Released: October 26, 1993

Songwriter: Babyface Daryl Simmons

Producer: Babyface

[Verse 1]
Last night I, I saw you standing
And I started, started pretending
That I knew you, and you knew me too

And just like a Roni, you were too shy
But you weren't the only, 'cause so was I
And I dreamed of you ever since
Now I build up my confidence
Girl next, next time you come my way
I'll know just what to say...

[Chorus]
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name

[Verse 2]
I started to write you letters
But I wanted to be more clever
I wanted to get down and sweet talk you

Hey, baby

But just like a baby, I could not talk
And I tried to come closer, but could not walk
And I think of it every night
How I just could not get it right! Oh!
If we ever come close again
I'll know what I'll say then, yeah

[Chorus]
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name

[Bridge]
Oh, girl...
One more chance with you again
I will not let it go!
Oh, please! Give me just one more chance for love, love, love, love

[Chorus]
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk?
I wanna talk to my baby
Come on and talk to me baby
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk for a minute?
Girl, I want to know your name
Can we talk?
Come on and talk to me baby
See I wanna know
You better tell me your name baby
Can we talk for a minute?
I wanna know, I wanna know
I want to know your name
Can we talk for a minute?

Tevin Campbell

Tevin Campbell is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter that got his career started with two big names in music—first working with Quincy Jones in 1989 on “Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)” from the album Back on the Block and then working with Prince on “Round and Round” from the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack in 1990.

His debut album T.E.V.I.N. was released on November 19, 1991 and features the #1 R&B hits “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do” and “Alone With You,” which helped the album go platinum and earn Tevin a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. His next album I’m Ready was released on October 26, 1993 and featured the Babyface-produced hits “Can We Talk” and “I’m Ready.” This album went double platinum and led to three more Grammy nominations for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Can We Talk,” Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “I’m Ready,” and Best R&B Album.

Tevin’s third album Back to the World was released on June 25, 1996 and he followed that up with the release of a self-titled album on February 23, 1999. He appeared in the Broadway musical Hairspray in 2005 and after some guest appearances on various shows throughout the years, he released the song “Safer on the Ground” in 2016.