Bedhead was a slowcore band from Dallas, Texas active in the 1990s (1991-19… Read Full Bio ↴Bedhead was a slowcore band from Dallas, Texas active in the 1990s (1991-1998). Their first album, WhatFunLifeWas, is often cited on critics' lists as one of the best indie albums of the 1990s. Bedhead's music was generally subdued, with a polyphonic sound based on the interlocking of single-line melodies played by three electric guitars and one electric bass guitar (often played with a capo), nearly always using clean (undistorted) tones. The group's vocals were often delivered in such a low key manner that they were quite difficult to decipher. This unusual sound was dubbed by some critics as "slo-core," referring to the slow tempos of many of the band's songs, a label to which band members objected in interviews. In reality, many of the group's songs do not remain slow and quiet throughout, instead beginning very slowly and quietly and gradually building in intensity and volume.

Burned Out
Bedhead Lyrics

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The light burned out
I couldn't see how to change it
I couldn't move at all
and thought I might slip and fall
so I decided to stand there
and wait until morning

In the dark

do things make a difference

in the emptiness
do things ever change

Overall Meaning

Bedhead's song Burned Out is a deeply introspective ballad about feeling stuck and helpless in a situation with no hope for change. The lyrics paint a picture of the singer standing in darkness, with a burned-out light as a metaphor for a lack of direction and motivation in life. The inability to change the light, or the situation, is overwhelming and immobilizing. As a result, the singer decides to stand still and wait for morning, hoping that in the light of day, things will become clear and a direction will emerge.

The second verse takes the theme of hopelessness further, questioning whether anything really changes in darkness and emptiness. The question speaks to the idea of being trapped and unable to escape the cycle of despair. The singer's experience is relatable to anyone who has felt stuck or trapped by a situation that seems impossible to change.

Overall, Burned Out is a deeply emotional and relatable song that explores themes of hopelessness, desperation, and the search for direction and meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

The light burned out
A light source has been destroyed or lost its functionality

I couldn't see how to change it
Unable to identify a fix for the problem at hand

I couldn't move at all
Being stuck or incapable of physical motion

and thought I might slip and fall
Feeling vulnerable and at risk of a physical injury

so I decided to stand there
Choosing to remain in a present situation rather than making any decisions

and wait until morning
Expecting that time will provide a solution to the problem at hand

In the dark
In times of uncertainty or absence of information

do things make a difference
Do our actions matter, or are they futile in this situation?

in the emptiness
Feeling a sense of vacancy or void

do things ever change
Will the circumstances transform anytime soon, or will they remain the same?

Contributed by Luke R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.