Originally, they used the moniker 'The Nightlife Thugs'. The name "The Boomtown Rats" comes from a gang of down-and-outs from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, which the folk artist titled 'Bound for Glory'. The guys gained fame due to their often cynical tunes, having several notable singles, yet their record is overshadowed by the charity work on behalf of famine relief of their lead singer. Geldof, being nicknamed 'Bob The Gob' by the media for his big mouth, attained international fame after spearheading efforts such as 'Live Aid'.
The Boomtown Rats itself scored several Top Ten hits in the UK charts during their commercial peak, from 1978 to 79, and their most famous songs, still to this day, are "Rat Trap" (a U.K. #1) and "I Don't Like Mondays" (another U.K. #1), the latter being their biggest hit and achieving international notoriety. The track was written on a tour of the US in 1979 when Bob Geldof heard a telex machine spouting the story of Californian schoolgirl Brenda Ann Spencer, a girl that went on wild shooting spree at a San Diego high school with what seemed like no provocation before or remorse afterward. She justified her killing spree with the excuse "I don't like Mondays".
Bob Geldof has been gifted with the art of story-telling through songs. Lyrics are mostly in third person, have clever double entendre meanings, often relating some story or incident, eg "Dave". Geldof's charity work has been centred around the issue of famine relief, and includes being the organiser for the Band Aid single, for which he brought a superstar pop lineup together to record a song to aid famine relief (at the time was the fastest selling single in Britain of all time) and organizing the LiveAid concerts, a 2-continent superstar live concert that raised over 100 million dollars for famine relief.
Guitarist Gerry Cott left the band in 1981 and the band became a quintet. They disbanded in 1986 following a charity concert in Ireland. Most of the band members have now moved on to solo projects or new bands.
The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2013 going on tour again and released a new best of album Back to Boomtown : Classic Rats Hits which includes two new recorded songs.
Can't Stop
The Boomtown Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And face the facts
I'm high strung and I can't relax.
Tune me down cause I'm feeling sharp.
My blood's too weak and it strains my heart.
And hearts of gold can turn to grey.
And wills of iron can melt away.
Hey, this looks like the place,
Can't stop
Oh doctor please.
I bruise so easy and I cut so clean,
Cure me quickly bring me to my knees.
Knock me out, come on i wanna sleep.
Doctor please, cure me quick.
Doctor please, I feel so quick.
Doctor please, what's that pain
Doctor please, here it comes again.
Can't stop.
I can't slow down.
My nose is bleeding, hanging upside down.
My head is reeling, I don't hear a sound.
My mouth's dry, it turns me inside out.
___________________________________________
*written by Bob Geldof
*taken from the album "A Tonic For The Troops".
The song "Can't Stop" by The Boomtown Rats is a powerful depiction of the struggles that come with addiction. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is constantly in motion, unable to relax or slow down. The singer is consumed by their addiction, with their blood too weak to handle the strain of their lifestyle. The chorus of "Can't stop" represents the never-ending cycle of addiction and the feeling of being trapped in it.
The second verse highlights the physical toll that addiction takes on the body. The singer begs for a cure and relief from the pain that addiction causes. The repetition of "Doctor please" underscores the desperation and hopelessness that comes with trying to break free from addiction.
The final verse brings together the physical and emotional tolls of addiction, with the singer experiencing nosebleeds, dizziness, and a sense of detachment from the world around them. The final line, "My mouth's dry, it turns me inside out," perfectly captures the internal struggle of addiction and the feeling of being out of control.
Overall, "Can't Stop" is a powerful and honest portrayal of addiction that showcases Bob Geldof's songwriting talent and The Boomtown Rats' musical prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't stop
I am unable to pause, even if I want to.
And face the facts
I am avoiding reality and choosing to keep going despite problems.
I'm high strung and I can't relax.
I am nervous and tense and cannot calm down.
Tune me down cause I'm feeling sharp.
I need to be less intense and more calm to handle things.
My blood's too weak and it strains my heart.
My health is poor, and it's causing my heart to work too hard.
And hearts of gold can turn to grey.
Even the most kind-hearted people can lose their goodness over time.
And wills of iron can melt away.
Even the strongest-willed people can lose their determination.
Hey, this looks like the place,
I may have found somewhere I can succeed.
We can stop, pick up some fame.
Here, we may be able to gain popularity and success.
Oh doctor please.
I am in desperate need of medical help.
I bruise so easy and I cut so clean,
I am fragile and injured easily.
Cure me quickly bring me to my knees.
I want a fast solution to my problems.
Knock me out, come on i wanna sleep.
Put me to sleep so I can forget my troubles.
My nose is bleeding, hanging upside down.
I am physically disoriented and injured.
My head is reeling, I don't hear a sound.
I am dizzy and disoriented and cannot process things clearly.
My mouth's dry, it turns me inside out.
My mouth is dry and it makes me feel uncomfortable and unwell.
Doctor please, cure me quick.
I need fast and effective medical help.
Doctor please, I feel so quick.
I am incredibly anxious and need medical attention.
Doctor please, what's that pain
I am experiencing pain and need help to diagnose it.
Doctor please, here it comes again.
The pain is recurring and I need medical help to manage it.
I can't slow down.
I cannot take a break or slow down my pace of life.
My mouth's dry, it turns me inside out.
I am incredibly uncomfortable and unwell, both physically and emotionally.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.