She is an Irish Choice Music Prize-nominated, Meteor Award winning musician and songwriter. She has released three albums, Something Ilk (2004), Tales of Silversleeve (2007), and The Nameless (2010) which garnered her a Choice Music Prize nomination, Meteor Award for Best Irish Female, and spawned a number of successful singles including "Reuben," "Little Red," and "Sing for Your Supper".
Cathy also appeared on the Elbow track "Grace Under Pressure" and the Autamata tracks "Cloud Seekers" and "Jellyman". She also supported R.E.M. on one night during their sold-out Live Rehearsal shows at the Olympia in Dublin in the summer 2007.
http://www.cathydavey.ie/
Hammerhead
Cathy Davey Lyrics
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Don't need to get into it
When every which way is wrong
And every right is your own
And everything is either black or white
But even I know the in-betweens and outs
My lowly brain can comprehend
But if it's simple you want
It'll complicate you in the end
I may be hollow, but I've had my fill
A vital love I wasn't afraid to spill
And in the morning when I'm hollow still
There wont be any room for us
I had the same stubbornness as my rival
Wouldn't even compromise
When it was it was too even steven
Didn't want to be eating
Such a big piece of the humble pie
It was a hard lesson to learn then
But I wont go do that again
No if its easy I want
I wont go dishing at love
Like its something I've got plenty of
I may be hollow, but I've had my fill
Of vital love I wasn't afraid to spill
And in the morning when I'm hollower still
There won't be any room for us
I have the same attitude as my mother
And I think I'll see it out alone
It may be sweet to share a bed
But when you're fucking with my head
This stopping pit is now a no-go zone
I wanna love you, but it got too much
You have to build it out of stronger stuff
We might have something but it's not enough
And there isnt room for us
In Cathy Davey's song "Hammerhead," the lyrics explore the themes of stubbornness and the complications that arise from seeking simplicity in relationships. The singer compares the stubbornness of their partner to that of a hammerhead shark, and notes that their partner sees things in black and white, making it difficult for them to see the nuances in between. However, the singer reveals that they too have been stubborn in the past, refusing to compromise even when it would have been the wise thing to do. They have gained a vital love in the process, but ultimately realize that simplicity is not always the key to a successful relationship, as love can be complicated and messy. The singer declares that they want to love their partner, but their stubbornness and uncompromising nature have made it too difficult to continue the relationship.
The chorus of "Hammerhead" emphasizes the singer's feelings of emptiness and the lack of space for their partner in their life. Despite having had their fill of love, the singer feels hollow and alone, and there is no room left for their partner in their world. This sense of emptiness is further reinforced when the singer admits that they share the same attitude as their mother, suggesting that they too will end up alone but are content with that reality.
Overall, "Hammerhead" is a haunting and poignant exploration of the complexities of love, highlighting how stubbornness and a desire for simplicity can ultimately lead to emptiness and a lack of connection with others.
Line by Line Meaning
You have the same stubbornness as a hammerhead
Your stubbornness is as unyielding as a hammerhead shark's determination.
Don't need to get into it
It's not necessary to discuss further.
When every which way is wrong
Even when all options seem unfavorable.
And every right is your own
You believe that your opinion is the only correct one.
And everything is either black or white
You see things in absolute terms with no shades of gray or middle ground.
But even I know the in-betweens and outs
Despite your narrow-mindedness, I am aware of the nuances and complexities of life.
My lowly brain can comprehend
My mental capacity is able to grasp more than you give me credit for.
But if it's simple you want
If you desire simplicity and straightforwardness.
Then don't go looking for love
Finding love is never an easy or uncomplicated process.
It'll complicate you in the end
In the end, love will make things more complex and difficult for you.
I may be hollow, but I've had my fill
I may feel empty or incomplete, but I have experienced love in its entirety.
A vital love I wasn't afraid to spill
I was unafraid to express my deep and important feelings of love.
And in the morning when I'm hollow still
Even after giving my all to love, I will still feel empty in the end.
There wont be any room for us
There will be no space left for us to exist together.
I had the same stubbornness as my rival
I used to exhibit the same unwavering attitude as my opponent.
Wouldn't even compromise
I refused to come to any sort of agreement or understanding.
When it was it was too even steven
When everything was balanced and equal.
Didn't want to be eating
I didn't want to admit defeat or take responsibility for my actions.
Such a big piece of the humble pie
I didn't want to be humbled or shown humility.
It was a hard lesson to learn then
At the time, it was difficult to comprehend the lesson being taught.
But I wont go do that again
I won't make the same mistake twice.
No if its easy I want
I desire simplicity and ease this time around.
I wont go dishing at love
I won't go throwing myself at the concept of love.
Like its something I've got plenty of
As if I have an endless supply of it.
I have the same attitude as my mother
I exhibit a similar personality to my mother.
And I think I'll see it out alone
I believe that I will spend my life by myself.
It may be sweet to share a bed
It may be enjoyable to have a companion to sleep with.
But when you're fucking with my head
But when someone is emotionally manipulating or hurting me.
This stopping pit is now a no-go zone
This place where we used to connect is now off limits to you.
I wanna love you, but it got too much
I had the desire to love you, but I was overwhelmed.
You have to build it out of stronger stuff
Love requires a solid foundation and something more substantial than what we had.
We might have something but it's not enough
We may have had something special, but it wasn't substantial enough to last.
And there isnt room for us
There is no longer space for us to exist together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CATHY DAVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind