So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
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.
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“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.