“Can’t Explain” is a cover of a song by Arthur Lee’s legendary band Love, recorded and released by Strawberry Alarm Clock’s early incarnation Thee Sixpence in 1966. It was the b-side of the band’s first single, “Long Days Care”.
While not as great as Love’s version, Thee Sixpence’s “Can’t Explain” actually has a more energetic feel than the original. The band plays it pretty close to the original, even (inevitably, perhaps) copying the famous bass lines.
This version of “Can’t Explain” does change some of the words a little bit. Where, in the original, Arthur sings, “Can’t explain, you always want to start a fight”, Thee Sixpence sing:
“Can’t explain
You all heard what I said”
The singing is valiant but aggressively rag-tag, which suits the song in its own way. Singer/shouter Lee Freeman even includes Arthur Lee’s extemporized “play it one time for the world!” bit from the original. The band are on quite a tear, barely keeping up with the song, but since that tends to be what we all like about 60s punk, Thee Sixpence’s “Can’t Explain” is just what the doctor ordered.
“Can’t Explain” is not a Who song
Some sources mistakenly call this a cover of the Who song “I Can’t Explain”. “I Can’t Explain” by the Who song is totally different than the Love song, which is an Arthur Lee original.
“Can’t Explain” appears on…
“Long Days Care” b/w “Can’t Explain” (1966)
Step By Step (1998)