"When I Can't Do Better" is a song featured on the soundtrack album for the 2023 musical film The Color Purple, based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker.
Background[]
The song was co-written by Johntá Austin, Kuk Harrell, and Bryan-Michael Cox. Johntá Austin, a Grammy-winning songwriter, has previously worked with artists such as Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige. Kuk Harrell is a renowned vocal producer and engineer, known for his work with Rihanna and Beyoncé. Bryan-Michael Cox is a Grammy-winning producer and songwriter who has collaborated with Usher and Alicia Keys. The song is one of the emotional highlights of the album, showcasing the deep bond between Celie and Shug.
Lyrics[]
Don't hold your love over my head
Please don't use it against me
Don't be that way tonight
Don't be that way tonight
Don't touch me with self-righteous hands
Promise you won't judge me
Don't walk away tonight
Embrace me
Save me from myself
Don't you hate me
When I can't do better
Feel me
Heal me if you dare
It would kill me
To lose you forever, mm
When it gets dark and it just don't come easy
'Cause it's too hard and we're too far gone
Stay with me now, oh
Pray for mе now
When I mean good
But the strеngth just ain't there to do good
Tell me we good
Talk to me now, when I can't do better
If I give you power to carry me
Don't you use that power just to bury me
It's been a long night
F--- it, it's been a long life, mm
But the truth is, what I do with it is my biz 'til I'm through with it
And it's my bed so I lay in it 'cause I'm cool with it
So embrace me
Save me from myself
Don't you hate me
When I can't do better
Feel me
Heal me if you dare
It would kill me
To lose you forever, mm
And I need you to know
When it gets dark and it just don't come easy
'Cause it's too hard and we're too far gone
Stay with me now, oh-oh (With me now)
Pray for me now
When I mean good
But the strength just ain't there to be good
Tell me, we good?
Talk to me now, when I can't do better
When I can't do better
Ooh, baby, love me through it
We can do it, we can get through it
Oh, hey, hey, yeah
So embrace me, baby
Hold me, baby
When I can't do better
Ooh, ooh-ooh
