Can I

Producer

Track 17 on

Oct. 3, 20151 viewer720.5K views

Can I Lyrics

[Intro: Drake & Beyoncé]
Can I, baby? Can I, baby?
Yeah, can I, baby? Can I, baby?

[Verse: Drake & Beyoncé]
Can I bring you to the six where I really stay, baby?
Show you why I am the way I am
Can I tell you what I think my biggest flaw is, baby?
I try to be consistent, but I can't
Can I have an honest moment wit' you right now, baby?
Tell me who the fuck you want to be
Can I get an honest answer from you right now, baby?
'Cause all we ever talk about is me
Can I? Before I turn the lights out
'Fore I turn the lights out, tell me who the fuck you want to be
Can I call instead of text you on the hotline?
Sometimes a nigga wanna hear your voice
Can I see you right now, I know the sun is up, baby?
Sorry, I don't really have a choice
Can I ever make you feel like I'm down for you, baby?
You do so much more than that for me
Can I finally take the time and open up to you, baby?
'Cause that's the side you never get to see
Can I? Before I turn the lights out one more time
'Fore I turn the lights out, tell me who the fuck you want to be

[Outro: Drake & Beyoncé]
Can I, baby? Can I? Before I turn the lights out
Can I, baby? Can I, baby?
Can I, baby? Can I, baby?
Can I? Before I turn the lights out
Tell me who the fuck you wanna be
Can I? Can I, baby?
Can I, baby? Can I, baby?
Can I? Before I turn the lights out one more time
Tell me who the fuck you wanna be
Before I turn the lights out

About

In a swiftly deleted Instagram post on October 12, 2015, Drake expressed his frustration at the leak of “Can I” but stated his plans to finish the song and place it on his then-forthcoming fourth studio album, Views. However, the song did not end up on the album but was instead officially released on August 2, 2019 as part of the compilation album Care Package. “Can I” marks the second collaboration between two titans of the music world, following “Mine” from Beyoncé’s 2013 self-titled album. The Beyoncé vocals may be sourced from a vocal outtake of “XO,” which also appears on her 2013 self-titled album.

“Can I” initially leaked in 2015, which prompted Drake to share an updated mix of the song on OVO Sound Radio, his show on Apple Music’s Beats 1.

On August 2, 2019, the song was re-released after Drake dropped Care Package on all major streaming platforms — a project he describes as “some of our most important moments together available in one place.” The release came nearly six months after Drake re-released his breakout mixtape So Far Gone.