Sloan – I Am The Cancer

"I Am The Cancer" as written by Andrew Scott, Chris Murphy, Jay Ferguson and Patrick Pentland....
So long, Matthew
I will miss you
There is too much to do
Or I'd go with you
It's a bad time
I haven't got a dime

So long, Alison
I now know where you've been
But I don't know where you're going
There's security in knowing
But I know some morning
without any warning
You'll be gone

Oh, you've kissed me, kissed me
Now you're supposed to miss me

So long, Andrew
I will miss you
I just wrote you
A long note
You'd better answer
I am the cancer
Removed from you

Oh, you miss me, miss me
Now you've got to kiss me, kiss me goodbye

So long, scarecrow
At least with you I know
You're going nowhere
What do you care?
There's nothing up your sleeve
You can never leave

Why would you stay there, scarecrow?
Sorry I had to go
But I shall return
It was my turn
To get away
Someone had to stay
So I could go

I miss you most of all
Kiss me, kiss me
I can't wait until you kiss me
Until you kiss me
I can't wait 'til you kiss me
Kiss me again


Lyrics submitted by gleebs

"I Am the Cancer" as written by Chris Murphy Andrew Scott

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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I Am The Cancer song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentThe scarecrow bit is a wizard of Oz refrence. The song is about how people are leaving and the person singing feels they need to leave soemthing behind in their place.
    billboneson November 25, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentFrom what I know about the Halifax music scene in the mid-90s (which, admittedly, isn't much), this song is Chris Murphy's farewell song to Halifax, leaving behind Matt (poss. Murphy, of The Super Friendz?), Alyson (poss. MacLeod, of Jale [who soon thereafter abruptly left the band]?) and Andrew (Scott, of Sloan, who was the only memeber to remain in Halifax post-Twice Removed...the other three moved to Toronto to be with their respective ladies).

    Also, I believe the last line of the first "scarecrow" verse meld in with the first line of the last verse, that is "Why would you/Stay there, Scarecrow?/Sorry I had to go, but...", not "Say there, Scarecrow".

    I can only speculate about the "cancer" reference in the Andrew verse, it's possible they were having issues of their own that were (presumably) resolved by Chris moving to Toronto (since the band is still happily together etc)
    charismarisaon December 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commentso good.
    that pretty much sums it up.
    kickeron March 05, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is phenomenal. I love the harmony. Normally, I am not very good at exactly detecting which people is singing each note but voices are so distinctly different its very apparent. Yet they blend so well, its scary.
    Zenmanshipon April 30, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My OpinionI'm writing this comment (oddly) exactly 2 months after my previous post.
    Sometimes i feel i really need to hear this song. its almost like a salve on my soul. Those soothing harmonies caress my ears and brain. Actually i feel this way about Smeared as a whole. I also find it very interesting how a small set of favorite artists dominate my musical attentions. Sloan is one of those artists.
    Zenmanshipon June 30, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentOnce again I'm listening to Sloan...To start the new year
    Zenmanshipon December 31, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI keep coming back to Sloan and this song. It's like medication. I feel like a want to say alot more, but i don't know what to say...
    Zenmanshipon October 23, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is dominating my I-tunes as most listened to. Currently 83 times. I'm addicted.

    Zen
    Zenmanshipon April 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentHere it is July 30th, 2011 and im making another post about "I am the cancer". i am totally hypnotized by this song. the I-tunes just hit 130 plays * that by about 4minutes means I've listen to it 520minutes or over 8 hours of the song
    Zenmanshipon July 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think this song is about people leaving and someone is dying of cancer...the i am he cancer part is like saying he wishes that the person didn't have cancer...the i havn't got a dime part is refering to the need for money to survive cancer but he doesn't have any
    pavement33on July 17, 2006   Link

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