The Jackson 5 – Can You Remember

Recorded by the Jackson 5 on the 10th and 15th July 1969 and featured on the group’s debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, released in December 1969 in the US and March 1970 in the UK.

Originally recorded by the Delfonics, for their 1968 album, La La Means I Love You.

Michael and his brothers first met the Delfonics in the pre-Motown days. "We used to do a lot of shows at the Regal Theatre in Chicago and at the Capitol Theater there," recalled William Hart, of the Delfonics. "I remember they (the Jackson 5) didn’t have a place to change clothes and we had a bigger trailer and all… and they thought that was nice of me, to let them come in and change. I remember Michael saying, ‘Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!’"

Can You Remember – Lyrics

Michael: Can you remember?
Jackson 5: Can you remember?
Michael: When we were babies?
J5: Babies…whoo-hoo
Michael: We were always together
When we were in kindergarden
J5: Kindergarden

Michael: Now that you’re grown,
So girl you left me all alone.
And you know I’ll never find,
No one to call my own.

Michael: So girl I love you, don’t you I love you
Michael & J5: Don’t you know I love you

J5: My cherie, like for you
Michael: Like for you…
J5: To remember if you can
Michael: Hey, can u remember…yeah
J5: The times we had and the times we shared
Sitting, playing in the grass.
Michael: In the grass, yeah!

Michael: Can you remember?
J5: Can you remember?
Michael: When we were babies?
J5: Babies, whoo-hoo
Michael: We were always together
And I never had no one…
J5: No one

Michael: Sunny skies are blue,
So girl you know that I love you.
And I’ll always promise you
That this is what I’ll do.

Michael: So girl I love you, I love you, don’t you know I love you…
J5:Don’t you know I love you?
Michael: I-I-I-I-I-I-I love ya’, yeah!

J5: My cherie, like for you
Michael: Like for you
J5: To remember if you can
Michael: To remember if you can,
Hey, can you remember?
J5: The times we had and the time we shared
Sitting, playing in the grass.
Michael: Sitting in the grass yeah
J5: Whoo
Michael: Yeah!! Can you remember?

J5: My cherie, like for you
To remember, if you can
Michael: The times we had
J5: The times we had…
Michael: And the times we shared, oh yeah
J5: And the times we shared,
Sitting, playing in the grass
Michael: We’re sittin’ in the park, playin’ in the grass…
Yeah!