Timmy Thomas, Why Can’t We Live Together | Wacky Wednesday

In the 22nd edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “Why Can’t We Live Together,” performed by Timmy Thomas.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  So, with the background established, in the 22^nd edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “Why Can’t We Live Together”, performed by Timmy Thomas. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

“Everybody wants to live together / Why can’t we live together?” That is a legitimate question, Timmy Thomas (1944 – 2022). If everybody wants to, why can’t we? It is a complicated thing. It was complicated on Thomas’s unique, minimalist 1972 classic, “Why Can’t We Live Together”, and it remains complicated today.  If you were to judge a song by its title, you might assume this is a romantic song – a boy yearning for his girlfriend to move in.  Not the case! The opener from the 1972 album, also named, Why Can’t We Live Together , is socially conscious.  Thomas wrote and produced it.  A hug pop hit, “Why Can’t We Live Together” peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

What makes “Why Can’t We Live Together” unique is the instrumental.  Thomas plays a Lowrey organ and uses percussion presets as the drums.  This is big for the 1970s, where real drummers/live drums remained king.  But Thomas’s innovative spirit makes “Why” ear-catching.  Also, Timmy doesn’t get in a rush to sing.  He gives us an extended instrumental intro, setting the tone of organ and percussion.  After the singing concludes, Thomas also takes his time, flexing the muscles of the distinctness of the organ and percussion sounds.  Even with the minimalist vibes, Timmy proves himself to be a dynamic, expressive vocalist.  He sells the message of unity like a champ. “No more wars, no more wars, no more war,” he sings in the second verse, adding, “Mmm, just a little peace in this world.” Amen! Race enters the mix in the third verse where Thomas asserts, “No matter, no matter what color / Mmm, you are still my brother.” That part! “Why Can’t We Live Together” is one of the more unique soul songs you’ll ever hear. It’s minimalist yet feels much bigger. Drake sampled it in his beloved, heavily memed, number two Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Hotline Bling”.

Timmy Thomas // Why Can’t We Live Together // Rhino // 1972

Timmy Thomas, Why Can’t We Live Together: Wacky Wednesday No. 22 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Rhino; Rich The Barber Font from Font Space; Wendel Natan from Pexels; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]