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Headlock Lyrics

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 you're 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 you're 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 you're 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 you're 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 you're better than this.
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49 Meanings

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Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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!

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.

Another line to support this theory: "Go walking, you've been hiding, And you look half dead half the time."

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.

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

this is one of my favourite songs on her new album. her voice is so amazing... as always.

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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, 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 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...

Not Valid
Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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.

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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.

  • Time is passing and your not acknowledging it. The spring is coming... metaphor for your life should come back with it. Get over your problems.

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

  • There is nothing between the couple. There is nothing there, It's all in the head, bcuz when you smile it feels like the other person doesn't understand your smile. Posted at your station means that you are lingering and thinking about what should have happened between the two ppl.

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.

  • You say you cant start to forget something that you've felt for so long she's got you in a "headlock".
    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

  • Person giving advice has been there done that and over their problems. Now its the listeners turn to open his mind and stop feeling down for his own good. He needs to stop feeling and looking dead. The adviser can read the person "Monitoring you" , and can tell he is hurt but wants the best for the listener. "You've still got it" I believe in you.

right on ).

Not Valid
Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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.

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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...

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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.

Not Valid
Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

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

Cover art for Headlock lyrics by Imogen Heap

i dont know if its in this thread but this song is definately about lost passion and feeling desire to spark it back but somethings stopping you.

"distant flickerings, greener scenery. this weathers bringing it all back again" this can symbolize that deep in the back of ones mind the idea of their passion is still flickering in their mind but since change with greener scenery its became distant. "great adventures, faces in condensation. im going outside to take it all in" this line shows what could be. one can look at condensation and instantly be reminded of something like persay.. a passion that they cant seem to shake.

"you say too late to start got your heart in a headlock. i dont believe any of it. you say too late to start got your heart in a headlock. you know youre better then this." this obviously shows that imogen is saying they aknowlage they think its "too late to start" because whats really in a headlock is ones mind. saying they cant make the decision even though adventure awaits. "We're a different pair, just something out of step, Throw a stranger an unexpected smile" these lines have thrown me in a spiral because i havent figured what they mean but to take a shot in the dark i would say that maybe one is comparing themselfs to another person whos taking on their own passion and now they themselfs are trying to mimic that to achive the mindset of taking on their passion. "With big intention, still posted at your station Always on about the day it should have flown." this obviously shows the meaning of the song lost passion saying that they do have big intentions for themself but are still stuck at their station wandering on about the day it shouldve happened.

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 this verse can show theyve been thinking about taking on the big role of persuing their passion and imogen is "monitoring them" to see either how they are doing/ following along or helping them along the tracks. further connecting this with "youve still got it im just keeping an eye."

Mixed
Subjective
Introspective
Lost Passion
Desire
Introspection
Self-reflection