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.
Make Believe
Burning Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when I open my eyes, I got no place to stare
Maybe I woke up too early, so I go back to bed,
My body's weak and I'm miles away
I won't go to work today, today is like just yesterday
And I ain't gonna take that winding way to get my own happiness
Cuz I'm insane and my chains are hurting me
I think I'm tired of this, Tired of this ...
Living in a world of make believe,
That's the way you make things go
And I ain't gonna let you get me
So I quit and I return to my self-made universe
Cause you're not in it
Without your pills and your chemicals my pleasure is all
You pretend to be free in this beautiful world,
I leave it all to you
You can destroy it, break it in two
Living in a world of make believe,
That's the way you make things go
And I ain't gonna let you get me
I stop working and start running, but I run from you
I stop running and start dreaming, but I dream of you
I stop dreaming and start flying, now I'm flying over you
Living in a world of make believe,
That's the way you make things go
And I ain't gonna let you get me
The lyrics to "Make Believe" by Burning Heads are a commentary on the pressures of modern society to conform and live the "American Dream" while sacrificing one's own happiness and mental wellness. The singer feels lost and unsure of where to turn, and realizes that the traditional paths to happiness (such as going to work) are not fulfilling. They reject this way of life and instead turn inward, to their "self-made universe" where they can find pleasure and freedom without the constraints of societal norms.
The chorus emphasizes that this way of life is a "world of make believe," as the pressure to conform is so strong that it creates a false reality in which people believe that they are happy and free, when in reality they are trapped. The singer refuses to be bound by these expectations and chooses to prioritize their own well-being, even if it means rejecting the conventional path to success.
Overall, the lyrics encourage listeners to question the status quo and prioritize their own mental health and happiness, rather than sacrificing these things in the pursuit of societal success.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like I'm lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere
I am confused and directionless in life
And when I open my eyes, I got no place to stare
I don't have a clear destination or goal
Maybe I woke up too early, so I go back to bed,
I am tired and unmotivated
My body's weak and I'm miles away
I am physically and emotionally drained
I won't go to work today, today is like just yesterday
I am sick of the monotony of life
And I ain't gonna take that winding way to get my own happiness
I won't follow society's expectations to find happiness
Cuz I'm insane and my chains are hurting me
I feel trapped in society's expectations and it's causing me pain
I think I'm tired of this, Tired of this ...
I am fed up with the current state of my life
Living in a world of make believe,
People live in a false reality
That's the way you make things go
Society expects people to conform to this false reality
And I ain't gonna let you get me
I won't let society control me
So I quit and I return to my self-made universe
I reject society's expectations and create my own world
Cause you're not in it
I don't want society's influence in my world
Without your pills and your chemicals my pleasure is all
I don't need society's drugs or material things to be happy
You pretend to be free in this beautiful world,
Society pretends that the false reality is beautiful and liberating
I leave it all to you
I reject this false reality and leave it to others
You can destroy it, break it in two
Society can continue with their false reality or destroy it themselves
I stop working and start running, but I run from you
I distance myself from society and their expectations
I stop running and start dreaming, but I dream of you
I can't escape society's influence even in my dreams
I stop dreaming and start flying, now I'm flying over you
I finally break free from society's grasp and rise above it
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.