Following 3 albums on French indie record labels, Burning Heads (1992), Dive (1994), Super Modern World (1996) and two back-to-back albums on Epitaph Europe with some of the most memorable melodic punk hits, 1998's Be One With the Flames and 1999's Escape, les Burning – as they are referred to by their native fans – released their first dub album, Opposite (2001), finally putting to disc the musical bridge between two styles too many considered opposites, a bridge they'd been building live for 15 years.
2004 saw the release of the more introspective and excellent Taranto (Sony France / Yelen Musiques), followed by an electro-punk side project called Never Trust a Punk…, released in common with Alif Sound System under a shared name: BHASS Project, further proof if anyone needed it of their musical diversity.
Punk rock is never far with the Burning Heads, and Bad Time For Human Kind, and the band self-recorded and self-released their 2006 in a traditional DIY way, returning to full-throttle melodic punk rock with a firm hardcore backbone.
In 2007, they kept the dub fire going with Opposite 2, and in 2009 released Spread the Fire.
In 2009 the band dropped Hear This and in 2014 Choose Your Trap, all still self-released on their own label, Opposite Prod.
Absolute legends in the French punk scene, they have also toured with bands like NOFX, Propagandhi, Down By Law, Bad Religion and Ten Foot Pole all over the world, from Europe to North America.
The Burning Heads have an ability to get their melodic choruses stuck in your head while they pummel you with aggressive punk rock at the same time.
Don't wait for me
Burning Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From bed to school, teaching us to be fools
You say don't look up I close my eyes
You told me to shut up I shut my mouth
But now it's over
for beginning to end, for ten to twenty
Being a cop or joining the army
don't wait for me, I won't waste my time
You shown me the line not to cross
Then you sent me your god and his cross
You said don't look up I close my eyes
You told me to shut up I shut my mouth
You said don't look up, now it's over
The lyrics of "Don't wait for me" by Burning Heads bring a message of resistance to societal pressures and expectations on individuals. The opening lines of the song speaks about the experience of growing up, from infancy to adolescence, and how society expects young people to conform to predetermined norms and ideas. The line "teaching us to be fools" is a critique of the societal influence on people's lives, leading them to become mere followers.
The chorus of the song speaks to the struggle of breaking free from such expectations and pressures. The lines "don't wait for me, I won't waste my time" and "you shown me the line not to cross, then you sent me your god and his cross" allude to the idea of choosing a path in life that is different from what the society expects and not being held back by religious or social constraints.
The lyrics also address the issue of police and military forces being glorified and young people being pushed toward such professions without exploring other options. The lines "Being a cop or joining the army, is that the only thing you want for me?" reveals the frustration of being boxed into a certain career path that may not align with one's values or aspirations.
Overall, "Don't wait for me" is a powerful song that encourages individuals to resist societal pressure and stereotypes and to pursue their dreams and passions, without fear of judgment or ridicule from the rest of society.
Line by Line Meaning
For beginning to end, from one to ten
From childhood to adulthood, from early stages to later stages
From bed to school, teaching us to be fools
From being at home to going to school, where they teach us to conform and not think for ourselves
You say don't look up I close my eyes
You tell me not to question authority or seek knowledge outside of what I am told, and I comply by closing my eyes
You told me to shut up I shut my mouth
You tell me not to speak up or express my own opinions, and I comply by staying silent
But now it's over
I am no longer going to follow blindly and obey without question
For beginning to end, for ten to twenty
From youth to young adulthood, from earlier stages of independence to later stages
Being a cop or joining the army
You have predetermined expectations for my future that involve conforming to societal norms and institutions
Is that the only thing you want for me?
You don't have any other aspirations or dreams for me besides conforming to pre-existing societal norms
don't wait for me, I won't waste my time
I won't continue to comply with these expectations and waste my time in institutions that don't align with my values or goals
You shown me the line not to cross
You have instilled in me a fear of breaking societal norms or questioning authority
Then you sent me your god and his cross
You try to control me with religion and use it as a means of manipulating me to follow your expectations
You said don't look up, now it's over
You told me not to think critically or question my surroundings, but I am done listening to you and am breaking free from the constraints you have put on me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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