‘Can the Can’ is the second solo single by American singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro and her first to reach number one in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the chart in June 1973. It also reached number one on the European and Australian charts in whose market Quatro achieved her most consistent success throughout her career as a recording artist. The single belatedly became a hit in the US peaking at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. It was re-released as a single in the UK, with "Devil Gate Drive" as the B-side, in 1984, but failed to chart. The single made the charts again in 1987 in the UK at number 87, it also appeared on her 1995 album What Goes Around.
This single made Quatro the first female bass guitar player to become a major rock star and therefore broke a barrier to women's participation in rock music. This was Quatro's second solo single, released after she moved from the United States to Britain.
For ‘Can the Can,’ Quatro had organized her own band, which had toured the United Kingdom as the warm-up act for Slade and Thin Lizzy, and they had new songwriters/producers Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. The song was written, composed, and produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. According to songwriter Nicky Chinn, the phrase "can the can" means "... something that is pretty impossible, you can't get one can inside another if they are the same size, so we're saying you can't put your man in the can if he is out there and not willing to commit."
Quatro never hit it big in her native America, although she did have a memorable role on the TV series Happy Days playing Leather Tuscadero. She landed several more UK hits, including the #1 ‘Devil Gate Drive,’ and influenced a generation of female rockers, notably Joan Jett.
Label – RAK RecordsSongwriters – Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn (A-side), Suzi Quatro (B-side)
Producers – Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn (A-side), Mickie Most (B-side
SONG LYRICS
Well you call your mama tigerAnd we all know you are lying
And your boyfriend's name is eagle
And he lives up in the sky (High, high)
Watch out the tiger don't go claw the eagle's eye
But let the eagle take the tiger by surprise
(Scratch out her eyes)
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Well your sister's got the feline touch
She touches up your mind
And your eagle lover likes his little bit of evil
Loving all the time
Don't let the cat get into the eagle's nest at night
Because the eagle could say 'yes' without a fight
(Scratch out her eyes)
So make a stand for your man, honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can, honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Well can the can
Ooh can the can
(Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can
(Can the can honey)
Uhh huh can the can
(Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can
(Can the can honey)
Can the can
(Can the can honey)
Ooh can the can
(Can the can honey)
Ah honey
Honey
Honey
Honey, honey, honey
Make a stand for your man honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can
Make a stand for your man honey
Try to can the can
Put your man in the can honey
Get him while you can
Can the can
Can the can
If you can