Best known for their raucous live performances, the band became one of the most commercially successful Canadian rock bands of the 1990s. Over their career the band enjoyed nationwide radio-play in Canada and had several Juno Award nominations. Their musicianship is typically tight and energetic, their music usually heavy and rough; lyrics range from break-ups to addiction, damnation to necrophilia.
The band signed to MCA Records in 1993 and released Picture of Health, with the original drummer Mark Gibson, but he left the band after touring for Picture of Health was over. Dale Harrison was recruited for the follow-up Teeth and Tissue in 1995. The band broke more ground in 1996 with Juno Award nominations for Best Group and Best Rock Album, while releasing Smile and Wave that same year. Three years passed before Nickels for Your Nightmares was released, in which time Carr and Harrison became fathers and Dillon recovered from a drug addiction. The band would release one more album, on BMG, entitled The Oracle of Hi-Fi, before a break up in 2003
Frontman Hugh Dillon has appeared in several films, including the mockumentary Hard Core Logo. He has also played a main role as one of the police officers in the popular show, Flashpoint, shown on CBS/CTV. He heads the Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir.
The original band members reunited in February 2011 for a mini tour. They released the album, titled Love + Fury, on 14 May 2013.
Without a Sound
Headstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and everyone agreed it was tasteful
She had declined to meet their eyes
for at this point she was unable
she held her breath where the water met her steps
steeled herself for the journey
fantasized for years that there'd be no tears
for them all she was in no freakin' hurry
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
gracefully she mimicked dreams
played out each and every scene
cancelled the paper while making tea that morning
with every obligation met she climbed the steps and into that dress
she hit her marks and the exit planned was glory
her mindset was elaborate
no need for a jacket, stimulant, depressant, or placebo
she'd been alone for years with the grinding of the gears
waiting for the pull of the ocean
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
she's going down without a sound, without a sound
she wore a beautiful dress to her own death
from the rocks to the beach into the ocean
coast guard said it's the strangest thing
she seemed to grimace, then to wink
but I knew it was a smile that had frozen
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
she's going down without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
The lyrics to Headstones' song "Without A Sound" tell the story of a woman who has planned her own suicide down to the very last detail. She wears a beautiful dress and declines to meet anyone's eyes as she walks down to the water's edge. She holds her breath as she steps into the ocean and begins her journey to the other side.
The woman has fantasized for years about her own death and has made sure that everything is in order before she goes. She cancels her paper and meets all of her obligations before climbing the steps and into her dress. She has no need for anything else as she waits for the pull of the ocean to take her away.
The song speaks to the loneliness and desperation that can lead someone to take their own life. The woman in the song is not seeking attention or sympathy, she just wants to quietly slip away without making a sound.
Line by Line Meaning
she wore a beautiful dress to her own death
She chose to wear a nice dress when she decided to take her own life.
and everyone agreed it was tasteful
Other people thought the dress was appropriate for the situation.
She had declined to meet their eyes
She was avoiding eye contact with others.
for at this point she was unable
She was overcome with emotions and couldn't bring herself to look at anyone.
she held her breath where the water met her steps
She took a deep breath before taking the last steps of her life towards the water.
steeled herself for the journey
She prepared herself for the end.
fantasized for years that there'd be no tears
She hoped that people would not cry over her death.
for them all she was in no freakin' hurry
She believed that her loved ones would be better off without her.
without a sound, without a sound, without a sound
She went through with her plan quietly and without drawing attention to herself.
gracefully she mimicked dreams
Her actions were smooth and elegant, as if they were part of a dream.
played out each and every scene
She choreographed every moment leading up to her death.
cancelled the paper while making tea that morning
She took care of loose ends and tied up any unfinished business before she died.
with every obligation met she climbed the steps and into that dress
She completed all her responsibilities before following through with her plan.
she hit her marks and the exit planned was glory
She executed her plan perfectly and expected to go out with a bang.
her mindset was elaborate
She had an intricate plan for her death.
no need for a jacket, stimulant, depressant, or placebo
She didn't need anything to make the experience easier or more comfortable.
she'd been alone for years with the grinding of the gears
She had been struggling alone for years before she decided to end her life.
waiting for the pull of the ocean
She had been waiting for the moment when she would finally follow through with her plan.
she's going down without a sound, without a sound
She went into the water quietly and with no fuss.
from the rocks to the beach into the ocean
She walked from the rocks to the beach before going into the water.
coast guard said it's the strangest thing
The coast guard found her death to be unusual.
she seemed to grimace, then to wink
She made a facial expression that seemed to be a smile or a wink.
but I knew it was a smile that had frozen
Her smile was a result of the cold water, not happiness or contentment.
Contributed by Grayson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michelle Cassar
on Nickels For Your Nightmares
Oops - that's "Lacks AN educated edge". :)
Michelle CassarMichelle Cassar
on Nickels For Your Nightmares
I'm pretty sure it's "Lacks and educated edge" rather than "That's an educated edge".