Old Hat
Harvey Danger Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Call me disruptive say I break your concentration
Familiar patterns like waves that break too fast
What do you do when it's so brand new that it kills you?
Came on too strong couldn't stand it slow
Now I know

She can knock me back like a champ
Disembodied ringlets from hair that look like yours
Call me the looming shapes of winter dusk impending
She barely fits inside my head but I feel something

Every element but one is in my thrall
Stop traffic as I lie down in your footpath
Like a simile I paint suggestive pictures
Disembodied ringlets from hair that looked like yours

Call me the looming shapes of winter dusk impending
Call me freaky
Call me childish
Call me Ishmael
Just call me back
Call me back
Call me back and I'll follow you around

I forget what my friends look like and they forget why they like me
But that's old hat.
I'm so happy.




How do you write about that?
Disembodied ringlets

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Old Hat" by Harvey Danger are about experiencing something new and exciting, and the confusion and disorientation that can come with it. The singer is called disruptive for breaking the familiar patterns of life, and the imagery of waves breaking too fast suggests that things are moving too quickly. The line "what do you do when it's so brand new that it kills you?" is a common feeling when encountering something that is overwhelming, and the singer admits that they came on too strong and couldn't handle taking it slow.


The second verse introduces the subject of the singer's interest, with hair that looks like someone they used to know. The phrase "disembodied ringlets" implies that these memories and feelings are disconnected from reality, and that the singer is struggling to make sense of them. The lines "every element but one is in my thrall" suggests that there is still something missing, and that the singer is trying to find a way to make sense of their feelings. The phrase "looming shapes of winter dusk impending" creates a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, as if the singer is not sure where this is all heading.


The final verse sees the singer asking to be called back, to have someone help guide them through this confusing time. The line "I forget what my friends look like and they forget why they like me" suggests that the singer is so consumed by this new experience that they are losing touch with reality. However, they are happy, and the song ends on this note, with the question "how do you write about that?" suggesting that there are some experiences that are impossible to put into words.


Line by Line Meaning

Call me disruptive say I break your concentration
I am called disruptive as I disturb your concentration.


Familiar patterns like waves that break too fast
Patterns that are well-known and predictable but still too fast to handle.


What do you do when it's so brand new that it kills you?
How do you react when something is entirely new to you and is overwhelming?


Came on too strong couldn't stand it slow
I approached too quickly and couldn't handle the gradual progress.


Now I know
I have learned from my mistakes.


She can knock me back like a champ
She can reject me efficiently.


Disembodied ringlets from hair that look like yours
Locks of hair that resemble yours yet are not attached to anyone.


Call me the looming shapes of winter dusk impending
Refer to me as the darkness of winter nights approaching.


She barely fits inside my head but I feel something
Although I cannot comprehend her entirely, I still experience emotions around her.


Every element but one is in my thrall
I have control over everything except for one thing.


Stop traffic as I lie down in your footpath
I cause chaos as I lie down in front of you.


Like a simile I paint suggestive pictures
I use similes to create suggestive imagery.


Call me freaky
Refer to me as strange and abnormal.


Call me childish
Refer to me as foolish and immature.


Call me Ishmael
Refer to me as the singer of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick.


Just call me back
Simply ask me to return.


Call me back and I'll follow you around
If you call me back, I'll be your follower.


I forget what my friends look like and they forget why they like me
I lose track of my friends' appearances, and they forget why they enjoy my company.


But that's old hat.
That is merely commonplace.


I'm so happy.
I am thrilled with joy.


How do you write about that?
How can one put such elation into words?


Disembodied ringlets
Locks of hair not attached to anyone.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AARON HUFFMAN, EVAN SULT, SEAN NELSON, JEFF LIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

derelict844

This might literally be one of the best songs ever that gets zero recognition. Like, ever. Listen to it again.

Moose Cannibal

"but that's old hat, I'm so happy, how do you write about that?..." was one of many reasons why I agree with you

simplemindedwolf

Hard to believe that it's been almost 20 years.... Ooh the memories. The first time I decided to pick up a guitar and seriously learn how to play was so I could play these songs. The first time trying to play this album for my friends and explain why I felt like it was so amazing, and getting that look of "What is this? This isn't Hanson". This was music. Sure, there was good music that came out during that decade that was also good (Not Hanson), but there was also something about Harvey Danger. I never grew out of it, and I would never want to. It's the first CD I ever bought myself and one of the only CD's I make sure is in my collection no matter what. My friends still think I'm weird, and I just smile. 

Salem Soreal

one of the most underrated albums ever

EaT YoUR CerEal

It sold half a million copies

Dusty

@EaT YoUR CerEal Selling well and rating well mean two different things. Flagpole Sitta still remains their only song widely known and acclaimed so I'd say it's fair to say the album as a whole is rated lower than it deserves amongst the public

Garrett Robbins

My brother got this CD back in '98 and never listened to it. I took it from him and i listened to it non stop. Still 14 years later it's still one of my favorite albums of the 90's, probably ever.

Kevin Abate

Well I used to have this album on tape cassette back in the day and it was far and away my favorite of all time. Got me through a lot of tough times.

transact69

Listening to this album for the first time in maybe 20 years (I know, WTF is wrong with me?) and not remembering the names of most of the songs but knowing them instantly as they start to play. Also, trying to remember which song was the best on the album (on an album where I liked every song, -pretty rare thing, right?).

So each song comes on, and I'm like \, "oh, this is the best so far." Then I hit this one. And now I'm certain - I expect to like the rest of them, but this song.... wow. I didn't remember the duet part towards the end even existed until I got to it, but by the time the first syllable was out of their mouths', it had all come back - I remembered it perfectly and sang every word along with them. Funny how that works - how you can remember music so well, but maybe need a brief reminder to pull it out.

One of the things that makes this album so good is very few of the songs have standard pop-song structure. No verse/corus repeat here. Fucking awesome. And emotion. Excellent tonal selection on the instruments, and dude's voice. Great lyrics. Crap, can't believe I haven't even thought about this album in years.

Patriotsfan123

This song is so good! Best song on the album in my opinion. Flagpole sitta and Wrecking Ball are also amazing.

More Comments

More Versions