Rundgren is well known among his fans as being an electronic music revolutionary. His skilled production techniques, matched by his belief that he has ability to play just about any instrument at a mastery level, has allowed him to release some of the most honest and personal music of his time. Many of his solo albums, including Something/Anything?]' were made completely by himself. That is, he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, did all of the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.
Website: http://www.tr-i.com/
Core discography:
With Nazz:
1968 - Nazz
1969 - Nazz Nazz
1970 - Nazz III
Solo:
1970 - Runt
1971 - Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
1972 - Something/Anything?
1973 - A Wizard, a True Star
1974 - Todd
1975 - Initiation
1976 - Faithful
1978 - Hermit of Mink Hollow
1978 - Back to the Bars (live)
1981 - Healing
1983 - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
1985 - A Cappella
1989 - Nearly Human
1991 - 2nd Wind
1993 - No World Order
1995 - The Individualist
1997 - With a Twist
1998 - Up Against It
2000 - One Long Year
2003 - Can't Stop Running (live box set)
2004 - Liars
2008 - Arena
2011 - Todd Rundgren's Johnson
2011 - (re)Production
2013 - State
2015 - Global
2015 - Runddans (collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm)
2017 - White Knight
With Utopia:
1974 - Todd Rundgren's Utopia
1975 - Another Live
1976 (released 2001) - Disco Jets
1977 - Ra
1977 - Oops! Wrong Planet
1980 - Adventures in Utopia
1980 - Deface the Music
1982 - Swing to the Right
1982 - Utopia
1984 - Oblivion
1985 - P.O.V.
2003 - Last of the New Wave Riders (live box set)
I Can't Take It
Todd Rundgren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I missed my peace of mind
I feel your breath in my ear
But late at night it's you I always think about
That little girl inside of you I once knew
I should have known better
Still the smell of you was on my face
But you were too busy
Now I can't take it alone
I can't make it alone
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
Oh no, oo, oh no
Then I tell myself I'll put you down
Don't wanna see your face around
Don't call me up anymore
When I hear your voice it's in my ear
You're kissin' on the phone
It makes it all come clear
Now I can't take it alone
I can't make it alone
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
Oh no, oh, oh no
I try to tell myself, don't need you anymore
Don't want you hangin' around my door
Oh no
Now I can't take it alone
I can't make it alone
I can't take it alone
I can't make it alone
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
Wrong or right
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
You know how I tried
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
I try to tell myself, don't need you anymore
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
Oh baby, my pretty baby
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
The song starts off with the singer seeing someone and realizing how much he misses his peace of mind. This could mean that the person he sees causes him stress or anxiety, and he feels like he can't forget about this person. He can feel their breath in his ear, but it's the little girl inside of her that he once knew that keeps him thinking about her at night. It's almost as if he is stuck in the past with this person, unable to move on.
As the song progresses, the singer tells himself that he will put this person down and that he doesn't want to see her around anymore. But when he hears her voice, it's like he can't resist her. She kisses him on the phone, and everything becomes clear again. He can't make it without her, and he can't take being alone. Even if he tries to convince himself that he doesn't need her, he knows deep down that he does.
This song deals with the struggle of trying to let go of someone but finding it difficult to do so. The singer feels like he can't take being alone and that he needs this person in his life, despite any pain or stress they may cause him. It's a very relatable song for anyone who has been in a situation where they find it hard to move on from someone they used to know.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I saw you today and realized
Upon seeing you today, I came to the realization that
How I missed my peace of mind
I have been feeling the lack of tranquility since the last time we were together
I feel your breath in my ear
The sensation of your breath around my ear reminds me of your presence
But late at night it's you I always think about
During those lonely nights, I only think about you
That little girl inside of you I once knew
I miss the naive and vulnerable girl that I used to know
I should have known better
I regret not realizing what I was getting myself into
Still the smell of you was on my face
Even though you are no longer with me, your scent lingers on my face
But you were too busy
You didn't have time for me
To notice me last night
You did not give me the attention I craved for last night
Then I tell myself I'll put you down
I try to convince myself that I am better off without you
Don't wanna see your face around
I do not wish to set my eyes on you again
Don't call me up anymore
Do not bother calling me anymore
When I hear your voice it's in my ear
Your voice still rings in my ears, even when I am not talking to you
You're kissin' on the phone
You attempt to show affection by kissing me over the phone
It makes it all come clear
It becomes clear to me that I still have feelings for you
I try to tell myself, don't need you anymore
I frequently tell myself that I do not require your presence in my life anymore
Don't want you hangin' around my door
I would appreciate it if you stopped coming to my door
Wrong or right
Regardless of the consequences, positive or negative
You know how I tried
You know that I did try, but I can't help how I feel
Oh baby, my pretty baby
Oh darling, you are so beautiful to me
I can't take it, I can't make it alone
I cannot survive on my own without you
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.