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 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.
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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
With big intention, still posted at your station
Always on about the day it should have flown.
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.
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.
"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...
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'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
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.