Personal tools
The TMBG Knowledge Base

Interpretations:I Should Be Allowed To Think

From This Might Be A Wiki

I may be going on a limb here, but it could be possible that this song is about Kurt Cobain, who died earlier in the year before this album was released, so it's not impossible that it couldn't be... i just get the idea from describing "paper stains on the utility poles" as associated with the kind of band Nirvana was, and "I should be allowed to shoot my mouth off" could be to do with how he killed himself because he shot himself in the head.--Ralph 12:02, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

This song is poking fun at teenage rebellion and thinking you're more intelligent than anyone else or someone in a similar mindset.

It shows a person complaining that he cant put up his band's poster up in some public viewing place (possibly a grey utility pole).

He then proceeds to over-dramatize his situation and claims that he is some sort of silenced genius that must be heard.

-Michael Edward Willenzik III

The first line is from the Allen Ginsberg poem "Howl." http://alt.venus.co.uk/weed/writings/poems/agh.htm

-- Eric Vogl

"My guess is that well over 80 percent of the human race goes through life without having a single original thought." - H.L. Mencken

This is either a powerful song in support of freedom of speech or a denunciation of how stupid idea abuse the freedom. It could really go either way, but considering how John came down on tort reform, it's probably the latter.

Or maybe it's a complaint of how only stupid people get to speak ("the worst bands [were on] drywall ... [but] I should have a call-in show") and everyone else parrots their ideas ("I am not allowed / to ever come up with a single original thought ... I should be allowed to think").

In New York City around the time this song was written, there was a city ordinance planned that would have made it illegal to glue up posters; part of the Giuliani years' crusade against quality-of-life violations.

Yeah, the 1st impression I had after listening to this was that it was a song expressing frustration with the man. I can relate : )

I'm almost certain this is both a support of freedom of speech/expression/etc. and an expression of annoyance at those who abuse it. It's saying that this guy wishes he could make his statements to the world, because he knows they are important and/or interesting, and he's annoyed at all of the idiots figuratively shouting so loud that he can't be heard.

I think the song's about some delusional, paranoid, and slightly mad nut ("I was the worst hope of my generation; destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical") who think's somebody's keeping him down not allowing him to think ("I am not allowed / To meet the criminal government agent who oppresses me"). The fact that's it's just one agent makes me think that the narrator is just really neurotic and possibly afraid to express himself or even think to himself in front of this shady character, who may or may not be a figment of the guy's imagination. Of course, the narrator obviously has the ability to think, seeing as he makes these words, so it's these fearful thoughts that keep him from thinking that he can think. ~ magbatz 17:26, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

I think this song is a reference to the book 1984, in which people aren't allowed to think or they are taken by the Thought Police. I think this song is 1984 through the eyes of the main character Winston who goes against the government for love.

Squeak

The funny thing about the first line is that Linnell sings/speaks it in such a placid, matter-of-fact manner. Ginsberg's 'Howl' was generally emoted to death in coffee shops across the country by breast-beating, bearded, beaded beatniks who presented it as a revelation! Linnell prefers to talk about grief and death with the tone one would use to biggie-size a combo meal at a drive-through window. It seems like a reproach to whiny emo acts. --Nehushtan 21:52, 9 Apr 2006 (CDT)

the interesting part of this song to me is how sure the narrator is that he is the one who should be allowed to speak. he is too busy trying to make his point to consider if his point is valid

I'm pretty sure that this song is about uniformity, and the narrator is saying that he should be able to stand out in the crowd. Good point. =) Great jorb Linnell. ^~ --Lemita 08:57, 5 Jul 2006 (MDT)

It's against censorship, although largely exxagerated. And it's not ABOUT the band guy, it's using that as an example. ~AgentChronon

Think about some of the ways that speach is represented in this song: "I should be allowed to shoot my mouth off", "I should be allowed to blurt the mearest idea, if by random whim one should occur to me." This song is an ironic parody of teenage "rebels" who naively believe they are being persecuted, when in fact they are simply being annoying. After all, if the narrotor isn't allowed to think, how does he manage to write a song?

The song is a rebellious song, duh. I think TMBG originally decided to make it non-exxagerated, but they got out of hand ;) ~AgentChronon

I'm not sure... but I think this song is about how someone should be allowed to think.

-Mike

The song seems to be from the point of view of a stereotypical teenage group or person, struggling with their local laws and school rule enforcement. Example: (I saw the best minds of my generation, destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical...) a whining about how "the man" is pushing down our protagonist, and many before him. (...I should be allowed to glue my poster...) Possibly a reference to a specific guideline enforced in the character's school, restraining them from posting things such as fliers on school grounds. (...and I should be allowed to blurt the merest idea, if by random whim one occurs to me...) Basically a different wording for the title of the song, the last bit could be a jab at naive teenagers who, claiming that they have no free speech, didn't have any good ideas in the first place. (...if necessary leave paper stains on the gray utility pole...) Could have something to do with the "I should be allowed to glue my poster" thing. (...I saw the worst bands of my generation, applied by magic marker to dry wall...) I'm not sure about this one, as far as I can tell, it doesn't fit with the main idea. (...I should be allowed to shoot my mouth off, I should have a call in show...) Could mean "I should be allowed to commit suicide if I want to (possibly another jab)" and the other part representing (again) the main theme of the song. (...I am not allowed to ever come up with a single original thought...) If you can't get this one, and admit it, GTFO my internets (...I am not allowed to meet the criminal government agent who oppresses me...) "I am not allowed to talk to the supervisor about changing these rules/laws". (...I was the worst hope of my generation, destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical...) Past-tense, perhaps our protagonist is in college now, realizing that he did nothing to help the situation, or didn't do enough. (...I should be allowed to share my feelings, I should be allowed to feel...) Obvious. (...I am not allowed to think, I am not allowed to think, etc. ...) is probably still in college, STILL whining about "not being allowed to think".

I hope I helped -Denxel

Retrieved from "http://tmbw.net/wiki/Interpretations:I_Should_Be_Allowed_To_Think"