Overkill
Colin Hay Lyrics

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I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright

Perhaps it's just imagination

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

Alone between the sheets
Only brings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation

At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night from overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Come back another day

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
It's just overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away

Overall Meaning

Colin Hay's "Overkill" is a song that delves into the anxieties and worries that keep a person awake at night. The song's opening lines, "I can't get to sleep, I think about the implications, of diving in too deep, and possibly the complications," set the tone for the rest of the track. Hay's lyrics dive into the thoughts that keep him up at night, and how he worries over future situations that may or may not come to pass. The fact that this is all happening in his head only adds to the stress he feels.

As the song progresses, Hay talks about how the only way to alleviate some of his stress is to get up and walk around, even if it's just to "smell the desperation." The last verse of the song, however, serves to reassure the listener that everything will be alright. Although the same anxieties and fears may repeat day after day and night after night, they are just "overkill." Hay's use of ghosts that appear and fade away serves to illustrate his idea of how the things that keep him up at night are like apparitions that eventually disappear.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't get to sleep
The singer is unable to fall asleep

I think about the implications
The singer is contemplating the consequences of their actions

Of diving in too deep
The singer is worried about getting too involved or invested

And possibly the complications
The artist is concerned about potential problems that may arise

Especially at night
The artist is particularly troubled when trying to sleep

I worry over situations
The singer is anxious about specific scenarios

I know will be alright
The singer is aware that everything will ultimately work out

Perhaps it's just imagination
The artist considers that their fears may be unfounded

Day after day it reappears
The artist's concerns persist

Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
The artist's physical response reflects their anxiety

Ghosts appear and fade away
The singer's worries feel like fleeting apparitions

Alone between the sheets
The artist is isolated in their bed

Only brings exasperation
The singer feels frustrated with the situation

It's time to walk the streets
The singer decides to go out and clear their head

Smell the desperation
The singer senses the struggles of others around them

At least there's pretty lights
The artist finds comfort in the beauty of their surroundings

And though there's little variation
The artist notes that the scenery is somewhat monotonous

It nullifies the night from overkill
The pleasant environment helps to alleviate the singer's anxiety

Come back another day
The singer hopes that their fears will not resurface soon

It's just overkill
The artist acknowledges that their anxiety is excessive

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN JAMES HAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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