I can't afford to breathe in this town
Nowhere to sit without a gun in my hand
Look back up to the cathode ray
I'm better off dead
I'm better off dead
I'm better off

Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself

I want to breathe, I want to grow
I'd say I want it but I don't know how
I work, I bleed, I beg, I pray

And I'm better off dead
I'm better off dead
I'm better off

Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself

I'm better off dead
I'm better off dead
I'm better off

Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself (whoa)
Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself


Lyrics submitted by piesupreme, edited by Heroicphantom

Prove Yourself Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Prove Yourself song meanings
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    General Comment

    I agree with some of what l337MonkeyCrap said. It's about wanting to be yourself ( "I want to breathe") but being hated for it. You want relief so badly but it's so difficult ("I say I want it but I don't know how"/ "I look, I bleed, I beg, I pray"). And because someone is hating you for something so simple (being yourself is like breathing, right?), it seems impossible to be yourself ("I'm better off dead"). Yet regardless of it all, you want to prove to those trying to kill you that you are who you are and prove to yourself (and whoever else) that you can win them over. ("Prove yourself"/ I want to breath, i want to grow").

    I may be thinking too deeply, but when I listen to this song I imagine what Christ (as a person) might have been going through when he tried telling everyone who he was ("I can't afford to breathe in this town"). Anyone who knows the story should put themselves in his position and think hard on it. I know I can't be thinking too deeply because if you look on the back of the album case of "Pablo Honey" there's an image of Christ on it. Makes you wonder the meaning behind other Radiohead songs, eh?

    "Know yourself." - Christ

    RadioKoRnon May 04, 2006   Link

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