Pet Shop Boys

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Another night with open eyes
Too late to sleep, too soon to rise
You're short of breath, is it a heart attack?
Hot and feverish, you face the fact

[Pre-Chorus]
You're in love and it feels like shame
Because she's gone and made a fool of you in public again
You're in love and it feels like pain
Because you know there's too much truth in everything she claims

[Chorus]
So ask yourself now: Can you forgive her
If she wants you to?
Ask yourself: Can you even deliver
What she demands of you?

[Verse 2]
You drift into the strangest dreams
Of youthful follies and changing teams
Admit you're wrong, oh, no, not yet
Then you wake up and remember that you can't forget

[Pre-Chorus]
She's made you some kind of laughing stock
Because you dance to disco, and you don't like rock
She'd make fun of you and even in bed
Said she was gonna go and get herself a real man instead
[Chorus]
So ask yourself now: Can you forgive her
If she begs you to?
Ask yourself: Can you even deliver
What she demands of you?

[Post-Chorus]
Or do you want revenge?
But that's childish, so childish!
(But that's childish, so childish!)

[Verse 3]
Remember when you were more easily led
Behind the cricket pavilion and the bicycle shed
Trembling as your dreams came true
You looked right into those blue eyes and knew

[Pre-Chorus]
It was love, and now you can't pretend
You've forgotten all the promises of that first friend
It's bad enough, she knows how you feel
But she's not prepared to share you with the memory

[Chorus]
So ask yourself now: Can you forgive her
If she begs you to?
Ask yourself: Can you even deliver
What she demands of you?
Ask yourself now: Can you forgive her
If she begs you to?
And ask yourself: Can you even deliver
What she demands of you?
[Post-Chorus]
Or do you want revenge?
But that's childish, so childish!

With their fifth studio album, Very, Pet Shop Boys released the opening track “Can You Forgive Her?”. It’s a midtempo synthpop song with powerful lyrics that speak to the heart of anyone struggling with personal demons obstructing their relationships. The lyrics of the song are told from the second person in rhyming couplets to evoke a close and powerful connection between the singer and the listener.

About Can You Forgive Her?

“Can You Forgive Her?” is one of Pet Shop Boys’ most candid songs, which tells a compelling story. It explores the difficulties faced by a man as he deals with his past homosexual experience and comes to terms with his current relationship with his girlfriend. The protagonist is tormented by the memory of a same-sex encounter and is struggling to come to terms with it. The song hits the listener with its honesty, with the singer asking “Can you forgive her if she wants to leave?”

The song is a reflection of the cultural changes happening in the UK in the 1990s. It was during this time that the law was changed to allow homosexual men to openly serve in the military. It was also the period when same-sex relationships began to be recognized as valid by the state.

As a result of this social context, “Can You Forgive Her?” became a gay anthem; it was a moment when the LGBTQ+ community found a voice in pop music. For many people, the song was a stark reminder of the struggles they had gone through, of the shame they had overcome, of the battles they were still fighting, of the love they sought, and perhaps of the love they had lost.

The powerful lyrics of “Can You Forgive Her?” have become a classic, and they reflect on the themes of sexuality, relationships, and acceptance with an emotional vulnerability rarely seen in pop songs of that time. The song is built on a catchy hook line and a synth-driven rhythm that’s typical of Pet Shop Boys’ music, but it’s the personal nature of the lyrics that set “Can You Forgive Her?” apart from anything else in their oeuvre.

The male protagonist in the song is being haunted by his past and his secret tryst with another man, which he’s afraid to reveal to his girlfriend. He fears that he will lose her, but his fears drive her away. The song’s lyrics follow the struggle that he has with himself as he comes to terms with his own sexuality and its impact on his relationship. He hears his past love calling out to him, saying “Can you forgive her? She never really had a chance.”

The song speaks to anyone who has struggled with their sexual identity or experienced confusion about their sexuality. It’s a rare song that can be both introspective and emotionally evocative while also remaining catchy and upbeat. The song manages to capture the tension and complexity of the time while also being a classic pop song that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Why Is Can You Forgive Her? Special?

There are many reasons why “Can You Forgive Her?” is special. It’s a song that speaks to an audience that was rarely heard in mainstream music in the 1990s. It was a time when LGBTQ+ issues were not openly discussed, and the genre of synth-pop was still finding its place amidst the more prominent genres of the time. In this sense, Pet Shop Boys were taking a risk with the song. They were stepping outside of the mainstream norms and trying to do something different, and it worked.

The song became a hit, and it was played on dancefloors across the country. Many gay clubs took the song up as their anthem, using it to celebrate the sexuality and the pride of their patrons. The song was a unifying force that brought together people from different walks of life.

Another reason why the song is special is its lyrics. They are deeply meaningful and personal, and they speak to a much wider audience than just the LGBTQ+ community. They remind us of the power of love, of the struggles we all face in our relationships, and of the importance of honesty and acceptance for ourselves and others. Even though the song was written over 30 years ago, its message still resonates with people today, and it remains relevant and powerful.

What Makes This Song Timeless?

“Can You Forgive Her?” remains an evergreen song. The themes it deals with are universal, and its lyrics are powerful and timeless. The song also has a catchy tune that makes it memorable, and it connects on an emotional level. Each time the song plays, it evokes a feeling of nostalgia in listeners for the time Pet Shop Boys were on top of the game with their synth-pop music and created something special.

The song is a reminder of the struggles we all face, of the importance of honesty and acceptance, and of the power of love. It’s a song that can still move people to tears today, 30 years after it was first released. The fact that it’s timeless is what makes it a classic, and it remains a reminder of the Pet Shop Boys’ legacy and why they’re widely regarded as one of the greatest pop acts of all time.

In sum, “Can You Forgive Her?” is one of Pet Shop Boys’ most commercially successful and critically acclaimed songs. Its deep and personal nature set it apart from anything else in their catalog, while its catchy tune and powerful lyrics made it an instant hit. The song also became a classic in the LGBTQ+ community, where it became an anthem for those struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. Today, it remains a timeless classic that continues to move people with its unique emotional power.

• Release Date: May 31, 1993
• Artist: Pet Shop Boys