Outta My Head
Conor Oberst Jimes James and M. Ward Lyrics


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Oh a playful little kitten met a playful little bird,
And then off with it's head, off with it's head, oh my!

And a breeze met a blossom in a winter embrace
And then off with it's head, off with it's head, oh my!

Am I outta my head, outta my head my love?
Am I outta my head or is this real life?

(No clue on the this verse at all!)
And then off with my head, off with my head, oh my!

Once you taught me how to crawl, and you taught me how to cry
And then off with my head, off with my head, oh my!

Am I outta my head, outta my head my love?




Am I outta my head or is this goodbye?
Am I outta my head or is this goodbye?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Conor Oberst, Jim James, and M. Ward's song Outta My Head paint a picture of destruction and loss. The first two stanzas describe the playful interaction between animals and nature, but each one ends with a violent twist - the kitten plays too rough and kills the bird, the breeze is so cold it causes the blossom to fall off its stem. These images not only show the destructive side of nature but also reflect on the quickness with which things can take a turn for the worse.


The chorus features the singer questioning their state of mind, asking whether they are out of their head or whether what they are experiencing is reality. This uncertainty could be a result of the sudden, violent shifts demonstrated in the first two stanzas, highlighting that sometimes things happen so quickly that it's hard to make sense of them.


The final stanza introduces some personal history between the singer and the subject of the song. The subject had taught the singer how to crawl and cry at some earlier point, but now the subject seems to be responsible for the singer's current state of distress. The line "off with my head" is now directed at the singer, suggesting that they too are responsible for some of the pain they are feeling. The last line of the song reiterates the uncertainty already expressed in the chorus, asking whether this feeling of loss and pain is goodbye.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh a playful little kitten met a playful little bird,
Two playful creatures met, but one met its demise, creating a sense of unease.


And then off with it's head, off with it's head, oh my!
The demise of the innocent creature is sudden and brutal, leading to shock and dismay.


And a breeze met a blossom in a winter embrace
An unlikely encounter between elements of nature occurred, leading to an unexpected outcome.


And then off with it's head, off with it's head, oh my!
The outcome of the encounter was destructive, causing surprise and concern.


Am I outta my head, outta my head my love?
Is my perception of reality accurate or am I delusional due to strong emotions?


Am I outta my head or is this real life?
I question if my feelings are genuine and if my experiences are truly happening.


And then off with my head, off with my head, oh my!
I fear that my negative thoughts and emotions may lead to self-destruction.


Once you taught me how to crawl, and you taught me how to cry
You played a significant role in my development, teaching me important skills and emotions.


And then off with my head, off with my head, oh my!
Despite this bond, a feeling of impending doom persists, causing worry and sadness.


Am I outta my head, outta my head my love?
I question if my emotions are valid or if I am overreacting in this relationship.


Am I outta my head or is this goodbye?
I worry that this relationship may be coming to an end or that I am being left behind.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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