Roots, The - I Can't Write Left Handed Lyrics






I can't write left-handed
Would you please write a letter, write a letter to my mother?
Tell her to tell, tell her to tell, tell her to tell the family lawyer
Trying to get, trying to get a deferment for my younger brother

Tell the Reverend Harris to pray for me, Lord, Lord, Lord
I ain't gonna live, I don't believe I'm going to live to get much older
Strange little man over here in Vietnam I ain't, I ain't never seen
Bless his heart ain't never done nothing to,
He done shot me in my shoulder

Boot camp we had classes
You know we talked about fighting, fighting everyday
And looking through rosy, rosy colored glasses
I must admit it seemed exciting anyway

Oh, but something that day overlooked to tell me, Lord
Bullets look better, I must say
Brother when they ain't coming at you
But going out the other way

And please call up the Reverend, call up, call up the Reverend Harris
Tell him to ask the Lord to do some good things for me
Tell him I ain't gonna live, I ain't gonna live, I ain't gonna live
To get much older, oh Lord
Strange little man over here in Vietnam, I ain't never seen
Bless his heart ain't never done nothing to,
He done shot me in my shoulder
Lord





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

Roots, The I Can't Write Left Handed Comments
  1. C.... Y....

    Bill was in the Navy for 9 yrs

  2. D.... M....

    THIS, is the performance. Funny cuz different ones are on Johns channel. Probably a rights thing. Either way, it's here for our enjoyment. Don't let it get erased forever!

  3. C.... R....

    *Captain Kirk's solo beams me up to the outer space.*

  4. P.... V....

    this is a terrific version but man, that original version is so powerful in its simplicity!

  5. C.... C....

    Bill Withers..So underrated. An incredible artist to the core. Doing a good job on this, it's not easy to redo such a great song. Job well done. Bill Withers, so loved.

  6. T.... ....

    complete eargasm. Not many artists can take a masterpiece and do it such justice. Big up to a Volcanic performance

  7. Z.... K....

    Wake up one of the best albums ever....

  8. m.... ....

    now THAT'S a cover!

  9. J.... A....

    Im tired of these ads in the middle of a guitar solo. That’s too much

    J.... A....

    I recommend Ad block

    J.... A....

    Yes! I almost chucked my phone across the room.

  10. j.... j....

    9:18 = imbécil

  11. S.... E....

    Memorial Day 2019...

  12. S.... B....

    I love Bill Withers and haven't really liked any covers of his work but this is outstanding...

  13. s.... ....

    Always good to see artist appreciate greatness...but this isn't close to bill wither version in any way shape or form. No disrespect meant...just say in, unless someone didnt know!

  14. d.... ....

    This is still one of the most powerful lyrics of all-time:

    Boot camp we had classes.
    You know we talked about fighting-fighting everyday.
    And looking through rosy colored glasses, I must admit it seemed exciting anyway.
    Oh, but someone that day overlooked to tell me bullets look better,
    I must say - brother - when they're coming at you than going out the other way

  15. D.... ....

    Cap'n Kirk on the guitar and QL pounding on the drums!!!

  16. S.... E....

    All Eyez on ?Questlove... beautiful art

  17. D.... ....

    Kirk put his soul on this guitar solo .. pure state of trance! I can feel him

  18. J.... F....

    awesome track

  19. J.... A....

    Great, but lost it’s simplicity for me. Seems to be more about the performers than the sufferers when compared to original.

  20. s.... ....

    Damn Captain Kirk!!

  21. I.... M....

    dare i say this was legendary

  22. D.... T....

    Hit me!

  23. J.... R....

    Im so upset they took down the "Unstaged" live performance directed by Spike Lee. The other recordings get pretty close but there was a unique energy that night.

  24. s.... ....

    This is amazing!!!!!!!!!

  25. s.... ....

    Amazing!! Great job everyone!! Damn Captain Kirk

  26. e.... w....

    I lived through the era of the Vietnam War. We had no business over there in my opinion. A lot of young men and women were victims of it. The American government still needs to make things right with all of our vets man. It needs to be made right and made right now. Great job by John Legend on this song. Much love to the poet Bill Withers a messenger of truth.

  27. J.... J....

    How is the people there so calm? I’d be rocking so hard

  28. S.... T....

    WOW!! They are Awesome ! I love this song and Bill Withers..but you just take this down Man!

  29. S.... S....

    then nicki minaj anaconda has millions but this nooooo......yall are pathetic

  30. W.... H....

    cant sing left handed neither

  31. j.... s....

