Creep
STP Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Forward yesterday
Makes me wanna stay
What they said was real
Makes me wanna steal
Livin' under house
Guess I'm livin', I'm a mouse
All's I got is time
Got no meaning, just a rhyme

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be

Feelin' uninspired
Think I'll start a fire
Everybody run
Bobby's got a gun
Think you're kinda neat
Then she tells me I'm a creep
Friends don't mean a thing
Guess I'll leave it up to me

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to me
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be




Half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to STP's song Creep are quite introspective and may reflect the struggles of the writer with his identity and place in society. The lines "Forward yesterday, makes me wanna stay" suggest a sense of nostalgia and possibly an unwillingness to move forward in life. The following lines "What they said was real, makes me wanna steal" suggest that the writer may feel that he has been robbed of something in life, perhaps a sense of purpose or fulfillment.


The following lines "Livin' under house, guess I'm livin' I'm a mouse" suggest that the writer may feel trapped or constrained in his living situation, possibly feeling powerless or small. "All's I got is time, got no meaning, just a rhyme" suggests that the writer may feel that his life lacks significance or meaning.


The chorus, "Take time with a wounded hand 'cause it likes to heal, guess I like to steal" suggests that the writer may be struggling with some kind of personal trauma or pain, and that he may find solace in stealing or acting out in some way. The repeated phrase "I'm half the man I used to be" suggests that the writer may feel that he has lost a part of himself, or that he is no longer the person he once was.


The final verse suggests some degree of alienation or loneliness, with the lines "Feelin' uninspired, think I'll start a fire, everybody run, Bobby's got a gun" suggesting a sense of desperation or frustration. The following line "Think you're kinda neat, then she tells me I'm a creep" suggests that the writer may be struggling with his interpersonal relationships, feeling misunderstood or rejected by others. The final line "guess I'll leave it up to me" suggests that the writer may be resigned to his circumstances and uncertain about how to move forward.


Line by Line Meaning

Forward yesterday, makes me wanna stay
The singer is longing for the past, and wishes he could stay there indefinitely.


What they said was real, makes me wanna steal
The singer is angry that what he was told turned out to be true, and wants to take revenge in some way.


Livin' under house, guess I'm livin', I'm a mouse
The singer feels stuck and trapped in his current situation, like a mouse living in a house.


All's I got is time, got no meaning, just a rhyme
The artist feels like his life has no purpose, and is just going through the motions with no real direction or motivation.


Take time with a wounded hand, 'cause it likes to heal
The artist is telling himself to be patient with himself and his healing process.


Take time with a wounded hand, 'cause I like to steal
The singer is aware of his tendency to take shortcuts or do things that aren't entirely honest, and is warning himself to take things slow and do things the right way.


I'm half the man I used to be, this I feel as the dawn fades to gray
The singer feels like he is only half the person he used to be, and this realization hits him the hardest in the morning as the day starts.


Feelin' uninspired, think I'll start a fire
The artist is feeling unmotivated and unproductive, and thinks maybe starting a fire will help him feel more alive or creative.


Everybody run, Bobby's got a gun
The artist is creating a fictional scenario where someone named Bobby has a gun, and everyone is scared and fleeing the scene.


Think you're kinda neat, then she tells me I'm a creep
The artist thought he had a chance with someone he found attractive, but then she tells him off for being creepy or inappropriate.


Friends don't mean a thing, guess I'll leave it up to me
The singer doesn't find much value in his friendships, and feels like he can only rely on himself to get through his struggles.


I'm half the man I used to be, this I feel as the dawn fades to gray
The artist reiterates his feelings of being only half the person he used to be, and how this realization hits him hardest in the morning.


Take time with a wounded hand, 'cause it likes to heal
The singer is reminding himself to be patient with his own healing process.


Guess I like to steal
The singer is admitting to himself that he enjoys taking shortcuts or doing things that may not be entirely honest.


Half the man I used to be
The singer is lamenting that he is only half the person he used to be.




Contributed by Brayden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@805livin4

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@brendan5668

Forward yesterday
Makes me wanna stay
What they said was real
Makes me wanna steal
Livin' under house
Guess I'm livin', I'm a mouse
All's I got is time
Got no meanin', just a rhyme
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be
Feelin' uninspired
Think I'll start a fire
Everybody run
Bobby's got a gun
Think you're kinda neat
Then she tells me I'm a creep
Friends don't mean a thing
Guess I'll leave it up to me
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be
Yea
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn)
(It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be



@nusrathsiddique5915

Lyrics 🖤

Forward yesterday,
Makes me wanna stay
What they said was real,
Makes me wanna steal
Livin' under house,
Guess I'm livin', I'm a mouse
All's I got is time,
Got no meanin', just a rhyme
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand,
"Cause I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be,
Half the man I used to be
Feelin' uninspired,
Think I'll start a fire
Everybody run,
Bob has got a gun
Think you're kinda neat,
Then she tells me I'm a creep
Friends don't mean a thing,
Guess I'll leave it up to me
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand,
"Cause I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be,
Half the man I used to be
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand,
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand,
'Cause it likes to heal,
I like to steal
I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(This I feel as the dawn ... It fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be,
Half the man I used to be,
Half the man I used to be



@KaneDean313

Forward yesterday
Makes me wanna stay
What they said was real
Makes me wanna steal
Livin' under house
Guess I'm livin', I'm a mouse
All's I gots is time
Got no meaning, just a rhyme

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
Well, I'm half the man I used to be, half the man I used to be

Feelin' uninspired
Think I'll start a fire
Everybody run
Bobby's got a gun
Think you're kinda neat
Then she tells me I'm a creep
Friends don't mean a thing
Guess I'll leave it up to me

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be, half the man I used to be

Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal
Take time with a wounded hand
Guess I like to steal
Take time with a wounded hand
'Cause it likes to heal, I like to steal

I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be
This I feel as the dawn
It fades to gray
I'm half the man I used to be, half the man I used to be,
Half the man I used to be



All comments from YouTube:

@austinmurphy3690

Funny story: When this song came out in 93-94 I was 19 years old. The name of the song always eluded me on the radio (they never mentioned the artist or title) and when I sang it to people they had no idea what I song I was talking about. I was sure it was Nirvana so I listened to every Nirvana album trying to find it and never did. I gave up and eventually forgot about it. 10 years later around 2003 it came on the radio and that's when the DJ said "Stone Temple Pilots with Creep". I laughed in the car and then cried thinking about how 10 years earlier I was sitting in my parents house scrambling to find the song, and how time had seemingly passed so fast. Now I'm a grown man. Funny memories...

@arnyarny77

back in this era i was into cooper sabbath kiss metallica etc now its weird i have a nostalgia for 90s alternative

@michaelabrook6437

Half the man yu used to be

@kalilg2242

Cool story, thanks for sharing.

@johnsimpson4430

Austin, me too, But these boys are bad ass in their own right.

@joshy2joshy

You could say you're double the man you used to be :P

400 More Replies...

@olafelsberry420

I used to weigh 353 lbs, I now weigh 180 lbs, I can now sing “I’m half the man I used to be” with pride.

@pryofireworkguy852

Make this about you, fatty.

@destroyrebuild

That's awesome! I've got 70 pounds to lose myself.

@JulianClosethewriter

That's not easy. Good job.

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