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She can do anything at all
Have anything she pleases
The power to change what she thinks is wrong
What could she want with me yeah
Wait just one minute here
I can see that she's trying to read me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
She's going to change the world [Repeat: x3]
But she can't change me
No she can't change me
She has the daylight at her command
She gives the night its dreams yeah
She can uncover your darkest fears
Make you forget you feel them
Wait just one minute more
I can see that she's trying to free me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
Suddenly I can see everything that's wrong
With me yeah
What can I do I'm the only thing I really have
At all
Wait just one minute here
I can see that she's trying to need me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
Have anything she pleases
The power to change what she thinks is wrong
What could she want with me yeah
Wait just one minute here
I can see that she's trying to read me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
She's going to change the world [Repeat: x3]
But she can't change me
No she can't change me
She has the daylight at her command
She gives the night its dreams yeah
She can uncover your darkest fears
Make you forget you feel them
Wait just one minute more
I can see that she's trying to free me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
Suddenly I can see everything that's wrong
With me yeah
What can I do I'm the only thing I really have
At all
Wait just one minute here
I can see that she's trying to need me
Suddenly I know
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by mattsaunders
Track duration: 03:24
"Can't Change Me" as written by Chris Cornell
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Maybe he don't want to cause he got used to be what he became before she came
Yeah
what can I do
I'm the only thing I really have at all"
This is the most important part of the song to me, and it has alot to do with 'fusion anxiety', which is a fear one's self being lost in another. He holds onto his old self, even if he sees it as wrong, because he feels the only other option is to merge with this idealised other, in which case he would cease to exist.
When I read these words, I can almost imagine that it's my boyfriend talking instead of Chris. And from my point of view, the song is definitely referring to Chris wishing that this girl could change him, NOT about how he's "standing up for himself and not letting her".
My favorite line is "I can see that she's trying to need me". It seems that there are a lot of guys out there who want to need and be needed by a girl, but their old ways and habits are too deeply ingrained for them to just let go and let it happen.
"She can do anything at all; Have anything she please" & "She's going to change the world". He basically sees this girl as perfection. She can do anything.
"What could she want with me?" IMO this is most important for proving my point. It really shows his state of mind. What could this perfect girl want with me?
"I can see that she's trying to read me" & "I can see that she's trying to free me" This shows she is trying to figure him out and help him.
On to the meaning.
I can see two meanings. First going out with a girl who always gets her way, and tries to change the guy she's going out with. But he's strong, and won't give into her pressure. I'm less convinced by this interpretation.
The second, which i favour is that he meets an amazing fabulous girl who can do whatever she wants, and is perfect for him, but even she can't make him happy. He's still miserable, despite this girl's best efforts. He can see everything that's wrong with him, because she can too, and he sees these faults through her. But she can't help him. And that's a sad thing.
Good song.
Chris here is not being proud, or at all boastful. Rather, the song laments the fact that no matter how perfect, how flawless, how utterly charismatic this girl might be, she can't ultimately change his personality and his mood for the better. As another poster said, whenever Chris starts thinking: hey, this might just work out, in the end he comes to the sad realization he'll always be the same old flawed person he has ever been.
The rest of the album really reinforces this point as well...
guy feels "inferior"( for lack if a better word) or as if this girl is too good for him, yet she is showing interest and he can't believe it... He thinks it would be impossible for a girl like this to even give him the time of day.. why would she be looking at me- ( Pretty much like real life- the pretty, smart, and attractive one is always the most intimidating) . Anyway he feels that if there were any connection - he would probably have to be a different person-she could never really want a guy like him- could she? so he assumes she'll want him to change once she gets to know him. He is just thinking -he won't be changing for anyone- she , just wants to get to know him. This is why the song ends up saying she's trying to need me- she really just wants to know him and however he is -thats fine- I think he's just believing that he's not her "type/style/class" and he cannot see how she would even care to be around him. Yet in the end she still wants to at least try to know (need) him. Typical feelings of not being good enough for someone-without giving it a chance.His opinion of her from the beginning is that she is a girl of great things,beauty, power, determination, etc. and he is totally opposite of her. She may not want him to change at all- he just assumes that's the only way she could "love"/like (whatever), because they are so different.