Good Riddance (sometimes abbreviated GR) is a punk rock band from Santa Cru… Read Full Bio ↴Good Riddance (sometimes abbreviated GR) is a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, California. They released seven full-length studio albums on Fat Wreck Chords, and their final album was a live recording of their farewell concert in 2007. Led by vocalist Russ Rankin, the band's longtime lineup included guitarist Luke Pabich, bassist Chuck Platt, and drummer Sean "SC" Sellers. Their sound was influenced by the hardcore punk scene and the band was known for their combination of fast punk with catchy melodies. Lyrical themes vary from political protests and critical analyses of American society to personal struggles and alienation.

The band reunited in February 2012, with a new album to be released in 2015.

In my head
Good Riddance Lyrics

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I can't pull in all the stops
But it rained on all of this
With the sirens in my sleep
And her sorrow at my kiss

I can't turn away
Hold the half turn when you pray
All the vanity and fate

Written on her crazy face

Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray

Time is what it's made
Made by all those I regret
"remember me" I hear it said
Other faces I'd forget

Hope you get up off your feet
Shake the dust out of your shoes
City lights and all my jazz
And all my demonstrations too

Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray

Time is what it's made
Made by others I regret
Remember we are here and sad
All the faces I'd forget

Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray

Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Good Riddance's song "In My Head" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer admits that he is unable to fully control his thoughts and emotions, as there is a lot of chaos surrounding him. The lyrics "I can't pull in all the stops, but it rained on all of this" suggest that he is experiencing overwhelming feelings that he cannot suppress. In addition, he seems to be tormented by a past relationship, as he mentions "her sorrow at my kiss" as a factor that adds to his distress. The sirens mentioned in the lyrics may also indicate that the singer is in a chaotic urban environment.

In the next verse, we learn that the singer is struggling with his faith, as he cannot fully commit to it. He mentions holding a "half turn" while praying, which suggests that while he tries to be religious, he can't bring himself to fully trust or believe in it. He also refers to fate and vanity being written on someone's "crazy face," which could indicate that he is trying to make sense of the world around him, but is struggling to do so.

The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "Here in my head I hear you say, here in my head I hear you pray" emphasizes the singer's inner turmoil. He seems to be trying to reconcile conflicting emotions and thoughts, but is unable to do so. Overall, the song highlights the struggles of trying to make sense of one's surroundings and past experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't pull in all the stops
I am unable to control everything that's happening around me.

But it rained on all of this
Despite my efforts, everything is falling apart and nothing seems to be working out.

With the sirens in my sleep
Even in my dreams, I'm haunted by the sounds of distress and danger.

And her sorrow at my kiss
My actions have hurt someone else and I feel guilt and regret over it.

I can't turn away
I cannot ignore what's happening and pretend like everything is okay.

Hold the half turn when you pray
Even in prayer, there is uncertainty and doubt in my mind.

All the vanity and fate
Life is a mix of meaningless pursuits and unpredictable outcomes beyond my control.

Written on her crazy face
The confusion and chaos of life is reflected on the faces of those around me.

Time is what it's made
The events and experiences of life shape the passage of time.

Made by all those I regret
My past choices and actions have contributed to the way time has passed and the events I now regret.

"remember me" I hear it said
I am reminded of those who are no longer present in my life and I am filled with nostalgia and longing.

Other faces I'd forget
There are those who disappear from my memory and it's as if they never existed in the first place.

Hope you get up off your feet
I wish for someone to find the strength to overcome their struggles and move forward.

Shake the dust out of your shoes
It's time to leave behind the past and move on to something new.

City lights and all my jazz
The hustle and bustle of city life and all its distractions.

And all my demonstrations too
My efforts to express myself and be heard sometimes fall on deaf ears and feel futile.

Remember we are here and sad
We are all together in our sorrow and pain.

All the faces I'd forget
People come and go in our lives, and sometimes they fade from our memories.

Here in my head I here you say
Voices and memories echo in my mind.

Here in my head I here you pray
The hopes and wishes of others are heard in my thoughts.

Here in my head I here you say
The past is never truly gone, as it continues to shape our thoughts and emotions.

Here in my head I here you pray
Our hopes and dreams persist even as we move on from our past experiences.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jonathan Rotem, Claude Kelly, Jason Desrouleaux

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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