1) The Pirates are a pub-rock band from England. They played in 60's as a backing band to Johnny Kidd (the most notable song of Johnny Kidd and The Pirates is "Shakin' All Over"), and reformed in 76.
Lineup included Frank Farley, Johnny Spence and Mick Green. Mick Green, guitarist of Pirates famous for his unique "choppy-style" guitar playing (lead and rhythm at the same time) which influenced such great musicians as Wilko Johnson of Dr.Feelgood and Pete Townshend of The Who.
2) The Pirates are a 3 piece rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They draw influence from The Pixies, Queens Of The Stoneage, Beastie Boys, The Strokes, Shooting At Unarmed Men, and Mclusky. The Pirates comprise of Mundo (vocals/drums), Kade (guitar/vocals), Mick (bass). For more information visit:
www.thepiratesrock.com
3) The Pirates were a short-lived British oi band formed in Nottingham, UK. They released one EP titled Taking Action. Vocalist Zara Kane went on to become a solo artist in the industrial metal genre.
4) A group of fictional pirates singing the Spongebob Squarepants theme song during the Sponge Bob Square Pants Movie
5) A name briefly adopted by The Temptations on the single "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" / "I'll Love You Till I Die", released September 29 1962. Motown owner Berry Gordy told the group that should it be successful, they would become the Pirates fulltime, which included appearing in pirate costumes. To the Temptations' relief, the record sunk without a trace.
I Can Tell
The Pirates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
Someone get this knee off of me
Help me
Help me
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
Help me
I can’t breathe
HELP
The lyrics to The Pirates' song, "I can tell" express a feeling of suffocation, desperation and helplessness. The repeated refrain "I can't breathe" is a reference to the last words of Eric Garner who died in 2014 after being put in a chokehold by a police officer. The song clearly alludes to the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in America. The line "Someone get this knee off of me" is a direct reference to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer who knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes.
The repetition of the phrase "Help me" highlights the desperation and the need for a helping hand during moments of distress, pain and oppression. The song appeals to the humanity of the listener to take action and lend a hand to others in need. The lyrics also expose the systemic racism and police brutality faced by black people in America.
Overall, "I can tell" is a powerful and emotive song that highlights the pain and struggles of the black community in America. It is a call to action for the listeners to stand up against injustice and to fight for equality and human dignity for all.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't breathe
I am struggling to inhale air
Someone get this knee off of me
Someone is exerting pressure on my neck with their knee
Help me
I require assistance
I can't breathe
I am still struggling to inhale air
Help me
I still require assistance
Help me
I am in need of help
I can't breathe
My ability to inhale air is still restricted
I can't breathe
I am running out of oxygen
Help me
I am unable to breathe without help
HELP
I am in a life-threatening situation and need immediate assistance
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Daniel Costanza
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Surrey
A phenomenal band!! Should have been up there with the greatest. Mick Green was unbelievably fantastic!!
shadoogie61
THE BEST Rock & Roll band EVER!!!! Mick Green The Master of the Telecaster!!! Great stuff
Alan Taylor
Unbelievably good!!!! R.I.P. Mick
Geoffrey Stout
you can tell what a huge influence Mick Green was on Wilco Johnson's guitar playing.
gary heidrich
Spence is an excellent rock and roll singer
PeterVonRock
Well I can tell, yes I can tell... The Pirates were a fantastic live band!!!
Nicwizz
I saw them several times and they were the most powerful band live I've ever seen with more energy than all the young punk bands of the time too.
GT Fix
This is real rock and roll! Bravo, the Pirates!
Steve Everitt
I love this song - all versions. Orig. by Bo Diddley, Feelgoods, Billy Childish etc. Godbless you Mick - RIP.
avvocato
Bo Diddley appropriated this song from Chuck Willis' ballad (and rocked it up).