Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Songwriter: Kay Swift Paul James

Producer: Norman Granz

[Verse 1: Ella Fitzgerald]
I thought I'd found the man of my dreams
Now it seems, this is how the story ends
He's going to turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 2: Ella Fitzgerald]
I thought for once it couldn't go wrong
Not for long! I can see the way this ends
He's going to turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 3: Ella Fitzgerald]
Never again, through with love
Through with men
They play their game without shame
And who's to blame?

[Verse 4: Ella Fitzgerald]
I thought I'd found a man I could trust
What a bust, this is how the story ends
He's going to turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 5: Louis Armstrong]
Yes, I thought I knew the wheat from the chaff
What a laugh, this is how our story ends
I'll let her turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 6: Louis Armstrong]
I acted like a kid out of school
What a fool, now I see this is the end
I'll let her turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 7: Louis Armstrong]
Oh, what should I give?
Though she gave me the air
Why should I cry
Ever sigh and wonder why?

[Verse 8: Louis Armstrong]
Yes, I should have seen the signal to stop
What a flop, this is how the story ends
She's gonna turn me down and say
"Can't we be friends?"

[Verse 9: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong]
What should I give?
Though he gave me the air
And why should I cry
Ever sigh and wonder why?

[Verse 10: Together]
I should have seen the signal to stop
What a flop, this is how the story ends
I'll let him turn me down and say
Can't we be, can't we be, can't we be
Can't we be, can't we be, can't we be friends?
Oh, yes

Both household names at the time of their first recording together, the dynamic duo of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recorded their eponymous debut on August 16, 1956, in Hollywood’s then newly-built Capitol Studios. The record covered eleven standards with the backing of the Oscar Peterson Quartet. Although they had previously collaborated in the late 1940s for the Decca label, Ella and Louis began a critical and commercial streak for the pair, with many follow-ups under Norman Granz’s Verve Records; including 1957’s Ella and Louis Again and their 1959 collection of songs from the Porgy and Bess.

more tracks from the album

Ella and Louis

From the albums

Ella and Louis (1956)
Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song (1993)

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong popular songs

Can’t We Be Friends?Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Ella and Louis