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My Head Sounds Like That Lyrics

the metal jangles as the key turns
unlock the door, wipe my feet clean
oh my head sounds like that

the oil is spitting in the saucepan
i squeeze the sponge and let the cat out
oh my head sounds like that
oh my head
oh oh oh
oh oh oh

the water’s dripping in the hallway
the guy next door, he knocks his wall down
oh my head sounds like that

the knife it scrapes across the burnt brown toast
the freight train rumbles past my window
oh my head sounds like that
oh my head
oh oh oh
oh oh oh
oh oh oh

around the axis we all spin
to determine what's left out and what's left in
what's left out and what's left in
what's left out and what's left in
who's left out and who's left in
who's left in

the moments come and go like water
i try to hold them but they’re fading
oh my head sounds like that
oh my head
oh oh oh
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Cover art for My Head Sounds Like That lyrics by Peter Gabriel

Judging from the mood of the song and the last verse, I think the song is about getting old, and how things, judging from his voice throughout the song, are getting routine in (his) life.

Cover art for My Head Sounds Like That lyrics by Peter Gabriel

You guys both have it wrong. The song is actually about having a migraine, and every little sound or annoyance is amplified to an unbearable level. This song is a lament for his pounding headache.

Cover art for My Head Sounds Like That lyrics by Peter Gabriel

my take on it is that it's just about how time just seemingly flows by without being able to truly grasp the joy of life and having to deal with the everyday routine and going about it the best way we can. the last segment of this song is just mind bogglin'ly powerfull Gabriel is a musical genius!

Cover art for My Head Sounds Like That lyrics by Peter Gabriel

My interpretation is that this is about Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS). Look it up on Wikipedia or do some research and it'll show that it's essentially something that takes familiar sounds that you hear all the time (the very first lyric; "The metal jangles as the key turns") and enhances them, whilst putting you in a state of paralysis, locking you to your bed before you sleep. The reason it's called Exploding Head syndrome is because it's so loud and feels so internal of a sound (like the sound is not from your ears, but legitamately in your head!)

Also, the chorus only happens once in the song with random clashing and very inorganic clashing. Not much rhythm but Gabriel's lyrics. I have this syndrome, and man, it's terrifying. This song, if I am correct, is alluding to this condition.

@Signal2Noise To add to my theory, the last legitimate lyrics (The moments come and go like water, I try to hold them but they're fading) also may allude to how the sound you heard fades in your memory after an attack takes place. For example, at the end of the day of an attack, let's say you had the attack at 3 AM, you don't remember exactly what you heard or just exactly the sensation. It just... happens and fades in memory. I'm sure there's some psychological reason for that, but due to little research being done, it's up to...