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.
They call me a little wound up
See, I'm upset because I've always been stuck
But I don't know what it is I'm without
Guess I'm in love with always feeling down
(See, the problem was I) was fully consumed
By all of the petty things that I couldn't do
All of the plastic products, shows and woes
But I didn't ever show, I let it go
So I listen while I'm told
Sit back, don't think
Get high, take drink
Sit back, don't think
The more I listen, the deeper I sink
And, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, oh, it's so tired
And I say, oh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
Make me say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
I'm feelin' so cold, what they want, what they want from me
Make me say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (what they want, what they gonna be)
So find me stuck in the scene
I wanna get out, but there's no in-between
So I sit back as I watch the crowd go
Never assuming that I've sunken so low
(See, the problem was this) if I wanna be free
I gotta stop playin' round and runnin' from me
'Cause all of the plastic products, shows and woes
They got my head feelin' low, no room to grow
So I listen while I'm told
Sit back, don't think
Get high, take drink
Don't feel, just go
If you listen carefully, then you won't feel so low
Sit back, don't think
The more I listen, the deeper I sink
And, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, no, it's so tired
And I say, oh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
Make me say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
I'm feelin' so cold, what they want, what they want from me?
Make me say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (what they want, what they gonna be)
I'm sinking, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
Get no sleep, meet the vampire
And I say, ooh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, no, it's so tired
And I say, ooh, no, I go higher
See, I'm upset because I've always been stuck
But I don't know what it is I'm without
Guess I'm in love with always feeling down
(See, the problem was I) was fully consumed
By all of the petty things that I couldn't do
All of the plastic products, shows and woes
But I didn't ever show, I let it go
So I listen while I'm told
Sit back, don't think
Get high, take drink
Sit back, don't think
The more I listen, the deeper I sink
And, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, oh, it's so tired
And I say, oh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
Make me say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
I'm feelin' so cold, what they want, what they want from me
Make me say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (what they want, what they gonna be)
So find me stuck in the scene
I wanna get out, but there's no in-between
So I sit back as I watch the crowd go
Never assuming that I've sunken so low
(See, the problem was this) if I wanna be free
I gotta stop playin' round and runnin' from me
'Cause all of the plastic products, shows and woes
They got my head feelin' low, no room to grow
So I listen while I'm told
Sit back, don't think
Get high, take drink
Don't feel, just go
If you listen carefully, then you won't feel so low
Sit back, don't think
The more I listen, the deeper I sink
And, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, no, it's so tired
And I say, oh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
Make me say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be
I'm feelin' so cold, what they want, what they want from me?
Make me say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (what they want, what they gonna be)
I'm sinking, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
Get no sleep, meet the vampire
And I say, ooh, no, I go higher
And I say, ooh, I go higher
And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher
This head that I hold, no, it's so tired
And I say, ooh, no, I go higher
Lyrics submitted by priestparadox, edited by lizawat, Giffdev, tomiko2000, Aspenixre
This Head I Hold Lyrics as written by Brian Burton Asa Taccone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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I think the song's about someone who's being pressured by the media to fit into a perfect mold, and to please everyone - even when it comes to the "petty things". The media wants so much from this person; "what they want, what they want from me..." and encourages them to gain popularity by participating in shows and making merchandise, and all of those other commercial aspects of the entertainment industry "plastic, products, shows and woes" that have less to do with their original goal- I guess to make music. With all the pressure surrounding them, they let it all go with a drink and "sink deeper" into ...either a depression or extreme relief, I'm not sure. The singer talks about watching the unassuming crowd leave, suggesting that their fans, the people who see them from popular media, don't know about the exhaustion and depression of their idol.
I think line 29 ends with "no room to grow"
I think you're right!
I think this song is about using drugs forget about your full of problems daily life. Think about it
"And, ooh, I go higher And I say, ooh, a-ooh, I go higher This head that I hold, no, it's so tired And I say, oh, no, I go higher And I say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be, Make me say, ooh, what's it gon', what's it gonna be I'm feelin' so cold, what they want, what they want from me Make me say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (what they want, what they gonna be)"
Souds totally like being stoned.
This song is about someone who is "stuck in the scene" of partying. His life is fun - he goes higher - but there is a price to pay during the comedown. He feels tired and low. He feels that he is not growing as a person. He feels empty and that his life if full of plastic. But the people around him tell him not to listen to himself, to keep partying and that everything will be fine. Sit back, don't think about it, and get high. Get drunk. Keep the party going. All the while he sinks lower and lower into his empty lifestyle. But he doesn't know how to get out or what he would even do if it wasn't partying.
Great job on the lyrics priest paradox!