I Can Talk!

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"I Can Talk!" is a song from Charlotte's Web the 1973 Hanna Barbera animated musical that was released by Paramount Pictures. The song is written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. In the motion picture the song is sung by Wilbur the pig who had previously been unable to utter words.

The Goose realizes as she is sitting on her eggs that her new neighbor in the pen beside her, Wilbur the pig, hasn't been eating his food, and that he seems to be downhearted. She offers him an ear if he will come over to her and talk since she can't get off of her eggs. But soon she realizes that Wilbur can't talk. She encourages him to try... And with a couple grunts, and a "Wa... Wa... Wa" "Wi... Wi... Will...bur.. WILBUR!" Suddenly, with the Goose's help, Wilbur realizes he can talk and say all the things he wants. Wilbur sings a song about his newfound linguistical skills, while waking up some of the other farm animals with his middle of the night excitement.

WILBUR:

I can talk!

I can actually, factually talk!

Isn't it great

That I articulate?

Isn't it grand

That you can understand?

I don't grunt, I don't oink

I don't even squeak or sqwuak

When I wanna say a something

I open up and talk

I can talk!

I can talk talk talk

I can talk!

I pop with perspicacity

I'm loaded with loquacity

My vocalized veracity is tops

Semantically each bit of me's

The verbalized epitome

My plethory of patter never stops!

Isn't it great

That I articulate?

Isn't it grand

That you can understand?

I don't honk, I don't eek!

I don't even squeak or sqwuak

When I wanna say a something

I open up and talk

I can talk!

I can talk talk talk

I can talk!

It's wonderous and mystical

I'm hardly egotistical

Because of this linguistical aplomb

But speaking quite pragmatically

My self-esteem emphatically

Dramatically improved since I was dumb!

Isn't it great

That I articulate?

Isn't it grand

That you can understand?

I don't honk, I don't eek!

I don't even squeak or sqwuak

When I wanna say a something

I open up and talk

I can talk!

I can talk talk talk

I can...

THE SHEEP:

Why don't you keep it down?

WILBUR:

I can talk!

-*~*Jenny*~*

[edit] Notes on the song

The song works on several levels. First, it is a comical song. Prior to Wilbur singing it he couldn't utter even the simplest words. Suddenly he's able to string long phrases and sentences together, utilizing an impressive lexicon of words. This establishes that he is infact, an intellectual creature who is sensitive to the subtlties of the world around him. The song's humor allows the audience to seemlessly bridge the two vastly different characters of pre-lingual Wilbur and post-lingual Wilbur together. Humor works as the bridging device. Also Wilbur's display of linguistic prowess impresses Charlotte who watches silently in the wings, waiting to make her introduction. It establishes the two characters as compatible personalities and lays the groundwork for their friendship. Charlotte is also "clever with words", it turns out.