Can't Get It Out Of My Head
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics


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Midnight, on the water
I saw the ocean's daughter
Walking on a wave's chicane
Staring as she called my name

And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head

Breakdown on the shoreline
Can't move, it's an ebbtide
Morning, don't get here tonight
Searching for her silver light

And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head, no how?

Bank job in the city
Robin Hood and William Tell
And Ivanhoe and Lancelot
They don't envy me
Sitting 'til the sun goes down
In dreams the world keeps going 'round and 'round

And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head

And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head




Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head, no how, no now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Electric Light Orchestra's "Can't Get It Out of My Head" are shrouded in mystery, leaving the listener to interpret it as they will. Some believe that the song is a tale of lost love, while others see it as a depiction of drug addiction or mental illness. Regardless of its interpretation, the song’s beautiful melody and heartfelt lyrics leave an indelible impression on the listener.


"Midnight, on the water" refers to the central figure's state of mind, with the moon casting a hypnotic spell on him. The "ocean's daughter" is the light that represents all that is beautiful and pure in the world, and she beckons to him, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. The line, "Staring as she called my name," showcases how the singer is caught in an endless cycle of longing and desire, unable to resist the siren song of his obsession.


The second verse begins with "Breakdown on the shoreline", an allusion to the singer's present circumstances. He is stranded, unable to move from the ebbtide, as he waits for the morning to come. "Searching for her silver light," he is trapped in the past, constantly trying to recapture a fleeting moment of happiness. The third verse shifts the narrative dramatically, as the singer becomes embroiled in a “bank job in the city”, a Robin Hood-esque heist complete with Lancelot and Ivanhoe. However, the mundanity of reality is underscored by the line, "Sitting 'til the sun goes down,” highlighting how the singer's yearning persists even in the midst of an exciting criminal operation.


Line by Line Meaning

Midnight, on the water
At midnight, I was near the water


I saw the ocean's daughter
I saw a woman on the waves


Walking on a wave's chicane
She was walking effortlessly on the waves' twists and turns


Staring as she called my name
She gazed at me while calling my name


And I can't get it out of my head
I can't stop thinking about her


No, I can't get it out of my head
It's stuck in my mind, I can't shake it off


Now my whole world is gone for dead
Everything else pales in comparison to my thoughts of her


'Cause I can't get it out of my head
I'm helpless, I can't forget her


Breakdown on the shoreline
I feel defeated near the beach


Can't move, it's an ebbtide
I'm stuck as the tide recedes


Morning, don't get here tonight
Time moves slowly and morning seems far away


Searching for her silver light
I'm seeking her glow


Bank job in the city
There's a heist in the city


Robin Hood and William Tell
Famous fictional thieves and heroes


And Ivanhoe and Lancelot
More famous heroes


They don't envy me
They don't want to be in my place


Sitting 'til the sun goes down
I'm sitting and waiting until sunset


In dreams the world keeps going 'round and 'round
In my dreams, the world is constantly turning and repeating


No how
In no way


No now
Not even now




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Jeff Lynne

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@williambill5172

Midnight, on the water
I saw the ocean's daughter
Walking on a wave's chicane
Staring as she called my name
And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head

Bank job in the city
Robin Hood and William Tell
And Ivanhoe and Lancelot
They don't envy me
Sitting 'til the sun goes down
In dreams the world keeps going 'round and 'round
And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head
And I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't get it out of my head
Now my whole world is gone for dead
'Cause I can't get it out of my head, no how, no now
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jeff Lynne



All comments from YouTube:

@christiancolossus5165

This video completely embodies the absolute innocence and beauty of a decade that will never be replicated ever again.

@julenepegher6999

No, Never, the Best Times…..

@the_traveling_mystic

We had the best music EVER made

@jonathanandstefany

The 70’s represented love and this new generation will never understand ☹️

@broadwayfangirl987

@Mizz Ncb5 hello I appreciate and a classic rock junkie

@wendywaddell8402

So absolutely true

91 More Replies...

@shanelyons1482

Some of the most beautiful music written and performed by ELO. Jeff Lynne is a musical genius.

@lisagking8853

Was by ELO ♥️

@lisagking8853

I had a cassette and then a CD. Still love it all. I have these songs (for the most part), memorized. As I do a lot of music through 2015.

@jimries625

Ageee🤝🤝🤝

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