its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Please forget the words that I just blurted out
It wasn't me, it was a strange and creeping doubt
It keeps rattling my cage
There's nothing in this world will keep it down
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
So many things that keep, keep me underground
So many words that I, that I can never find
If you give up on me now
I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
If you give up on me now
I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
It wasn't me, it was a strange and creeping doubt
It keeps rattling my cage
There's nothing in this world will keep it down
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
So many things that keep, keep me underground
So many words that I, that I can never find
If you give up on me now
I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
If you give up on me now
I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Even though I might, even though I try
I can't
Lyrics submitted by piesupreme
I Can't Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
it sounds like it's an answer to prove yourself - the title at least - like, it goes 'prove yourself', and then there's an answer with 'i can't' that's how i see it anyway, it seems to fit, especially when thom sings 'Please forget the words that I just blurted out It wasn't me, it was a strange and creepy doubt - he could be referring to the previous song here.
I really like that idea of interpreting this as a kind-of sequel to "Prove Yourself", and after I read that I realised that "Lurgee" (next on the album) could also be like the third part of the story. <br /> <br /> "Prove Yourself" is a guy getting jealous and clingy in a way that pushes his girlfriend away. <br /> "I Can't" is him after he's calmed down trying to apologize and to convince her not to leave him because he feels like he really needs her. <br /> Then "Lurgee" skips ahead a bit to after she's left (despite him begging her not to in "I Can't"). He's now trying to pretend (to himself and others) that's he's over her and better without her, despite the implied fact that he's actually not at all. (Instead, he's "gutted like [he'd] never been before", as he predicted in "I Can't".)<br /> <br /> I really doubt that the song were actually written with that intention in mind (especially because I actually think that "Prove Yourself" is more about low self-esteem due to general failings or failings in an artistic endeavor, rather than a relationship going wrong), but I like interpreting them that way.<br /> Also, I think that it's possible that the band did have it in mind when they chose the order of tracks on the album, at least, even if they weren't written to go together.
First off: the OFFICIAL lyrics are as follows:
Please forget the words that I just blurted out It wasn't me, it was my strange and creeping doubt
It keeps rattling my cage And there's nothing in this world will keep it down
Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't
So many things that keep, that keep me underground So many words that I, that I can never find
If you give up on me now I'll be gutted like I've never been before
And even though I might, even thought I try, I can't Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't
If you give up on me now I'll be gutted like I've never been before
And even though I might, even thought I try, I can't Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't Even though I might, even thought I try, I can't
This song is about a guy who just blamed (or insinuated that) his woman for something that she didn't do. So he asks her to forget he said that, because he couldn't help himself since many such doubts about her integrity are in his head, bothering him.
Lines 3-4 and the chorus are him saying that there is no way for him to ignore these doubts. The next verse says that there are lots of doubts that keep him from enjoying and trusting her; and that he can never find the words to say what he truly means.
And obviously, he loves this woman more than any he has ever known before - so if she leaves him now, he'll be devastated like never before.
Yeah, that was my first thought when I heard the song too.
This is a simple song about feeling useless and stuck, like you can't do anything to change who or where you are. Its about lacking self-confidence.
I agree. The first line to me, suggests he is being needy and might have unjustly accussed his girlfriend of something. If a poet wants to become famous they should just become rockstars!
The intro to this song has to be the best in the world. It sounds just amazing, a simple riff on the guitar which blows you away. WARNING: Will get stuck in your head for hours. Oh, and by the way Geeballs14, there is actually a bass guitar playing whilst it starts to end.
I absolutely love the way this song almost dies out about two-thirds through. Every time I listen to it I have the bass and feedback combination, as it builds back up, stuck in my head for days. Radiohead really put their triple-guitar attack to good work on these earlier songs.
Self doubt..... all men have a little George Costanza in them. And that's what makes us human.
I take this song as being about someone who struggles with expressing himself, especially a girl he is smitten by. He can't say the things he wants to, although he does try.
“I Can’t” is the tenth song on Radiohead’s debut album, Pablo Honey. The song has a theme of low self-esteem which is also followed up on the next song in the album, “Lurgee”. Both songs feature a theme of doubt. While “Lurgee” doesn’t as strongly depict doubt, it has stronger themes of self-depreciation than “I Can’t,” making it a good sequel to the song.
No comments on this song? I think it's fairly simple: I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I wish I could fix it. It's out of my hands / It's too late to fix.