    I Love this song and was So Surprised to find this. REAL MUSIC with MEANING !

  32. N.... K....

    Lejos la mejor canción del mundo en estos tiempos de mala muerte. John haciéndole un gran homenaje al pobre mundo.
    Bill haciéndole llegar profundo a todo el que le conoce.
    Mi gratitud al gran músico y compositor, al maestro que armó el show y todo lo que lo hacen posible. Gracias. Saludos John. Espero hacerlo bien

  33. D.... D....

    Great F'ing cover.

  34. b.... ....

    I listened to Bill Withers sing this song..How much more powerful can one person and one song get..........

  35. b.... ....

    My number didn't come up. I asked my mother that my number come up what should I do. She was in Korea.......She said if they call you have to go,. My friends that made it back,were all fucked up. I had a lot of very long talks with my Mother about this. I" m sitting here crying like a baby....I have more to say and I can't put it in words right now....

  36. J.... V....

    One could not imagine a better example of a man making love to his guitar than with Kirk Douglas and his solo.

  37. Q.... D....

    That ending tho

  38. J.... ....

    I think I just came in my pants...

  39. E.... D....

    Hey Q and John how much sacrifice have you experienced? Bill realized he did nuthin and decided to pay tribute to those being shit on be the "pro love" hippys that where disrespecting those that just did the right thing..his song was solemn and appreciative and ...appropriate... yours?!...well you decide...this "tribute" by 2 guys, one married to an Asian supermodel and a night show band leader ring hollow....learn....The following is a speech my father in law given to a VFW hall in 2015. He lost his Brother and Father in the war. They avoided mortar fire by digging mortar pits in their hooch/house. in 75' when we abandoned them, he thew his wife and kids on a boat and made a life for them in the US. He could not be there when his Mom died...when he learned he cried for 2 days....your flowery song is shit...get it?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBvIKvhQ2RA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu3PsUoHIM8&t=1s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56LgvUA8_9I

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQTyOvvctzc

  40. E.... D....

    Hey John and Q, Bill did'nt have a supermodel wife or a late night gig....he wrote it cause he he dug the sacrifice....not the the pseuedo soul of the song the song. Fuck u from a non com vet in behalf all com vets which includes my Vietnamese Vietnam vet war father in law which lost his dad and brother on ur shit tribute song pretends to honor.....disgust...serve if u wanna get it...Bill did it with class, you....well.....

  41. P.... D....

    thanx for this cover of the masterpiece man...its what music is worthly created for..

  42. C.... C....

    All that talk, at the start, of demographics was a little forewarning of just how inauthentic and lacking in soul the performance was going to be. It was businesslike.

  43. A.... B....

    I think my face is melted off, man.

  44. g.... 6....

    Loved the original,and Bill Withers,but this is also magnificent!

  45. F.... M....

    Thanks for re-uploading this version. My favourite performance of this song, dunno why it'd disappear

  46. M.... M....

    kirk douglas... super wild.

  47. S.... ....

    this is magnificent

  48. b.... ....

    gives me goosebumps every time i hear it

  49. e.... m....

    i recently found this video. i love the origanall the most. but this had me tears. I had recently lost my baby brother who was a vet and was in irock

    e.... m....

    I'm so sorry for your loss, sincerely.

  50. J.... N....

    I was gobsmacked when, at the Rally for Sanity, this was played. Just briliant. So moving. So sadly relevant today.

    J.... N....

    Same for me. Blew my mind!

  51. A.... A....

    Hard Body !!!!!!

  52. J.... d....

    géant!!!! absolument fabuleux!!!!!!!!!!!

  53. N.... A....

    I was looking for the original, and found this. Why hasnt it been played on the air? A credible tribute to a master musician.

  54. S.... T....

    Bill Withers is THE version, but this definitely pays tribute to a classic. Love it!

  55. N.... B....

    how could a performance like this not have millions of views?

    N.... B....

    because the movie disappeared from youtube years ago, but before that I've downloaded it

    N.... B....

    It's ok but it hasn't a patch on Bill's live performance of it. Bills voice was in another league.

    N.... B....

    Right!? Holy shit this was great!

    N.... B....

    Ill watch it 1 mil times fo real

    N.... B....

    Because Bill perfected it in 1973

  56. h.... ....

