I Can Change

LCD Soundsystem

Tell me a line
Make it easy for me
Open your arms
Dance with me until I feel all right

It's good in the dark
Good in the dark
But into the lover's light
Here comes another fight

So ring the alarm
Ring the alarm
Bar me and hold me and cling to my arm

Here it comes
Here it comes

And what you're asking me now
Disastrous now
Hoping and hoping and hoping the feeling goes away (away)

Never change, never change, never change, never change
Never change, never change, never change
This is why I fell in love

Never change, never change, never change, never change
Never change, never change, never change
That's just who I fell in love with (in love)

Oh this is the time
The very best time
So give me a line
And take me home
Take me over

But dashing the hopes
Dashing the hopes
And smashing the pride
The morning's got you on the ropes, oh

And love is a murderer
Love is a murderer
But if she calls you tonight
Everything is all right
Yeah, we know

And love is a curse
Shoved in a hearse
Love is an open book to a verse
Of your bad poetry
And this is coming from me

But I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you fall in love (in love)

I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you fall in love (in love)

Turn on the light
Make it easy for me
Fill the divide
Fumble in the kitchen 'til it's right
What an awful sight

But there's love in your eyes
Love in your eyes
Love in your eyes
But maybe that's just what your lover finds all night

And I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you fall in love (in love)

And I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you fall in love (in love)

And I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you feel real love (real love)

And I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change, I can change
If it helps you fall in love (in love)


Lyrics submitted by _hideandseek, edited by Phaxn

I Can Change Lyrics as written by James Jeremiah Murphy Patrick Mahoney

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I Can Change song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    General Comment

    I prefer to think the change from 'Never change' to 'I can change' as one person, who is so in love that he wouldnt change a thing, then when he realises she doesnt feel quite the same, he is willing to.

    I like to think of it that way, its more tragic, like he's desperate to cling on, and willing to sacrifice his principles. Or something

    mbagelyon December 11, 2010   Link
  • +2
    Lyric Correction

    It's not: "Never change, never change, never change, never change Never change, never change, never change That's just too up there in love with"

    That doesn't even make sense.

    It's: "Never change, never change, never change, never change Never change, never change, never change That's just WHO I FELL in love with"

    kevman575on April 14, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Love is an open book To a verse of your bad poetry And this is coming from me

    I'm just now realizing the humor in the last part of the line. At first blush, it seems to fit into the song as part of the back and forth between the 2 parties (never change/I can change. But, taking into account James Murphy's unfortunate reputation as a terrible lyricist, the line becomes both a poke at (or nod to) critics, and extra "punctuation" for the idea that love is sh*t, which it is.

    switcherooon July 21, 2010   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is about a relationship that is about to end or where the subject of the song is cheating on the author, and the author doesn't understand, doesn't want it to be true - He loves the other person, and doesn't want her (using him/her for the purposes of this comment) to leave and doesn't want things to change between them.

    There's a "divide", he suspects she's cheating ("maybe that's what your lover finds all night"), she's lying to him ("tell me a line"), he's looking for that spark that they used to have together but doesn't think her happiness is for him ("there's love in your eyes"), they're having problems ("fumble in the kitchen", "here comes another fight").

    At the beginning of the song, she's keeping him in the "dark" about the situation (lying), and he likes it there because he doesn't want her to leave. He's in denial, doesn't want it to be true. He hopes he's just imaging things "hoping and hoping that the feeling goes away" and that she's not really cheating on him (it's just a feeling after all... isn't it?). If she "calls" him tonight, everything is ok. Otherwise, it's probably over. "Yeah, we know".

    He's fighting, struggling between two difficult places - losing, the end is near - morning has him "on the ropes" = "Etymology: from the idea of a weakened prize fighter who leans against the ropes that surround the boxing ring" (source: idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+ropes)

    By the end of the song he's changed his tune a little bit - He wants her to "turn on the light" - the light is either the truth or her love for him. He is searching for that love, but is pretty sure it's not for him, so he pleads (another stage of loss/mourning) and offers to change. If it gets her to love him, if it makes her stay, he offers to change. But it's probably too late, and he probably can't or shouldn't change anyway.

    Sad song, beautiful song, great song.

    GuitarHero9000on January 31, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    Best song on the new album.

    bocmaximaon December 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    This song is also an obvious (and great) homage to the Eurythmics song "Love Is A Stranger"

    harrisjon April 04, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction

    "But maybe that's just what your lover finds all night"

    I always heard: "But maybe that's just your love of fights. All night." - Implying that when they fight they do it all night. Yeah.

    BoyNamedTimon March 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    Actually it's:

    So ring the alarm Ring the alarm Bar me and hold me and cling to my arm

    Yrssson April 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    "shoved in a hearse"

    gabomaon April 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I hear "But there's love in your eyes Love in your eyes Love in your eyes But maybe that's just in love of fights All night"

    Shyvanon April 24, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.