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.

Smoke
Bedhead Lyrics

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From where I am I can smell the smoke
They're burning something - I don't want to know
Should I really sit here and wait
and hope it blows the other way

I wish I could see
and turn off my lungs when I run into poisoned air
which may finally be everywhere

I don't want to go to sleep
I don't even think I need it
Keep every light turned on
because it seems darker than ever

All the murderous greed
ignored by the ones with too many reasons
for keeping things running

If I blame them for anything
it's nothing more than I blame on myself

Overall Meaning

The song "Smoke" by Bedhead seems to highlight the overwhelming feeling of helplessness and despair in the face of environmental degradation and the world's apathy towards it. The opening line, “From where I am I can smell the smoke,” evokes an image of a person being surrounded by the emissions and the toxins that are slowly invading every aspect of their lives. The line, “They're burning something - I don't want to know,” suggests that the person has accepted their fate and given up on finding out the source of the smoke. The line “Should I really sit here and wait and hope it blows the other way” highlights the feeling of being powerless and the futility of trying to escape from a problem that can’t be solved.

The song then moves on to the theme of insomnia with the lines, “I don't want to go to sleep, I don't even think I need it, keep every light turned on because it seems darker than ever.” The singer seems to be struggling with nightmares and anxiety that stem from their fears of environmental disaster. The stanza “…and turn off my lungs when I run into poisoned air which may finally be everywhere,” highlights the extent of the environmental damage done so far and the inevitability of its deadly consequences. The final stanza, “All the murderous greed ignored by the ones with too many reasons for keeping things running. If I blame them for anything it's nothing more than I blame on myself,” indicates the complacency and self-delusion that are rampant in the world in the face of an impending ecological catastrophe.

Overall, Bedhead’s “Smoke” captures the feelings of anxiety and powerlessness that many people experience as they confront the global environmental crisis. The song beautifully details the impact of this crisis on our lives today.

Line by Line Meaning

From where I am I can smell the smoke
I am currently in a place where I can detect the smell of smoke - an indication that something is being burnt nearby.

They're burning something - I don't want to know
The source of the smoke's origin is due to activities that involve burning materials, and since I do not want to know what is being burnt, I am left without a clear definition.

Should I really sit here and wait
I have a choice of whether or not to remain in the location where the smoke is present and wait for the air to clear up or not.

and hope it blows the other way
I am hoping for the wind to change directions so that it blows the smoke away from my direction.

I wish I could see
I desire to have the ability to see through the smoke and understand what is causing it.

and turn off my lungs when I run into poisoned air
I wish I could have control over my lungs to turn them off when they encounter air that has been contaminated by harmful gases or chemicals.

which may finally be everywhere
I suspect that polluted air may be present in most parts of the environment I exist in, making it impossible to avoid encountering it.

I don't want to go to sleep
I am not feeling sleepy or have any desire to go to sleep at this time.

I don't even think I need it
I do not think that sleeping at this moment would be beneficial or essential to me due to the presence of harmful air in my surroundings.

Keep every light turned on
I have a preference to have all the lights switched on as it feels darker than ever.

because it seems darker than ever
The darkness that I am perceiving at this moment feels more overwhelming than at any time before.

All the murderous greed
The excessive and selfish desires for wealth and power by individuals and groups are causing much harm and destruction to people and the environment.

ignored by the ones with too many reasons
Those who have a stake in the wealth and power-driven activities tend to overlook the negative consequences and have various explanations why its pursuit is justified.

for keeping things running
The reason for the greed is to keep a system or operation going, which fuels the cycle even further.

If I blame them for anything
If I place responsibility on anyone for any particular wrongdoing or outcome,

it's nothing more than I blame on myself
It would be like blaming myself, indicating that the situation is quite complex and difficult to attribute blame to a single party.

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

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