It’s no secret that the landscape of Birds of Tokyo’s home of Western Australia; a desert-like state so vast and unforgiving that to provide it with a soundtrack requires a higher level of grandeur and majesty one would ever dare associate with the ‘pop’ music tag.
But, down to its bones, pop music is what Birds of Tokyo write… they just layer those bones in muscle, and give the beast a heart.
Beautifully expressive in its texture, yet thick and rich in its deceptive simplicity; Birds Of Tokyo’s music is universal and incredibly humanistic. In what could be described as the blink of an eye, the band have struck a nerve in their homeland, giving way to an unprecedented rise to popularity, but it is in their blossoming international recognition can be seen the band’s true strength and ability to connect with people.
Head In My Hands
Birds of Tokyo Lyrics
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One by one they're driving me insane
So give me accidentel thought in another life
Send me back along my way till I get it right
I hate my melodies, there all the same
And I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta mine
I'm losing sight again, I'm losing days
I left her out again, I'm outta face
So give me something I can harm, something I like
And print me up and press me out till I've had enough
Here I will stand with my head in my hands
And I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta mine
Say goodbye to me I'm out of here
Confused biology from ear to ear
And is it day or night in here, I can never tell
I'm throwing punches in the dark till I get a hit
I hate my melodies there all the same
And I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I can't get them outta my, my head
I'm here with you in my head, I cant lose
The lyrics of "Head In My Hands" by Birds of Tokyo are largely an expression of frustration with the creative process of songwriting. The singer is fed up of the repetitiveness of their musical ideas and laments that they "hate [their] melodies, they're all the same." The frustration and self-doubt are compounded by the fact that the melodies keep playing in the singer's head, leading to a feeling of being stuck.
The singer longs for a new perspective - "give me accidental thought in another life" - and wants to be able to start over until they "get it right." The repeated line "I can't get them outta my head" emphasizes the singer's inability to escape from their own thoughts and the cyclical nature of their creative block. The lines "I'm losing sight again, I'm losing days / I left her out again, I'm outta face" suggest that the singer's struggles with creative expression are affecting other aspects of their life, leading to feelings of guilt and confusion.
The song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note - "say goodbye to me I'm out of here" - implying that the singer may be considering giving up on songwriting, but the final line "I'm here with you in my head, I can't lose" suggests that music will always be a part of them, for better or for worse. Overall, "Head In My Hands" expresses the challenges of creative expression and the difficulty of escaping one's own thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate my melodies, there all the same
The singer feels stuck and bored with his music, wishing for new inspiration.
One by one they're driving me insane
The repetitiveness of his own music is driving him crazy.
So give me accidental thought in another life
He's looking for a fresh start with new ideas.
Send me back along my way till I get it right
He wants to keep trying until he achieves his desired outcome.
And I can't get them outta my, my head
The melody is stuck in his head, hindering his creativity.
I'm losing sight again, I'm losing days
The repetition in the music is causing him to lose focus.
I left her out again, I'm outta face
He's neglecting important aspects of his life due to the distraction of his own music.
And print me up and press me out till I've had enough
He wants to keep creating music until he's satisfied with it.
Here I will stand with my head in my hands
He's taking a moment to reflect on his struggles.
Say goodbye to me I'm out of here
He's considering giving up on his music career.
Confused biology from ear to ear
His mind feels scattered and overwhelmed.
And is it day or night in here, I can never tell
He's so consumed by his music that he's losing track of time.
I'm throwing punches in the dark till I get a hit
He's willing to keep trying anything until he finds success.
I'm here with you in my head, I cant lose
Despite his struggles, he feels connected to his fans and knows he can't give up on them.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.