7) I Crush Everything- Jonathan Coulton 9-12-07

Recorded at the Paul Gleason Theater 9-12-07

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I've been dreaming of
And I'd like to swim beside you
Getting dizzy in your wake
Getting close enough to touch you
Getting brave enough to take you into my arms
And bring you down to be with me

But I can't do that thing anymore
I can't be the thing I was before
Maybe I am better off alone
Because I crush everything
And I crush everything
And I crush everything

My body's strong, but my will is weak
I got pretty nice arms, but I hate my beak
And the dolphins are all phonies
They seem nice enough at first
They pretend to be your friends
Until they see you at your worst and then they leave you
Without a word they swim away

So I can't do that thing anymore
I can't be the thing I was before
Maybe I am better off alone
Because I crush everything
And I crush everything
And I crush everything

And everything I want I take
And everything I love I break
And every night I lie awake

Did the stars come out? Did the world spin round?
Does it matter that much when you're ten miles down?
And in the light that filters down
Into my giant yellow eye
I can see the sails unfolding
Stretching white against the sky and I forgive them
I forgive and I let go

Cause I can't do that thing anymore
I can't be the thing I was before
Maybe I am better off alone
Because I crush everything
And I crush everything
And I crush everything

And I crush everything
And I crush everything
And I crush everything

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

Category:

Music

Tags:

• crush
• everything
• Jonathan
• Coulton
• awsome
• self
• loathing
• giant
• squid

[HotaTeh]

Somewhere at UCLA, a marine biologist just shed a knowing tear...

[mattmguitar]

I love this song. On the surface it seems silly, but that last verse always gives me the chills. Who hasn't felt like that sometime or other? Jonathan Coulton is a genius.

[markthewhalekiller]

Only JoCo gets us to empathize with giant cephalopods.

[Kdramaduck]

I love this song. So sad, yet so funny at the same time. But I agree amessinger. Everyone has felt that loneliness. I personally can't say that I've felt it from a giant squid's perspective, but hey. ^_^

[Snabelkaparen]

I didn't get the squid part until after like four listenings, and that was the time when I really started loving this song.

".. I hate my beak"

[amessinger]

It's the bridge that always gets me. I think everyone has had those low points in their life when if feels like everything has gone wrong, that it's their fault, and they break everything they love.

[elrapido5150]

Also, he's a giant squid.

[hedlundman]

Genius.

[Yeorin]

It's not even close to a song about violence.

He's saying that he wishes he could have the ships because he likes them and thinks they're pretty, and he wants them to keep him company. But he knows if he does that, they'll be crushed. So as much as he desperately wants them, he's saying, "Cant do that thing anymore; can't be the thing I was before; Maybe I am better off alone" etc.

Hence he is lonely and hates him self.

:(

[splurgh18]

did you actually hear any part of the song besides "And I crush everything"?