TheUglylucy4's video: It s All I Can Do

"It's All I Can Do" was written by Ric Ocasek and is the third track off of The Cars 1979 release...Candy-O. The album cover was painted by artist Alberto Vargas, who was known for his paintings of pin-up girls that appeared in Esquire and Playboy magazines in the 1940s and 1960s. Candy-O was The Cars follow-up LP from their sensational debut album, The Cars, released in 1978. The model on the album cover is coincidentally named Candy Moore. When asked what does the "O" stand for, Ocasek replied...obnoxious. "It's All I Can Do" is a sad song that is told in complete reflection. The writer is lamenting over the loss of his female interest. Contrary to some popular belief, the ballad is not about a one night stand. To me, it is exactly the opposite which can be understood in the two lines..."I kept my renditions of you on the wall, Where holiday romance is nothing at all". He obviously has memories, most likely photos, of her hanging on his walls and has spent holiday time with her. The modern opinion he now has of her (since she last left him) comes as kind of a surprise. Our author thinks a bit less about her come the song's end..."You wait in the wing like a Saturday flirt, Protecting the judge, you don't want to get hurt, Once in a moment it all comes to you, As soon as you get it you want something new". The Saturday flirt can be understood as a woman who likes to act as if she is sexually attracted to another person (usually in a playful manner) on the weekends. I'm guessing that since many people will use their heart to "judge" something, the line "protecting the judge" refers to her protecting her heart. She is afraid of another failing love. But it seems as she moves on to another relationship, she is immediately looking for another man(as soon as you get it, you want something new). To me, "It's All I Can Do" tells the story of a woman on the run, leaving many men behind. Unfortunately for our author, he was one of them but in his mind believes he was always the right one for her. The lead vocals was sung by Ben Orr, The Cars bassist. Orr died in October of 2000 from pancreatic cancer. He was 53 years old.