The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Distant flickering, its greener scenery,
This weathers bringing it all back again.
Great adventures, faces and condensation,
I'm going outside and take it all in.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
We're a different pair, just something out of step,
Throw a stranger an unexpected smile.
With big intention, still posted at your station
Always on about the day it should have flown.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
I'm walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
I've been walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
You know you're better than this
Come back and start, got your heart in a headlock,
No I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
This weathers bringing it all back again.
Great adventures, faces and condensation,
I'm going outside and take it all in.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
We're a different pair, just something out of step,
Throw a stranger an unexpected smile.
With big intention, still posted at your station
Always on about the day it should have flown.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
I'm walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
I've been walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
You know you're better than this
Come back and start, got your heart in a headlock,
No I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Lyrics submitted by badlydrawnroy, edited by Lunyre, aholady7114
Headlock Lyrics as written by Imogen Jennifer Heap
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Finally I created an SN.
This song has absolutely nothing to do with relationships, NOTHING! Not as it is. You're free to take it how ever you please though.
This song is more general than that though. Someone here said since the song contains the word "Heart" its automatically about love. NO! This song deals with heart in the sense of "Passion".
Imogen is saying to someone she cares for, or she could be talking to herself, there is much more out there than what they've settled for "Distant flickerings, greener scenery". She's sees the person has given up on trying to fulfill their dream, whatever it may be, "With big intention, still posted at your station, Always on about the day it should have flied". Finally she says I'm calling your bluff, I know you still got it in you "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock, I don't believe any of it. You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock, You know your better than this".
Heart in a Headlock - Something is compromising your passion.
Thanks.
I always thought this song was about someone logically afraid to love, but this theory actually makes complete sense of the song!<br /> <br /> Although I would actually phrase it differently: this song is about someone afraid to follow their dreams (the true desires of their heart) because their head says their dreams are unrealistic and impossible to achieve.<br /> <br /> Another line to support this theory:<br /> "Go walking, you've been hiding,<br /> And you look half dead half the time."<br /> <br /> Someone's who's given up on their dreams will certain look half dead a lot of the time!
Also, when she says "I don't believe any of it", she's referring to the reasons the subject's head provides about why his/her dreams can't happen - they're the same reasons that the subject provides to Imogen when she tries to encourage the subject to pursue his/her dreams.
this is one of my favourite songs on her new album. her voice is so amazing... as always.
I have a friend who is in a bad relationship, and one day I was listening to this song, and it made me think of her. She think's she's in love (heart in a headlock) but I know that she should know better (you know you're better than this) I'd say it's about being concerned about someone that is possibly making some bad decisions, and the singer is trying to look out for them, and snap them out of it.
I’ve been walking, you’ve been hiding,<br /> And you look half dead half the time.<br /> Monitoring you, like machines do,<br /> You’ve still got it, I’m just keeping an eye.<br /> <br /> I’ve been walking through life freely and openly after making the hard decision to break up with the Fiancée that I knew wasn’t a perfect match for me. I chose not to settle while you witnessed the complexity and disappointment associated with our break-up. You also witnessed the recovery period; where I soul-searched and found myself and peace in love and the decision I made. Despite this, you’re hiding behind the comfort and rhythm of your 3 year-long relationship instead of doing what you know is right: ending it. You hide behind the everyday routine to avoid breaking hearts and serving disappointment, but at the cost of your happiness. I’ve been watching you and noticed how you’re different when he’s around. You seem restricted and unsure of yourself. I see you sleeping too much and refusing to wake-up because in your dreams you are free and you don’t want to return to the life you feel trapped inside. I’ve seen what you’re capable of and I’m here to reassure you that you’ve still got the freedom of choice. <br /> <br /> You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,<br /> I don’t believe any of it.<br /> You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,<br /> You know you’re better than this.<br /> <br /> You keep telling yourself it’s too late to start another relationship (with me) because another man has your heart in a headlock. Maybe not by you being uncontrollably in love with him but by the commitment you’ve made for over 3 years and the pressures and expectations placed upon the two of you to last by everyone involved. You know if you aren’t 100% happy and sure of your relationship that you shouldn’t settle, but your heart is in a headlock; without the freedom to choose without disappointing people or breaking hearts. I can’t believe you’re the kind of girl to settle.<br /> <br /> With big intention, still posted at your station<br /> Always on about the day it should have flown.<br /> <br /> I have always been here by your side; waiting for you. Waiting for the day that you’ll do what you know is right in your heart. He has you’re heart in a headlock and you’ve got mine. I will continue to be here; secretly waiting for you to find the strength in yourself as I see it so. As frustrating as it may be, here I’ll wait for you. <br />
If I ever make a film, this is going in the intro... that's just how it feels, like the song that sets the scene for a story.
Distant flickering, its greener scenery, This weathers bringing it all back again. Great adventures, faces and condensation, I'm going outside and take it all in.
We?re a different pair, just something out of step, Throw a stranger an unexpected smile. With big intention, still posted at your station Always on about the day it should have flown
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock, I don't believe any of it. You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock, You know your better than this.
Get over it bcuz you know you can think of better and happier things. I don't believe any of it means I'm not thinking the same way you are (the person giving advice).
I've been walking, you've been hidding, And you look half dead half the time. Monitoring you, like machines do, You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
right on ).
i think this song is about someone beleaving in someone who doesnt beleave in themselves. She see's that the person still has it in them, even though they dont.
i think you've got a few words wrong...
"wear a different pair, do something out of step throw a stranger an unexpected smile with big intention, still posted at your station"
and then:
"you've been working (she's british, it sounds like "walking" to us), you've been hiding,"
But I could be wrong...
I love her attitude in this song.
It fits for me really well, cause I like this guy and he can't make up his mind whether he likes me or not. Him not making up his mind would be like "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock" and I don't believe him at all xD
I agree with you on her attitude. I love it. It's an empowering song to people who are in love with someone who can't make up their minds.
I agree with people who say that a reference to the heart doesn't have to refer to love but I think in this instance it does as a heart in headlock implies a heart that cannot love because it is so constrained.
I'm with a lot of the previous comments about the desire for a relationship but I didn't think it was an ex but a long term friend who the narrator now wants to be more (and that they might want more too if they'd only open their heart). I think this because of the shared history implied in the first verse and the "big intention" in the 3rd verse that was never realised due to circumstances. Maybe they were both in different relationships that prevented them getting together before. Now the person feels too hurt to try and love again which is why it is "too late to start". The other reason I think they're close friends is because of the line "I don't believe any of it" given in response to the other person saying they're too emotionally hurt to try and love again. That's something you could only say to someone you think you know better than they know themselves.
Just my 2 cents worth
Actually, this is more than just believing in someone. It's a specific kind of relationship between the narrator and the person they're talking to. It's about love, otherwise there would be ne no references to "hearts".
The key line here is "With big intention, still posted at your station Always on about the day it should have flown."
Which shows that the narrator is the one who wants something from the person, and the person can't give it to them ("too late to start") because they are pre-occupied with something else ("heart in a headlock").
Specifically, the narrator wants a relationship with the person, but the person cannot get into it because their heart is too mangled [from past relationships?], but the narrator still has the patience to wait for them, however frustrating it may be.