I've had these jeans since I was born
And now they're ripped and now they're torn
And all my friends have skateboards

I want the toys of other boys
I want a knife and a gun and things
But mom and dad will not give in

And I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
I can't put the needle in
No I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in

And now I know just what it is
It's called disease and it's got my head
It always runs where I hide

Too scared too talk, too scared to try
Too scared to know the reasons why
And all my friends say bye bye

And I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
No I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in

And I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
No I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in


Lyrics submitted by shut, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Faithless, The Wonderboy Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Faithless, the Wonderboy song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Maybe its about a boy that was raised in an overprotective fashion. Other boys can play with skateboards and fall and do other crazy stuff. In this way other kids can rip their jeans; while at the same time develop a healthy thick skin: the "jeans" that you are born with. This kid has not been allowed to play and take risks and now it's too late: he's too weak to sew himself a decent pair of jeans, because he cant put the needle in.

    Brudenellon August 10, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think this song is about a kid/teen-boy who tries to fit in with the crowd but he "can't put the needle in"

    ObamaGoesPostalon December 28, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i agree that drugs are a theme, but i think that radiohead use the image of not putting 'the needle in' as a metaphor for not fitting in. what an amazing song whichever way you read it

    philstratzon September 25, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    IMHO, this is about disease of some sort, hence the jeans/genes reference. They're ripped and torn = diseased. All his friends have skateboards but he's too sick to play. He wants to die but his parents won't give him the means. Too scared to talk = too scared to talk! All his friends say bye-bye because it's a terminal disease. Anyway, that's my $.02.

    songmeanings135on July 28, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Okay, songmeanings135 has got it, I believe. He/she made me take another look at the jeans reference. Clever double-meaning. The disease would make so much since. Hey, do you think the chorus is about him hesitating to end his own life? The way I see it, that needle would either help him or hurt him, so it would only make sense to me if he were trying to end it all. The second stanza, I think, is him complaining. He wants to have what others have (but he can't cuz he's too sick) and then he wants a knife and a gun so he can vent out his frustrations (probably on himself) and, like the above user said, his parents would not allow or supply that method. This song is crazy deep.

    Orange Morendoon August 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe this song to be about a boy trying to fit in the crowd as a teen, and then becomes a drug addict.

    Idiotechon February 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Best song on Itch EP. It definitely seems to be about drugs although according to Green Plastic it is about revenge. I don't believe that of course.

    Wallamanageon July 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really like this song. I like how he sings "I want a knife and a gun and things" in such an innocent way. But yeah, I do agree it definately seems to be about drugs...

    x_Heather_xon July 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Philstratz has got it right.

    Invader Z?on March 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is probably wrong, but I think it's about a girl who wants to be a boy.

    I think jeans is like genes meaning genetically she's a girl. but theyre ripped and torn meaning theyre bad and shed rather ride skateboards like a boy.

    I think i cant put the needle in is a reference to injecting testosterone.

    then she realizes its a disease that she has the wrong body, and theres no where to hide and shes scared.

    xcatson March 18, 2007   Link

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