Head Automatica is an electronic rock/power pop band, formed by Glassjaw fr… Read Full Bio ↴Head Automatica is an electronic rock/power pop band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo.

Their debut album, Decadence, was released in August 2004 and featured the modest alternative radio hit "Beating Heart Baby". It was produced by Dan 'The Automator' Nakamura, famous for his work with groups including Gorillaz and Handsome Boy Modeling School. The band issued Popaganda in 2006, which featured the singles "Lying Through Your Teeth" and "Graduation Day"

The current members are:

Daryl Palumbo: Vocals
Jessie Nelson: Keyboards/Backup Vocals
Jarvis Morgan Holden: Bass Guitar
Sammy Siegler: Drums
Craig Bonich: Guitar

Egyptian Musk
Head Automatica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Egyptian Musk
Egyptian Musk
When the village came with fire, you were hiding on the right
I knew you might
The blood of Christ
I tell you lies, I have found
I've seen a million religions on the ground
There's a suicidal Taliban for talent on the cusp

Egyptian Musk
Egyptian Musk

Is that your love down on the ground?
I see forever coming down
Look around look around
It makes everything okay

So celebrate the ignorance
And drizzle it in violence
And may you pledge a sore allegiance with every auto and appliance
Because they win if we don't go about life like we should
I knew you would
They knew you would
I'll tell you lies, I have found
I've seen a million religions on the ground
There's a suicidal Taliban for talent on the cusp
Egyptian Musk
Egyptian Musk

Is that your love down on the ground?
I see forever coming down
Look around look around
It makes everything okay

Is that your love down on the ground?
I see forever coming down
Look around look around
It makes everything okay

Where does your High School stand?
Where does your High School stand?
Where does your High School stand?
Where does your High School stand?

Lies, I've seen a few
I've seen a million in a nation in a feud
So if happiness is knowing, the knowledge I have not
We knew you'd pop
Your head went "pop"

Is that your love down on the ground?
I see forever coming down
Look around look around
It makes everything okay

Is that your love down on the ground?
I see forever coming down

Look around look around
It makes everything okay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Egyptian Musk" by Head Automatica are ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, the overall theme of the song revolves around questioning the concept of religion and fanaticism. The first verse speaks about hiding from the village who came with fire. It could refer to religious persecution, where someone who questions the dominant beliefs of a community is labeled a heretic. The blood of Christ and the references to a million religions on the ground reinforce this interpretation. The chorus, "Egyptian Musk," could be interpreted as a symbol of something ancient and mysterious, that people cling onto in the absence of real answers.

The second verse talks about celebrating ignorance and violence while pledging allegiance to materialistic objects. This is another reference to the futility of blind faith and consumerism. The lines, "they win if we don't go about life like we should," imply that there is a right way to live. The bridge speaks about how lies have caused wars and conflicts, and no one has the answer to true happiness. The ending lines, "Your head went pop," are enigmatic and could mean a metaphorical explosion of the mind, realizing the meaninglessness of life, or a literal explosion of religious fanaticism.

Line by Line Meaning

Egyptian Musk
The title of the song, perhaps referencing the scent of perfume that is often used in Egypt

Egyptian Musk
Repeating the title of the song for emphasis

When the village came with fire, you were hiding on the right
When things got heated, you chose to hide while others stood up for what they believed in

I knew you might
I expected you to act this way

The blood of Christ
Possibly referring to the sacrifice of Jesus and the ultimate price of standing up for what you believe in

I tell you lies, I have found
I've discovered that lying can be a powerful tool

I've seen a million religions on the ground
Many belief systems have crumbled and failed throughout history

There's a suicidal Taliban for talent on the cusp
There are extremist groups in the world that seem to be teetering on the edge of destruction, yet are still dangerous

Egyptian Musk
Repeating the title of the song

Is that your love down on the ground?
Is your love and passion for something lying helpless and defeated?

I see forever coming down
I see this defeat as a permanent loss

Look around look around
Pay attention to the world and the state it's in

It makes everything okay
Despite the chaos and pain, everything will ultimately be okay

So celebrate the ignorance
People often choose to be blissfully ignorant rather than confront harsh truths

And drizzle it in violence
This ignorance can lead to violent actions and behavior

And may you pledge a sore allegiance with every auto and appliance
We often form strong attachments to material possessions, even to the point of hurting others

Because they win if we don't go about life like we should
Those in power benefit from our complacency and lack of action

I knew you would
I expected you to act this way

They knew you would
Those in power knew that people would choose ignorance over action

Where does your High School stand?
Perhaps referencing social cliques and divisions within society

Lies, I've seen a few
I've witnessed many lies and deceptions in my time

I've seen a million in a nation in a feud
Entire nations have fought and suffered due to lies and conflict

So if happiness is knowing, the knowledge I have not
If true happiness comes from knowledge, then I understand that I still have much to learn

We knew you'd pop, Your head went "pop"
Your mind couldn't handle the truth and you broke down

Is that your love down on the ground?
Repeating the same question from earlier

I see forever coming down
Repeating the same line again

Look around look around
Repeating the same line once more

It makes everything okay
Repeating the same line one final time