Can't Exist
The Flaming Lips Lyrics


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What I can't see, I surely can't believe
What I can't see, you know I can't believe
It's only natural that I can't believe
What I can't see

I've seen the birds fly
Watched the crashing tide
Talked a million miles away

Run through open fields
Heard the words of those who kneel
Still I wondered how to steal your love
But I never could believe in me

What've I gotta do to make you see me?
Should I lay down and cry




Maybe I should just die
Cause I really can't exist if you don't see me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Flaming Lips's song "Can't Exist" explore the idea of faith, belief, and existence. The song is essentially about the difficulty of believing in something that cannot be seen. The chorus repeats the phrase "What I can't see, I surely can't believe," emphasizing this theme throughout the song. The lyrics suggest that human beings struggle to have faith in something that cannot be physically or visually perceived. This struggle leads to feelings of doubt and uncertainty, leaving the singer of the song feeling like he cannot exist if he is not seen or believed in by others.


In the first verse, the singer describes a sense of incredulity that comes from not being able to see something. He emphasizes that it is only natural for him to doubt something he cannot see, suggesting that human beings are conditioned to require concrete proof to believe in something. The second verse describes the singer's attempts to understand and connect with the world around him, yet he still finds himself unable to have faith in himself or in his abilities. He wonders what he needs to do to be seen and believed in by others, suggesting a desire for validation and recognition.


Line by Line Meaning

What I can't see, I surely can't believe
It's difficult to believe in something that is not visible.


What I can't see, you know I can't believe
It's a common human instinct that it's hard to trust or have faith in something that you haven't seen.


It's only natural that I can't believe
It's natural to feel skeptical about things that lack concrete evidence or are not visible.


What I can't see
The singer reiterates his stance that he can't believe in things he can't see.


I've seen the birds fly
The singer has witnessed the flight of the birds.


Watched the crashing tide
The singer has observed the violent motion of ocean waves.


Talked a million miles away
The singer has interacted with people who are located far away from him.


Run through open fields
The singer has run through large, open fields.


Heard the words of those who kneel
The singer has listened to the words of people who worship or pray while kneeling.


Still I wondered how to steal your love
Despite his experiences, the singer is unsure about how to win the love of the person he wants.


But I never could believe in me
The singer lacks confidence in his own abilities or worthiness.


What've I gotta do to make you see me?
The singer is questioning what he has to do make the person he desires notice him.


Should I lay down and cry
The singer is considering whether crying or pleading would help him gain the attention of his love interest.


Maybe I should just die
The singer is so desperate for love that he's willing to consider extreme measures.


Cause I really can't exist if you don't see me
The singer's life feels incomplete and meaningless without the attention of his love interest.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL IVINS, RICHARD ENGLISH, WAYNE COYNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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