    Wauw just super
    cool and amazing

    peace from Denmark

  57. M.... M....

    bill withers did much better

  58. S.... S....

    I am glad that they recognized this song. It is heart warming. I find it ironic that Quest mentions "a demographic that has no reference whatsoever". It makes me wonder if he listens to his own music at all

  59. l.... s....

    omg! Jam session gone wild! lol

  60. F.... I....

    Hats off to the whole band, they went in.. Masterful

  61. N.... R....

    11:07. Nuff said

  62. S.... G....

    Holy Shit!! So fucking beautiful!

  63. c.... ....

    This is one of my favorite performances ever. Incredible.

  64. p.... p....

    The military drumming is reminiscent of Hendrix Machine Gun and Funkadelic 'March to The Witches Castle.

  65. R.... T....

    STANKONYA!! JOHN'S IN DA HOUSE!!! AMAZING!!!

  66. A.... L....

    This peace is a treasure, it dominates from start to finish. A true Eclectic, riveting song!!!!!!

  67. D.... H....

    This was good but if you realy want to hear it at its best check out the album version. John Legend and the Roots "Wake Up". They played it with 3X the emotion.

    You feel like you are on a flight home from Vietnam listening to it.

    D.... H....

    Dre Hardin Thanks for recommendation, will check it out!

  68. l.... ....

    I've never heard a single John Legend song but kudos to you for sampling an awesome Bill Withers song!

  69. S.... F....

    I didn't pay attention to John Legend previously, but joining in this project w/an 'old spirit' like QuestLove makes this song worthy. They all do a stellar job, especially the guitarist channeling Hendrix.

  70. L.... B....

    this is a f* amazin version of an already amazin song. good lord. respect all around, i love it!

  71. P.... G....

    This messed me up man. Dang that was powerful! I love this, new fav performance!

  72. H.... ....

    why has no one mentioned Kirk's solo...it was mind blowingly good.

    H.... ....

    Yes. He smashed that.

    H.... ....

    H.J.W - agree, Feckn intensely mind blowing and soulful.

  73. J.... G....

    would love to hear Prince on guitar, and anybody else on skins. no shade on Qwest... still nice jam

    J.... G....

    +Jerrod Gault How is that no shade on Quest? You literally just implied that anyone could do a better job on drums than him

  74. G.... L....

    Nice clean buzz rolls by Q

  75. A.... S....

    Not bad, but the original gives me shivers every time. Good effort.

  76. T.... F....

    11:07...

  77. B.... W....

    This really is a good cover...... wow.......

  78. T.... M....

    personally this is a good jam -but I'm not a musician -just a guy who would buy this -and that's really what it's all about- peace happy new year 2015

  79. R.... ....

    ❤️❤️❤️

  80. E.... M....

    WOW man that was such a great cover. I feel like Bill Withers would absolutely love this.

  81. D.... b....

    Brilliant!!!!!! Bellisimo!!!!!

  82. J.... B....

    This song goes to all fighting in Ukraine, the Middle-East, Iraq wherever, and for whatever reason. The message is this, when it's over you will realize that all the horror, pain and destruction wasn't worth it. You might as well stop before getting hurt, or before you do something you will never be able to forgive yourself for. Go home, make love, and have a beer instead! Cheers!

    J.... B....

    Why is anyone even fighting in the middle east though?

  83. J.... G....

    Everything sounds just great as always, but the organ player is a bloody genius!!

  84. D.... ....

    Talent... talent everywhere.

  85. B.... M....

    I really love this performance....ain't nothing the Roots can play bad!

  86. z.... ....

    Geez.  How can you not move to that song.

  87. f.... ....

    Kirk Douglas on the Guitar!

  88. M.... ....

    well done, 10000 grand band with the "man"!

  89. A.... M....


    truly great

  90. N.... N....

    Huge Bill Withers fan, grew up listening to him as a child. truly enjoyed this rendition.

  91. F.... O....

    tops.....

  92. B.... M....

    Exceptional.

  93. B.... R....

    Love me some Bill Withers. Use to play this tape "Live at Carnegie Hall" while stationed in Korea back in the 80's.U did a really lovely job with ur rendition of this song with lots of soulfulness <3

    B.... R....

    My dad used to play this for us and I bump it in my ride to this day.

  94. P.... ....

    They're possessed! AMAZING

    P.... ....

    PaidHero1 fuck you

  95. J.... J....

    This is just wow. Phenomenal live music with passionate musicians for the ears and good stage lights with impressive editing for the eyes

  96. s.... ....

    wtf... ?

    damn real ...

  97. u.... ....

    WOW. Damn. They went to church on this one.

  98. S.... I....

    Quem está a assistir a isto, está a ver uma interpretação BRUTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL

  99. D.... S....

    Unreal!