� The Thief 5:22

 
Originally released: This track was only played live

Cover version by: Can

 
Why must I be the thief?
Why must I be the thief?
Oh Lord please won�t you tell me
Why must I be the thief?

Why must I be the thief?
He asked of the hanging man
And how come you�re the only one
That�s black around, that always stares

Why must I be the thief?
He asked to the hanging man
And how come you�re the only one
Who gives me open arms?
Why must I be the thief
He cursed and then he cried
And the hanging man held out his hand
And looked beyond his scars

The thief was drawn to the cross
To share that other�s fate
But the Jesus man says 'Not now'
'My brother not now, it�s far too late'
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late
(Far too late)
Far too late

Do what you must
Take what you can
Steal the heart from every man
Every angry man
Every angry man
Every angry man

I am the thief
I am the thief
And you can run
Yes you can run
But I will get you yet
Yes I will
Because of you, because it�s just your pride
It's justified

I will get you yet
Cause it�s justified
I will get you yet
It�s justified

 

This is a Can cover. Radiohead were planning on playing it at Amnesty International on December 10, 1998 but decided not to at the last minute. They finally played it this year in Denmark on September 8, 2000 and it has since been in and out of their setlists throughout the 2000 and 2001 tours.

The Thief was released in 1982 on the album Delay, which consisted of a number of previously unreleased Can songs from 1968 to '69.

Containing a very, how to describe it ... I dunno, for lack of a better word, the guitar ryhthm is cool. Thom spazzes out a bit with the vocals, but the track is great. Very intense.