There are several bands that have recorded as The Smoke.

1. The UK g… Read Full Bio ↴There are several bands that have recorded as The Smoke.

1. The UK group The Smoke consisted of Mick Rowley on vocals, Mal Luker on guitar, Zeke Lund on bass and Geoff Gill on drums. They released a handful of singles from 1967 - 1970, with their biggest hit 'My Friend Jack' reaching no. 2 in Germany and no. 45 in the UK. See The Smoke (UK).

2. The Smoke was a one-off baroque-psyche studio project headed by Los Angeles producer/musician Michael Lloyd (vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, horn and string arrangements). The other two members were Stan Ayeroff (guitars) and Steve Baim (drums). Their sole album was The Smoke (1968). http://thealwaysbluesociety.blogspot.jp/2008/03/smoke-us-1968.html

3. The singles 'Sweet Spanish' and 'Defeat Retreat' are by the Australian band The Smoke, taken from the 2009 album 'Blood Orange'. See: The Smoke (Oz)

4. The Smoke is a Finnish Depressive Black Meta/Noise-band.

I Would If I Could but I Can't
The Smoke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Folks think I'm lazy
Man their just crazy
As I look around me
The rooms getting hazy

It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town
It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town

Yeah, too much, heh heh heh heh heh

It's not 'cause I shouldn't
It's not 'cause I wouldn't
And everybody knows
That It's not 'cause I couldn't

It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town
It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town

What's that, yeah, ha ha, ok

See I would, if I could
But I can't make it
Under a spell
And I just can't break it

You might get the question
I don't know the answer
All I wanna say is
Not all my fault sir

It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town, hey put me down
Just that I'm, the laziest cat in town

Yeah, oh again, ah ha
Yeah.

Overall Meaning

The Smoke's song "I Would If I Could but I Can't" is a self-aware tune about laziness. The lyrics begin with the singer dismissing suggestions that they are lazy, indicating that people's perceptions are inaccurate. The second verse has the singer seemingly contradicting themselves by saying they could do things, but they wouldn't, and everyone knows that they could. However, in the chorus, the singer admits they are "the laziest cat in town" and that they just can't seem to shake the spell they are under. The final verse has the singer saying they don't have the answers, and while they know they are not blameless, being lazy is just part of who they are.

The song's narrator is expressing their frustration with being lazy and not being able to get anything done. They know they should be doing something, but they just can't seem to find the motivation. They also seem to be aware of how others perceive them, but they are unwilling or unable to change. The song captures the feeling of being stuck, apathetic, and unmotivated. It is a relatable feeling that many people experience at some point in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Folks think I'm lazy
People perceive me as an indolent person

Man their just crazy
However, this idea is baseless

As I look around me
As I observe my surroundings

The rooms getting hazy
The room is becoming unclear or distorted

It's just that I'm, the laziest cat in town
The reason for my inactivity is that I am exceptionally indolent

It's not 'cause I shouldn't
I am not inactive because I should not be

It's not 'cause I wouldn't
Nor is it because I am unwilling

And everybody knows
Everyone is cognizant

That It's not 'cause I couldn't
That I am not inactive due to my inability to proceed

See I would, if I could
If it were feasible, I would certainly take action

But I can't make it
The obstacle is insurmountable