Garbage

[versed wagon]

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts about the "I didn't do it" at the beginning of garbage 👀

[vague pulsar]

oh wow I actually hadn't noticed that?? really interesting

[versed wagon]

I thought it was him talking to himself or to one of the girls visiting his studio saying what are you doing? At first but lyrics show otherwise 🤔

[fossil wharf]

I thought he said "What (are) you doin'?"

[proper walrus]

omg i didn't notice it until now

[versed wagon]

I thought so too at first till I saw Spotify lyrics, I don't have the CDs so I don't know what's written on the booklets

[proud axle]

How have I never noticed this regardless of having this album on repeat all day since it launched. 😮

[vague pulsar]

I have >100 plays on garbage but never loud enough to hear that 😭

[glossy shoal]

I thought it was Jenna saying it but now on a new listen I can't tell. But maybe Tyler? Does the lyric booklet say who says it?

[versed wagon]

It's not written in the booklet sadly

But it's definitely Tyler's voice

[vague pulsar]

I agree

[fair current]

I didn’t notice until now!! Definitely sounds like Tyler to me

[glossy shoal]

After multiple listens, I agree

I still don't know how those words connect to the song though.

[pastel dune]

A message to himself

[vivid dawn]

Could it be….. a bridge between “I want to change” from Drum Show to “I didn’t actually change” from Garbage? At the end of Garbage, he says “don’t give up on me (even though I feel like garbage and haven’t changed yet)”

It’s feeling kinda Clancy-cycle-loopy to me….

Orrrr someone said they think he’s saying “We can do it”

[cyan orchid]

when I first heard it I thought it was 'I couldnt do it"

[glossy shoal]

Ooh, that's a cool thought - that they lead into each other...

[vivid dawn]

Right?! They loveeeee transitions like Josh’s voicemail from One Way to Days Lie Dormant in this very album (I’m leaving out others from other albums). But wouldn’t it make sense?! It makes me sad thinking that the lyrics are “I didn’t do it”. I’m always trying to spin it positive lol like maybe it was “We can do it” (like Tyler and Clique can do it together) but that just doesn’t fit Garbage’s vibe lol the ending kinda turns up though with “Don’t give up on me”.

Other “I didn’t do it” thoughts I had were “not wanting to take blame”, but it doesn’t fit

[versed wagon]

Yeah this is why I thought it was him talking to someone next to him saying "what are you doing?" Esp that in this album he's now doing a lot of samples? I imagined one of the girls was sitting next to him on the piano when he was trying to get something done or sth cause he says it in a soft spoken inquisitive way which I imagine is a tone he'd use if he's amused by one of them doing sth cutsie or sth

Idk maybe I'm just imagining stuff lol

[vivid dawn]

Nono I totally thought something similar, I even tried to find lil videos on the internet of Tyler saying “what’re you doing” when I read that comment because it would’ve made sense lol. I can see it

[versed wagon]

For some reason I also don't think it's natural that he'd say "I didn't do it" in that way/rhythm unless you elongate the o sound which, to me, doesn't seem to be the way Tyler speaks 🤔

[glossy shoal]

Just read in BDR thread - 'i can do this'

[versed wagon]

Another interpretation I read too, but can't quite understand it if it is that or hear it tbh 😅

[glossy shoal]

Yeah, I just tried to listen with headphones and they wouldn't connect so I'll have to wait until I'm home.

'I can do this' would fit with what he said on the I heart radio interview - where he felt sick as he was trying to figure this song out.

[vivid dawn]

Have y’all watched this video where they come up with random phrases that make you think he’s saying them?

[versed wagon]

No

[vivid dawn]

I just hear “T” at the end of that last word he says, not an S for “this”

[glossy shoal]

Another question about Garbage - what do you think he means by "do you know what name it's under?"

[cyan orchid]

maybe like a reservation for a resturant?

[pastel dune]

Which part of himself? Like how blurry face and Clancy are aspects of himself.

[glossy shoal]

That's what i was thinking, but those names don't seem to correspond to childlike wonder.

[soft hawk]

LEVEL UP: You are now level 6!

[versed wagon]

previous version of clancy being naive? thinking he can make it each time but he's still not ready or there yet maybe?

[fossil flame]

am i the only one to hear something that ends in "with me"? ("with" being the "it" at the end of "i didnt do it", i hear a sound in "m-" right after that)

[glossy shoal]

So he was wide eyed with wonder but now, he doesn't know what happened and which Clancy that was?

[glossy shoal]

I don't know anymore. I thought it was Jenna, then Tyler, then my kids were listening to it and made me think it was Jenna again. Hoping we get some clue in a future interview?

[versed wagon]

it's possible, I did think "bright eyed with wonder do you know what name it's under" is just genuinely about being young and naive and being easily impressed with things because that line comes after "I can't decide if I could feel more or I just knew less" so it just feels to me that Tyler is saying the more you grow up the more you learn and just being so easily amused by something earlier is all about being naive and just being inquisitive about things even if they'll hurt - and now he knows better

[pastel dune]

Well Ned is also a part of him. “We’ve made it this far, kid.” References an unnamed inner child. I feel there are other unnamed cross sections of his personality as well.