The song "Novocaine" by The Unlikely Candidates explores the theme of a person's inability to change their flawed behavior and tendencies. The lyrics depict a narrator who admits to their faults and recognizes their repeated patterns of harmful actions. The opening lines, "I keep it coming so I feel no pain, I tell my girl that I'mma change my ways, She knows I'm never gonna change," suggest that the narrator uses certain coping mechanisms or distractions to avoid facing the emotional pain caused by their behavior. They acknowledge their partner's hope for change but also admit that they are unlikely to ever truly change. The recurring line, "I am what I am, I know what I know," reinforces the narrator's self-awareness and acceptance of their flaws. They recognize that they have a tendency to disappoint those who become too close to them. The reference to their "left side brain" possibly implies that their rational or logical side struggles to overcome their impulsive or instinctual behavior. The chorus emphasizes the narrator's resistance to change, as they state, "I can't change, Guess you can blame it on my left side brain, I should know better but you know, I know, I know, I ain't ever gonna change." They acknowledge that they should know better, but they still feel powerless to alter their habits. The mention of spending all their money as soon as they get paid highlights their impulsive nature and lack of self-control. They demonstrate a sense of feeling trapped within their own behavior with the line, "The party's over soon as I arrive, Must've done something in a former life, And I don't really wanna change, change." Despite the acknowledgment of their flaws, the narrator seems to accept themselves for who they are, even if it means continuously disappointing those around them. The overall message of the song revolves around the narrator's self-awareness of their faults and inability to change, which ultimately shapes their relationships and experiences in life.
