With 2 million albums sold (1 million of which were sold in Switzerland, which only has 7 million habitants), they managed to get multi-platinum awards in different parts of the world.
Influences include Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Aerosmith. Singer Steve Lee is especially fond of Whitesnake and has based his singing style on their lead singer David Coverdale.
Gotthard also performed "Immigrant Song" (originally by Led Zeppelin) live and it featured exclusively on a CD by Classic Rock (a long running monthly UK rock magazine). "Hush" was also performed live and can be found on Made In Switzerland album.
Another cover of a song they have recorded is "The Mighty Quinn", originally called Quinn The Eskimo, by Bob Dylan.
Singer Steve Lee was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 5th 2010. A truck struck him while he was stopped on the side of a desert road in Nevada (USA), putting on rain gear.
Current line-up:
Nic Maeder: Vocals
Leo Leoni: Lead Guitar
Freddy Scherer: Rhythm Guitar
Marc Lynn: Bass
Hena Habegger: Drums
I Can
Gotthard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got me when I’m down but I don’t mind
Only when I’m gone only on a moan
Got me on the ground, no I don’t mind at all
Make another run on the bone
Make the river run, no I won’t know
Only when I’m turned, only when I burn
I won’t mind at all
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow and I don’t mind
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow but
I’ll be standing up this time
Break another piece, even lie
Break the better piece no I won’t cry
Only on a line, only on a spine
Break it with a squeeze no I don’t mind this time
I won’t mind this time
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow and I don’t mind
I can, I can, I can
Catch anything you throw and I’ll be fine
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow no I don’t mind
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow but I’ll be standing up
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow and I don’t mind
I can, I can, I can
Catch anything you throw and I’ll be fine
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow and I don’t mind
I can, I can, I can
Take another blow but I’ll be standing up this time
Up this time
I’ll be standing up this time
The lyrics of Gotthard's "I Can" express the idea of refusing to give up, no matter how many times you get knocked down. The song talks about being tested, pushed to the extreme, and broken to pieces, but the singer won't crack under the pressure. The chorus emphasizes the resilience of the singer, stating that they can take another blow, catch anything thrown at them, and stand back up after each fall.
The verse "Got me when I’m giving all my time, Got me when I’m down but I don’t mind," refers to the idea of resilience despite feeling low on energy and motivation. The following verse, "Make another run on the bone, Make the river run, no I won’t know, Only when I’m turned, only when I burn," is a metaphor for the singer being pushed to the edge of their abilities, and still managing to keep going. The line "Break it with a squeeze no I don’t mind this time," alludes to the idea of being able to handle pain and discomfort for the sake of pushing oneself to the limit.
Overall, the song is an anthem of perseverance, a declaration of strength and tenacity. It encourages listeners to keep pushing through the hardships and challenges of life, no matter how difficult they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Got me when I’m giving all my time
I am vulnerable when I am fully invested in something
Got me when I’m down but I don’t mind
Even when I am struggling, I accept being pulled down
Only when I’m gone only on a moan
I only complain when I am not present to face my problems
Got me on the ground, no I don’t mind at all
I don't mind being beaten down and helpless
Make another run on the bone
Push me to my limits
Make the river run, no I won’t know
I am indifferent to the challenges thrown my way
Only when I’m turned, only when I burn
I only feel alive when I am pushed to extremes
Make it game and fun, no I won’t mind at all
I enjoy a challenge and will not be intimidated or discouraged
I can, I can, I can
I am capable, strong and resilient
Take another blow and I don’t mind
I am not afraid to face adversity
Catch anything you throw and I’ll be fine
I can handle any obstacle thrown at me
Break another piece, even lie
Break me down and hurt me even with lies
Break the better piece no I won’t cry
I remain steadfast and refuse to break down
Only on a line, only on a spine
I am only truly pushed to my limits when tested mentally and physically
Break it with a squeeze no I don’t mind this time
Even when subjected to intense pressure, I will not falter
Up this time
I’ll be standing up this time
I may fall down, but I will always get back up stronger
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.