was very Ringo-esque as well !
  • Lee from Stockton, CaBilly Swan produced "Polk-Salad Annie" lp for Tony Joe White.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 15th 1975, Billy Swan performed "I'm Her Fool" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time it was at #75 and in its first week on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it stayed on the chart for four weeks, peaking at #53...
    And on the same 'Bandstand' show he also performed "I Can Help"; and four months earlier on November 17th, 1974 it peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
    Later in 1975 his only other Top 100 record, "Everything's the Same", came on the chart on October 26th for five weeks, reaching #91...
    "I Can Help" also reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, and after "I Can Help", which was his debut record, he went on to have fifteen more records make the Hot Country Singles chart...
    William Lance Swan will celebrate his 73rd birthday in two months on May 12th {2015}.
  • John P from San Antonio, TxBilly was a member of Kinky Friedman's "Texas Jewboys" He is with the group (recorded in the small studio of "The Sound Shop" in Nashville) on the Album "Pearls In The Snow which I helped produce. He is, hands down, one of the nicest guys I've ever met! Johnny Marks / San Antonio
  • Merri from Cincinnati, Ohsaw him on PBS also... tried to find where to write him and give him two thumbs up, but nada. Always loved the song! Thanks Billy!
  • Jordan from Los Angeles, CaWell the Applause takes place when the long cadenza of the RMI organ holds a long chord. Swan reprises the final bridge to the very end, and more applause, followed by still another reprise of the final bridge, as the song fades out.
  • Paul from Detroit, MiA rare gem in all of 1974's record setting 31 #1 songs!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyWhen I first heard this I song I was sure that it was Ringo Starr singing. The song was also a favorite at our local roller skating rink!!!
  • David Fowler from Rochester, NhI thought that dog story was from Captain and Tenille The applause was heard on the end of 'Love Will Keep Us Together'.
  • Mary Beth from Port Angeles, WaWhat a great song- saw Mr. Swan on PBS last night- I'd never known who did the song but it was awesome to hear it again- I love the way it's done
    with the echo. But for me the very best thing about this song is it should be my husband's anthem- him & his damsels in distress- 'if your baby needs a daddy...' Totally funny to us on a personal level! I loved seeing him do the song-what a treat!
  • Brian from Meriden, CtJohn, are you familiar with Stevie Wonder's "What the Fuss?"
  • Brian from Meriden, CtFunny, John!
    What a great record. This showed rockabilly was certainly still alive. It was also very soulful.
  • John from Fremantle, AustraliaAm I not the only one who thinks the tilte, when sung, sounds like an expletive, namely "F***in' hell"? Well, that dog anecdote surely must give creedence in my warped and twisted mind that he was cursing at his mutt'
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