So Long to the Headstrong
Fleet Foxes Lyrics
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I pulled the paper back,
you begin your attack and it means:
Of all the places I laid down my head,
I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby you’re sayin' today
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
Four hundred days have passed since I’ve heard from you last
I’m getting worried, I admit
Maybe it’s nothing much
There’s nicer shores in sight
Oh I just don’t know
Of all the places I laid down my head I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby we’d tell you today
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
So long to the headstrong
I wasn’t qualified to lead that city life
That’s all I have to say
The song 'So Long to the Headstrong' by Fleet Foxes is a melancholic ballad about love, regret, and longing for a lost connection. In the opening lines, the singer receives a letter from their overseas connection and is immediately struck by the contents. The second stanza reflects on the past, where the singer has laid their head in various places but has two particular regrets. The chorus is a plea to the connection to not let them go and reveals the singer's desire to understand what they're thinking about.
The third stanza reveals that it has been four hundred days since the singer has heard from their connection and admits to feeling worried. The fourth stanza repeats the sentiments of the second, how love is not easy, even if the baby thinks so. The chorus is repeated twice more, with the final line "So long to the headstrong, I wasn’t qualified to lead that city life, That’s all I have to say" indicating that the singer is aware of their emotional limitations and perhaps recognizing that their love was not meant to be.
In essence, the song is a sad reflection on a love that has gone wrong, with a nod to the hard truths that come with relationships. There is a sense of detachment and resignation in the singer's tone, even as they yearn for their lost love. It is a poignant message about the complexity of love and its ability to bring about both joy and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
This morning I received air mail letter 3 from my connection overseas.
I recently received a letter from someone I know abroad.
I pulled the paper back, you begin your attack and it means:
I opened the letter and was met with negative news or criticism from the writer.
Of all the places I laid down my head, I think of two I regret
I have fond memories of some places I've been, but I regret staying in two particular places.
Love isn’t easy my baby you’re sayin' today
You're expressing that love can be difficult.
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
Let the shoemaker know that I'll be leaving soon.
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
I'll be leaving by any means necessary, even if it means extreme methods.
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
I'll be leaving on a luxurious steamship.
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I'll be leaving by first-class airplane one-way ticket, indicating that I may not be coming back.
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Please share your thoughts with me before I leave.
Don’t just let me go
Please don't let me leave without an explanation or goodbye.
Four hundred days have passed since I’ve heard from you last
It's been a long time since I've heard from you.
I’m getting worried, I admit
I'm becoming anxious and concerned about our relationship.
Maybe it’s nothing much, there’s nicer shores in sight, oh I just don’t know
Maybe it's not a big deal, and there are other people in your life that are more important than me. I'm unsure of what's going on.
I’m sayin' so long, I want my baby back
I'm saying goodbye, but I wish I could have you back in my life.
I know it’s hard to see, why she’s in love with me
I understand that it may be difficult for you to comprehend why you love me.
So long to the headstrong
I'm saying goodbye to people who are stubborn and don't listen.
I wasn’t qualified to lead that city life
I wasn't prepared or equipped to live in an urban environment.
That’s all I have to say
That's the end of my message.
Contributed by London S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marian Del Duca
This morning I received air mail letter 3 from my connection overseas.
I pulled the paper back,
you begin your attack and it means:
Of all the places I laid down my head,
I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby you’re sayin' today
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
Four hundred days have passed since I’ve heard from you last
I’m getting worried, I admit
Maybe it’s nothing much
There’s nicer shores in sight
Oh I just don’t know
Of all the places I laid down my head I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby we’d tell you today
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
So long to the headstrong
I wasn’t qualified to lead that city life
That’s all I have to say
Shabab Shams
This morning I received air mail letter three
From my connection overseas
I pulled the paper back
You begin your attack
And it reads
Of all the places I laid down my head
I think of two I regret
Love isn't easy my baby you're sayin' today, woah-oh
But tell Mr. Shoemaker I'll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a first class airplane
I wanna know what you're thinkin' about
Don't just let me go, woah-oh, woah-oh
Four hundred days have passed since I've heard from you last
I'm getting worried, I admit
Maybe it's nothing much
There's nicer shores in sight
Oh, I just don't know
Of all the places I laid down my head
I think of two I regret
Love isn't easy my baby will tell you today, woah-oh
But tell Mr. Shoemaker I'll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a first class airplane
I wanna know what you're thinkin' about
Don't just let me go, woah-oh, woah-oh
I'm sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it's hard to see
Why she's in love with me, yeah
I'm sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it's hard to see
Why she's in love with me, yeah
So long to the headstrong
I wasn't qualified to lead that city life
That's all I have to say, yeah, uh
Sour
D.A. Thorndike
Fleet Foxes refuse to release this EP to the public for some reason. These six songs are pure gold.
CaptainKronkers
They're releasing this on vinyl/CD/digital this November I believe. It's a box set with this, the Sun Giant EP and something else. The CD/Digital are really cheap too considering what you get!
calphurnia2007
This is one of their best songs!
Samantha JB
The guitar in this album is so incredible. The strums and rhythms hit me so deeply and makes my heart race.
bluesensationist
i really really love this ep. their electric sound is so great and different from their folky sound
EMusicality
I love their EP tunes. They make me feel happy^^
Vanessa Grace
this song is amazing. definitely a favorite
Marian Del Duca
This morning I received air mail letter 3 from my connection overseas.
I pulled the paper back,
you begin your attack and it means:
Of all the places I laid down my head,
I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby you’re sayin' today
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
Four hundred days have passed since I’ve heard from you last
I’m getting worried, I admit
Maybe it’s nothing much
There’s nicer shores in sight
Oh I just don’t know
Of all the places I laid down my head I think of two I regret
Love isn’t easy my baby we’d tell you today
But tell Mr. shoemaker I’ll be away
On a rocket or a comet or the dock of the bay
On a continental steam ship sailin' away
On a one way ticket on a 1st class airplane
I wanna know what you’re thinkin' about
Don’t just let me go
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
I’m sayin' so long
I want my baby back
I know it’s hard to see
Why she’s in love with me
So long to the headstrong
I wasn’t qualified to lead that city life
That’s all I have to say
te0nzin
i wouldn't mind if the third fleet foxes album's gonna be like their first EP...
Globaluna
nah