I could hear you coming, so I hid by the couch
You were talking so loudly, I don't know what about
But you were drunker than high school
Self-conscious and sweet
I never ever felt so cool disguised in your sheets

But I'm a constant headache, a tooth out of line
They try to make you regret it
You tell 'em, "No, not this time"
I'm just a constant headache, a dead pet device
You hang me up unfinished
With the better part of me no longer mine

And then you finally found me, pretending to sleep
You said such nice things about me, I felt guilty and cheap
You took two steps to the kitchen, just stared at the sink
I couldn't hold back a smile, I still wish I could have seen
You having sex in the morning, your love was foreign to me
It made me think maybe human's not such a bad thing to be
But I just laid there in protest, entirely fucked
It's such a stubborn reminder one perfect night's not enough

It's just a constant headache, a tooth out of line
They try to make you regret it
You tell 'em, "No, not this time."
It's just a constant headache, a dead pet device
You hang me up unfinished
With the better part of me no longer mine

Overall Meaning

Joyce Manor’s “Constant Headache” depicts a tumultuous relationship that is both masochistic and captivating. The song begins with the singer hiding by the couch, waiting for their partner to arrive home. The partner is drunk, possibly from a party or a night out with friends. Though the lyrics suggest that the singer is unsure about the conversation, the partner’s drunken state hints that the conversation was likely not of great consequence.

The singer admits that they have never felt so cool disguised in their partner’s sheets. This line is ambiguous, but it could suggest that the singer feels empowered by the relationship even though it is unstable. The chorus reveals that the singer understands that they cause constant strife, stating that they are a constant headache and a dead pet device. The singer’s self-awareness is intriguing, as they realize that they are the source of the conflict in the relationship.

The second verse narrates the partner’s discovery of the singer pretending to sleep. The partner says nice things about the singer, who feels guilty and cheap. Though it is unclear what the partner says, their actions suggest that they care for the singer within the confines of their dysfunctional relationship. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing their partner’s attempts to cope with the relationship’s toxicity.

Line by Line Meaning

I could hear you coming, so I hid by the couch
I knew you were coming, so I tried to avoid you

You were talking so loudly, I don't know what about
You were talking loudly, but I couldn't make out what you were saying

But you were drunker than high school
You were so drunk that you were actually worse than when we were in high school

Self-conscious and sweet
Despite being drunk, you were still self-conscious and kind

I never ever felt so cool disguised in your sheets
Despite feeling guilty, I felt cool and wanted while hidden in your bed

But I'm a constant headache, a tooth out of line
I am a constant problem that needs fixing

They try to make you regret it
Other people will try to make you feel bad for being with me

You tell 'em, 'No, not this time'
You stand up for me and refuse to be shamed for loving me

I'm just a constant headache, a dead pet device
I am just something that is no longer useful, like a dead pet

You hang me up unfinished
You leave me incomplete and unresolved

With the better part of me no longer mine
You have taken the best parts of me and I am no longer whole

And then you finally found me, pretending to sleep
You discovered me pretending to be asleep

You said such nice things about me, I felt guilty and cheap
You complimented me so much that I felt undeserving and ashamed

You took two steps to the kitchen, just stared at the sink
You walked to the kitchen and stood there staring at the sink, possibly lost in thought

I couldn't hold back a smile, I still wish I could have seen
I couldn't help but smile, and I wish I had been able to see what you were doing

You having sex in the morning, your love was foreign to me
Your behavior in the morning, including having sex, was unfamiliar to me and made me feel isolated

It made me think maybe human's not such a bad thing to be
It made me think that maybe being human and experiencing emotions is not as bad as I thought

But I just laid there in protest, entirely fucked
Despite my thoughts, I lay there feeling hopeless

It's such a stubborn reminder one perfect night's not enough
This experience serves as a reminder that one perfect night cannot make up for enduring problems

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Barry Johnson, Matt Eber, Kurt Walcher, Chase Knobbe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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