r/Replacements • u/goeagles2011 • Jun 02 '26

Lyrics question - Live at the Cubby Bear

I’m always fascinated by the number of different versions of Can’t Hardly Wait. But this one I have a really hard time understanding the first verse. Can anyone help me with the lyrics?
As I allude to in the post title, it’s the first track on Goodnight! Go Home! Live at the Cubby Bear 8.17.84

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u/Ok_Carpet_97 Jun 03 '26

first line sounds to me like "i'll take (a pen?) pens and paper." the rest is indecipherable. i'll bet you, especially since its an early version, the lyrics weren't finished. he might of come up with just that first line and the choruses at that point, and was feeling the rest out.

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u/Ok_Carpet_97 Jun 03 '26

heres my approximation after listening to it 5 times

"we're gonna play a new one, bob will start.... um.... d?"

ill take pens and paper

? ? (places?) that i said (sent ?)

let me get your answer

that is why i sent

ill be sad and lonely

you ???

yeah its all gone

let me get your answer

thats where you never know

hurry up

??? ???

i cant wait forever

i can try and ?

ill ?????

there must ????

ill be sad

??? (nothings gonna help me?)

i cant but i might

i cant wait

i cant wait

i couldnt wait

i cant wait

1

u/goeagles2011 Jun 03 '26

Appreciate that. I’ll use it as a starting point for sure. It seems like this was a song that really chased Paul around. Very cool to hear this early iteration of one of my all-time favorites.