Radiohead is an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985.… Read Full Bio ↴Radiohead is an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals); and Philip Selway (drums, percussion). They have worked with the producer Nigel Godrich and the cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

Radiohead signed to EMI in 1991 and released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993; their debut single, "Creep", became a worldwide hit. Radiohead's popularity and critical standing rose with the release of The Bends in 1995. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), brought them international fame; noted for its complex production and themes of modern alienation, it is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the best albums in popular music.

Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock. Though Kid A divided listeners, it later attracted wide acclaim. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Hail to the Thief (2003), with lyrics addressing the War on Terror, was Radiohead's final album for EMI.

Radiohead self-released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), as a download for which customers could set their own price, to critical and chart success. Their eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), an exploration of rhythm, was developed using extensive looping and sampling. A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) prominently featured Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements. Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Selway, and O'Brien have released solo albums; in 2021, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood debuted a new band, the Smile.

By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act. Seven Radiohead singles have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart: "Creep" (1992), "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (1996), "Paranoid Android" (1997), "Karma Police" (1997), "No Surprises" (1998), "Pyramid Song" (2001), and "There There" (2003). "Creep" and "Nude" (2008) reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and Rolling Stone readers voted them the second-best artist of the 2000s. Five Radiohead albums have been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists. Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead

Studio albums
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

I Can
Radiohead Lyrics

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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

Overall Meaning

In "I Can," Radiohead's Thom Yorke is addressing a theme that many people can relate to: the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape one's own doubts and fears. The song's opening lines are especially poignant: "Please forget the words that I just blurted out / It wasn't me, it was a strange and creeping doubt." Here, Yorke is essentially disowning his own words, suggesting that his doubts have taken control of him and caused him to say or do things that he wouldn't otherwise.

Yorke goes on to express the frustration of being unable to shake these doubts, which he describes as "rattling my cage". The repetition of the phrase "even though I might, even though I try, I can't" serves to emphasize the feeling of being powerless in the face of this inner turmoil. The line "So many things that keep me underground" provides a metaphor for the weight of these doubts, which feel like a heavy burden that keeps Yorke from reaching his full potential.

The song's final verse brings in an element of external pressure, as Yorke laments that "If you give up on me now, I'll be gutted like I've never been before." Here, he seems to be addressing a specific person or group of people who may have lost faith in him. The sense of desperation in this line is palpable, as Yorke realizes that the doubts and fears that he's been struggling with are now threatening to not just hold him back, but to completely destroy him.

Overall, "I Can" is a powerful exploration of the human experience of self-doubt and anxiety. It's a song that acknowledges the difficulty of breaking free from these feelings, but also provides a sense of hope in the possibility that someone - maybe even the listener - might not give up on the singer after all.

Line by Line Meaning

Please forget the words that I just blurted out
I regret what I just said and I hope you can overlook it

It wasn't me, it was a strange and creeping doubt
I am feeling unsure and conflicted, causing my behavior to be unusual

It keeps rattling my cage
My inner turmoil is causing me to feel trapped and restless

There's nothing in this world will keep it down
My internal struggles cannot be easily resolved or suppressed

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
Despite my efforts, I am unable to overcome my struggles or change my situation

So many things that keep, keep me underground
There are many obstacles and issues holding me back from reaching my full potential

So many words that I, that I can never find
I am struggling to express myself effectively and communicate my thoughts and feelings

If you give up on me now, I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Your support and belief in me is crucial, and without it, I will feel devastatingly defeated

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
Once again, despite my best efforts, I am unable to change my situation or overcome my struggles

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
I am still unable to make progress or find a solution to my problems

If you give up on me now, I'll be gutted like I've never been before
Your support and faith in me is more important than ever, and losing it will have disastrous consequences

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
Yet again, my efforts to improve my situation have been unsuccessful

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
Despite all attempts, I remain stuck in my struggles and unable to move forward

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
My persistence has proved fruitless and I am stuck in the same place

Even though I might, even though I try I can't
I cannot find a way out of my situation, no matter how hard I try

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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