[John spoken]
Hi, it's the Mountain Goats
It's the seventeenth of december
at nine thirty four in the morning
And this is called 'No, I Can't.'

You bought me some candy.
And you bought me some flowers.
And you bought me a sofa.
And you bought me a radio.

Thank you for the candy.
Thank you for the flowers.
Thank you for the sofa.
Thank you for the radio.

(Now I have everything I need.) x4

You brought me a puppy.
And you brought me a lamp.
And you brought me some books.
And you brought me a filing cabinet.

Thanks you for the puppy.
Thank you for the lamp.
Thanks for the books.
Thanks for the filing cabinet;
I don't know what I did without it.

(Now I have everything I need.) x4

You came by. And you came in.
And you let the wind in.
It must be cold outside.
We looked out, through the sliding glass door.
But I'd forgotten what we were looking for.

Thank you for coming by.
It's nice to see you once in a while.
Thank you for the coat I forgot to mention.
I've been freezing in here.
I've been freezing in here.

(Now I have everything I need.) x4
Yeah!


Lyrics submitted by sendthestars

No I Can't song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song, to me, speaks from the perspective of a black sheep in the family being reached out to by someone else in the family. Like a wayward brother, who's sister is still trying to take care of him. "Thank you for coming by, it's nice to see you once in a while." He lives away from his family, and rarely sees them. At least that's what it says to me.

    Imalloutofideason October 17, 2010   Link

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