"You Can't Win" is a song from The Wiz and is sung by the Scarecrow portrayed by Michael Jackson. The Scarecrow is forced to sing this song by The Crows.
The song was a replacement of the song "I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday".
You Can't Win lyrics[]
- You can't win, you can't break even
- And you can't get out of the game
- People keep sayin' things are gonna change
- But they look just like, they're stayin' the same
- You can't win, your in over your head
- And you only got yourself to blame
- You can't win Child
- (You can't win Child)
- You can't break even
- And you can't get out of the game
- You can't win, the world keeps movin'
- And you're standin' far behind
- People keep sayin', things'll get better
- (Just to ease your state of mind)
- (So you lean back, and you smoke that smoke)
- (And you drink your glass of wine)
- So you can't win, Child, you can't break even
- And you can't get out of the game
- You can't win, you can't win no way
- If your story stays the same
- (You ain't winnin')
- No, no
- (But it's nice to see you)
- (I'm awfully glad you came)
- (Better cool it 'cause it ain't about losing')
- And the world has got no shame
- You can't win, Child
- You can't break even
- You can't get out of the game
- You can't win, you can't break even
- Ain't the way it's supposed to be
- (You'll be spendin')
- No, no
- (Your little bit of money)
- While someone else rides for free, ooh
- (Learn your lesson)
- (Refuel your mind)
- (Before someone blows out your flame)
- You can't win, Child, no
- You can't win
- You can't win, Child, no
- You can't win
- You can't win, Child, no
- You can't win
- You can't win, Child, no
- You can't win
- You can't win, Child, you can't break even
- And you can't get out of the game
- You can't get out of the game
- You can't get out of the game, no, no
Gallery[]
1978 Film[]
2015 Live[]
Trivia[]
- The song was also used in The Wiz Live!, where it was sung by Elijah Kelley.
- The song was originally written for the Winkies to sing in the Broadway production of The Wiz but was cut.
- In 1981, Jackson would remake the second part of the song for his song "Can't Get Outa The Rain" for the release of Thriller but it was scrapped
- The song was released on album "Thriller 40" in November 2022.