The song is often described as a reminiscent to The Smiths.
Still Can't
The Cranberries Lyrics
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Know what you said to me was real
And you still can't find the strength to apologize, gize, gize, lies
You just go on laughin' and tellin' everyone lies
'Cause you wanted it all
You wanted it all, you wanted it all
No, and there's nothin' at all
Maybe if you could see beyond your nose, your nose, your nose
Who knows
Let you know what had happened surely showed
But you can [Incomprehensible] that your attitude, I do, I do
And you went on laughin' and shoutin' it all too soon
'Cause you wanted it all
You wanted it all, you wanted it all
No, and there's nothin' at all
There's nothin' at all, there's nothin' at all, no
Still can't recognize the way I feel, I feel, I feel
Have to know if what you said to me was real
And you still can't find the strength to apologize, gize, gize, gize lies
You just go on laughin' and tellin' everyone lies
'Cause you wanted it all
You wanted it all, you wanted it all
No, and there's nothin' at all
There's nothin' at all, there's nothin' at all, oh
Wanted it all, wanted it all
You wanted it all
Wanted it all, wanted it all
You wanted it all
The song "Still Can't" is a powerful expression of a narrator's frustration and disappointment with someone who has wronged them. The lyrics reflect the singer's struggle to come to terms with the fact that the person they cared about, who they believed in, is not who they thought they were. The opening lines, "Still can't recognize the way I feel, I feel, I feel/Know what you said to me was real," suggest that the singer is still grappling with the emotional aftermath of the betrayal they've experienced. They are trying to sort through their feelings, but are still struggling to make sense of them.
As the song progresses, the lyrics express the singer's frustration with the other person's inability to take responsibility for their actions. "And you still can't find the strength to apologize, gize, gize, lies/You just go on laughin' and tellin' everyone lies," shows that the other person is not willing to admit that they were wrong, or even to acknowledge the harm that they have caused. Instead, they continue to lie and make excuses, which only compounds the pain that the singer is feeling.
Ultimately, the song seems to be about the singer's need to move on from this difficult situation. The repeated refrain, "You wanted it all/No, and there's nothin' at all," suggests that the other person's greed and selfishness has left them with nothing. Despite the pain that the singer has suffered, they are starting to recognize that they are better off without this person in their life. In this way, the song is ultimately a message of hope and resilience, encouraging listeners to hold on to their own self-worth and to move forward from painful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Still can't recognize the way I feel, I feel, I feel
I still can't understand my feelings towards you.
Know what you said to me was real
I know that what you said to me was true and hurtful.
And you still can't find the strength to apologize, gize, gize, lies
You still can't bring yourself to say sorry for the hurt that you've caused me and continue to lie about it.
You just go on laughin' and tellin' everyone lies
You continue to laugh and deceive others about the true nature of our relationship.
'Cause you wanted it all
You wanted it all, you wanted it all
No, and there's nothin' at all
There's nothin' at all, there's nothin' at all, no
You were too selfish and wanted everything without considering the impact of your actions, but in the end, you ended up with nothing.
Maybe if you could see beyond your nose, your nose, your nose
Who knows
Perhaps if you were more self-aware and looked beyond your own desires, you may have realized the pain you were causing me.
Let you know what had happened surely showed
But you can [Incomprehensible] that your attitude, I do, I do
And you went on laughin' and shoutin' it all too soon
I tried to make you understand how much you hurt me, but you refused to acknowledge your mistakes and continued to laugh and shout as if nothing ever happened.
Still can't recognize the way I feel, I feel, I feel
Have to know if what you said to me was real
And you still can't find the strength to apologize, gize, gize, gize lies
You just go on laughin' and tellin' everyone lies
I am still struggling to come to terms with my emotions towards you and I need to confirm if you were really being honest with me. Despite this, you still can't bring yourself to apologize and continue to deceive others.
'Cause you wanted it all
You wanted it all, you wanted it all
No, and there's nothin' at all
There's nothin' at all, there's nothin' at all, oh
Wanted it all, wanted it all
You wanted it all
Wanted it all, wanted it all
You wanted it all
You were so adamant about getting everything you wanted, but now you are left with nothing and it's all because of your selfishness and lies.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOLORES MARY O'RIORDAN, NOEL HOGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind