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Theme Lyrics
Theme
Now I understand (ha, ha, ha)
Now I understand (ha, ha, ha)
Theme going on and on and on
It’s not the same anymore
No, never, never no
Wish
Wish
Wish I could die
Now walk alone
Now walk in drain
Does not compute
Not a cliche
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
Random
There is only one reaction
You must never underestimate
And I wish I
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
Now understand
Now I understand
It doesn’t matter no more
Another leap in the dark
I will survive
And I wish I could die
And I wish I could die
And I wish I
I wish I
I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
It’s only excuses
Never mistaking
Rhyme or reason
No, never no never
And I wish I could die
And I wish I
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
I wish I could die
Understand
Theme’s going on
On and on and on
I wish I could die
No, never no more
Does not compute
Walk alone out of the drain
It’s not cliche
Wish I
Wish
Wish I could die
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
And I wish I could die
On and on and on and on
Will survive
I wish I could die
I will survive
I wish I could die
Understanding doesn’t matter no more
Leap in the dark
I will survive
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
I just died
Terminal boredom
Now I understand (ha, ha, ha)
Theme going on and on and on
It’s not the same anymore
No, never, never no
Wish
Wish
Wish I could die
Now walk in drain
Does not compute
Not a cliche
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
There is only one reaction
You must never underestimate
And I wish I
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
It doesn’t matter no more
Another leap in the dark
I will survive
And I wish I could die
And I wish I could die
And I wish I
I wish I
I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
Never mistaking
Rhyme or reason
No, never no never
And I wish I could die
And I wish I
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
I wish I could die
Theme’s going on
On and on and on
I wish I could die
Does not compute
Walk alone out of the drain
It’s not cliche
Wish I
Wish
Wish I could die
And I wish I could die (ha, ha, ha)
And I wish I could die
Will survive
I wish I could die
I will survive
I wish I could die
Leap in the dark
I will survive
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
Wish I could die
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My honest assessment is that this song really is about dying of boredom. Through this song, Lydon was making a vicious commentary on his former fanbase, who he (probably rightfully) presumed would be bored into a stupor by a nine-minute song. You'll notice all the clever references as such therein...
I agree with the first comment, and this track being about boredom; more in particular i think John Lydon's boredom with the dogmatism being established in punk. I also imagine that a lot of it is probably improvised a la Damo Suzuki. I have read John was doing that in the studio a decent amount during the early PIL days.
This song's arrangement here seems to offer a reticent allowance for those left scattered in the aftermath of a movement's ending. His proffered olive branch is this very song. It suggests nothing less than a fusion of like-minded souls feathering against the forces searching to undo their initial opposition against hegemony and cultural irrelevance. This is their actual 'theme'.
[Edit: more]