Previously, Mayberry was a member of the bands Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives. Mayberry is a trained drummer and also did a four-year law degree, followed by a Masters in journalism. Cook was a member of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours and also wrote music for film and TV. Doherty was a live member of The Twilight Sad. According to Mayberry, "Iain and Martin went to university together so they've known each other for quite a long time".
The band started in October 2011 as a studio project between the long time friends Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Cook already knew Lauren Mayberry from working with Blue Sky Archives and suggested her as a potential vocalist for the project.
CHVRCHES were influenced by acts such as Prince, Tubeway Army, Robyn, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Laurie Anderson. The band write, record, mix and master everything in a basement studio in Glasgow.
In May 2012, they released the song "Lies". In the same year, CHVRCHES toured with Passion Pit, as the opening band for their concerts and also toured on their own. "Lies" ranked at number 28 on NME's Best Tracks of 2012. CHVRCHES also came fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list.
On 25 March 2013, they released Recover EP. They performed at SXSW and won the Inaugural Grulke Prize (for Developing Non-US Act). The band also supported Depeche Mode on four shows in July during their The Delta Machine Tour 2013.
On 20 September 2013, CHVRCHES released their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. The album is supported by the singles "The Mother We Share", "Recover" and "Gun".
Links: official site at chvrch.es | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Tumblr | Vimeo
HE SAID SHE SAID
CHVRCHES Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"I know you heard me the first time" and
"Be sad, but don't be depressed"
Just think it over, over and
He said, "It's all in your head"
"But keep an ear to the grapevine" and
"Get drunk, but don't be a mess"
Keep thinkin' over, over
I try
But it's hard to hit rewind
When I feel like
I feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Over and over, I
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
Over and over, I try
He said, "You need to be fed"
"But keep an eye on your waistline" and
"Look good, but don't be obsessed"
Keep thinkin' over, over
I try
But it's hard to know what's right
When I feel like I'm borrowin' all of my time
And it's hard to hit rewind
When I feel like
I feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Over and over, I
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
Over and over, I
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Over and over, I
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Feel like I'm losin' my mind
Over and over
I try
The lyrics to CHVRCHES' "He Said She Said" express a sense of frustration with societal expectations and the pressure to conform. The song seems to be directed at a person who is making these demands, as if they are saying, "he said" with a condescending tone. The lines "You bore me to death" and "It's all in your head" suggest that this person finds fault with the singer and her thoughts even though they have not given her a fair chance to express herself. The advice to "be sad, but don't be depressed" and "get drunk, but don't be a mess" further implies that they expect her to be constrained by their standards of appropriate behavior. The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's feelings of confusion and mental strain, as she repeats the assertion that she feels as though she is "losing her mind" over and over again.
The lyrics reflect the overall theme of the song, which seems to be a commentary on how women are expected to conform to the ideal of the perfect, docile, and obedient female. The singer challenges this idea, expressing her desire to break free of these expectations and find her own individuality. Through the repetition of phrases like "I try" and "over and over," CHVRCHES conveys the sense of internal struggle and frustrating repetition inherent in societal pressures. In doing so, they create an anthem for anyone who has felt the same way, encouraging listeners to be true to themselves regardless of society’s expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
He said, "You bore me to death"
He expressed that he found the singer extremely dull and uninteresting.
"I know you heard me the first time" and
He expects the singer to have received and understood his message from the first utterance.
"Be sad, but don't be depressed"
He suggested that it's fine to be upset or unhappy, but advised against falling into a deeper state of hopelessness.
Just think it over, over and
He encourages the artist to reflect on his statements and advice.
He said, "It's all in your head"
He implied that the artist's issues or problems exist only in their imagination.
"But keep an ear to the grapevine" and
He advises the singer to remain up-to-date with public opinion or rumors, despite their delusions.
"Get drunk, but don't be a mess"
He advises the listener to consume alcohol in moderation, but to keep control of their actions and emotions.
Keep thinkin' over, over
He repeats his encouragement, urging the artist to ruminate on his advice.
I try
The artist is making an attempt.
But it's hard to hit rewind
The artist finds it difficult to turn back time and undo past mistakes.
When I feel like
The singer expresses his sentiment in the following lines.
I feel like I'm losin' my mind
The artist perceives that they are gradually becoming insane or losing their mental faculties.
(Feel like I'm losin' my mind)
Repetition of the above line.
Over and over, I
The singer solemnly states that he keeps having these feelings repetitively.
He said, "You need to be fed"
He believes the singer requires nourishment to sustain him.
"But keep an eye on your waistline" and
He also advises the artist to monitor their body shape and avoid overeating.
"Look good, but don't be obsessed"
He advises the artist to maintain their appearance and grooming habits, but not let it consume their entire mindset.
I try
The singer is making an attempt.
But it's hard to know what's right
The singer is struggling to discern the right course of action.
When I feel like I'm borrowin' all of my time
The artist perceives that his time is not being used efficiently, likely due to his struggles with mental health.
And it's hard to hit rewind
The artist finds it difficult to undo past mistakes, possibly due to his mental state.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Iain Andrew Cook, Lauren Eve Mayberry, Martin Clifford Doherty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind