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Cut Your Hair
Pavement Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Stop it)

(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)

Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
And that's a pretty nice haircut
Charts are like a puzzle
Hitmen wearin' muzzles
Hesitate, you die
Look around, around
The second drummer drowned
His telephone is found

(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)

Music scene is crazy
Bands start up each and every day
I saw another one just the other day
A special new band
I don't remember lying
I don't remember a line
I don't remember a word

But I don't care
I care
I really don't care
Did you see the drummer's hair?

(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)

"Advertising looks and chops a must
No big hair!"
Songs mean a lot
When songs are bought
And so are you
Face right down to the practice room
Attention and fame's a career
Career, career, career, career, career

(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)

Overall Meaning

The song “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement appears to be about the record industry and the commercialisation of music. The lyric “Advertising looks and chops a must, no big hair” is a reference to the industry’s pressure to look good and conform to certain styles in order to be marketable. The song argues that these superficial elements have little to do with the true essence of music, such as the quality of songwriting or technical ability. This is evidenced in the lines “Songs mean a lot, when songs are bought, and so are you”, which imply that money can buy success and that sometimes the best music goes unnoticed.


The song’s repeated line “Darling don’t you go and cut your hair, do you think it’s gonna make him change?” could be interpreted as a warning against conforming to the crowd and changing oneself for external validation. The lyric “I’m just a boy with a new haircut, and that’s a pretty nice haircut” could be seen as satirical, as it implies that it’s easy to manipulate the public’s perception by simply changing one’s appearance in line with trends.


Overall, the song suggests that the music industry is fickle and that tastes change frequently. The line “Music scene is crazy, bands start up each and every day, I saw another one just the other day, a special new band” reinforces this idea.



Line by Line Meaning

Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
Don't change yourself for someone else


Do you think it's gonna make him change?
Changing your appearance won't make someone like you more


"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
People can reinvent themselves, but it doesn't necessarily change who they are at their core


And that's a pretty nice haircut
Acknowledging that the new look is aesthetically pleasing


Charts are like a puzzle
Success in the music industry is complex and hard to predict


Hitmen wearin' muzzles
People in power use their influence to control and manipulate others


Hesitate, you die
Inaction or indecision can have dire consequences


Look around, around
Be aware of your surroundings and situation


The second drummer drowned
People in the music industry can easily get lost or overwhelmed


His telephone is found
Even in death, technology follows us


Music scene is crazy
The music industry is chaotic and unpredictable


Bands start up each and every day
New trends and performers emerge all the time


I saw another one just the other day
The singer encounters new artists frequently


A special new band
Noticing something different or unique about a particular group


I don't remember lying
The singer is truthful and genuine


I don't remember a line
Songs or lyrics don't stick with the artist the way they used to


I don't remember a word
The artist is disconnected from the music scene and indifferent to its trends


But I don't care
The singer is apathetic to the opinions of others


I care
But at the same time, the singer cares at least a little bit


I really don't care
The artist is trying to convince themselves that they don't care


Did you see the drummer's hair?
Recognizing that appearance is a major part of the music industry, even for drummers


"Advertising looks and chops a must
In the music industry, marketability is just as important as talent


No big hair!"
Big hairstyles aren't in fashion right now


Songs mean a lot
At their core, songs have the power to convey emotion and connect with people


When songs are bought
But in the music industry, artists are commodified and songs are marketed like products


And so are you
People are also commodified and marketed like products


Face right down to the practice room
Hard work and practice are key to success


Attention and fame's a career
Many people pursue fame and attention as a means to make a living


Career, career, career, career, career
The music industry can be a cutthroat career path that requires constant effort and attention




Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Stephen Malkmus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mirsadathossain3932

[Verse 1]
Darling don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
And that's a pretty nice haircut
Charge it like a puzzle
Hitmen wearing muzzles
Hesitate you die, look around, around
The second drummer drowned
His telephone is found

[Verse 2]
Music scene's crazy
Bands start up each and every day
I saw another one just the other day
A special new band
I remember lying
I don't remember a line
I don't remember a word

[Chorus]
But I don't care
I care
I really don't care
Did you see the drummer's hair?

[Verse 3]
Advertising looks and chops a must
No big hair!
Songs mean a lot
When songs are bought
And so are you
Bitch, right down to the practice room
Attention and fame's a career



@joserodrigues-vq8pz

Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
And that's a pretty nice haircut
Charts are like a puzzle
Hitmen wearin' muzzles
Hesitate, you die
Look around, around
The second drummer drowned
His telephone is found

Music scene is crazy
Bands start up each and every day
I saw another one just the other day
A special new band
I don't remember lying
I don't remember a line
I don't remember a word

But I don't care
I care
I really don't care
Did you see the drummer's hair?

"Advertising looks and chops a must
No big hair!"
Songs mean a lot
When songs are bought
And so are you
Face right down to the practice room
Attention and fame's a career
Career, career, career, career, career



@الزهراءمدحتعليمكي

Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
And that's a pretty nice haircut
Charts are like a puzzle
Hitmen wearin' muzzles
Hesitate, you die
Look around, around
The second drummer drowned
His telephone is found
Music scene is crazy
Bands start up each and every day
I saw another one just the other day
A special new band
I don't remember lying
I don't remember a line
I don't remember a word
But I don't care
I care
I really don't care
Did you see the drummer's hair?
"Advertising looks and chops a must
No big hair!"
Songs mean a lot
When songs are bought
And so are you
Face right down to the practice room
Attention and fame's a career
Career, career, career, career, career



@Aizubunny

I'm French and I'm here because of my American friend. And I'm glad, Pavement is so good! ♡

Lyrics :
Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
"I'm just a boy with a new haircut"
And that's a pretty nice haircut
Charge it like a puzzle
Hit me wearin' muzzles
Hesitate to die, look around, around
The second drummer's drowned
His telephone is found

Music scene is crazy
Bands start up each and every day
I saw another one just the other day
A special new band
I remember lying
I don't remember lies
I don't remember what

But I don't care
I care
I really don't care
Did you see the drummer's hair?

Advertising looks and chops a must
No big hair!
Songs mean a lot
When songs are bought
And so are you
Bitch, rant down to the practice room
Attention and fame so
Career, career, career



All comments from YouTube:

@goochmusic

March 2022 update: My Grandfather Vincent (The Barber) is still alive, and very much well. He just turned 80 in September 2021. I wish I can add photos onto the comment here to show you guys. Believe it or not he still cuts hair for some of my family members in his home!

@catsandpiano3072

Omg cool! so he's an actual barber, not just an actor for the video. living legend. maybe you could post pictures on some kind of social media

@catsandpiano3072

@@goochmusic cool thanks!

@jamesbarrett3289

Legend

@prul

im glad hes doing well and thank you for keeping us updated! i remember seeing your other comment on here years ago lol

@G_FRE

NICE

51 More Replies...

@goochmusic

THUMBS UP FOR THE BARBER! THATS MY GRANDFATHER!!!

@GordonBordon

That's so funny to read this. I normally don't read the comments but I watched this video for the first time, today and seriously, I wondered who the barber was. I did a web search but didn't find any credits for the video. You need to update Wiki. Pavement was a great band, 90's music was a great antidote to help us get over horrible 80's music, Matador Records has consistently signed good acts and their anniversary issues should be a part of any Indie music collection. "TWO" thumbs up for the barber!

@goochmusic

yup!!

@the1zeldafan609

Vinny Gooch
3 thumbs up!

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