Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon … Read Full Bio ↴Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon in 1992. Consisting of Elliott Smith (guitar and vocals), Neil Gust (guitar and vocals), Brandt Peterson (bass; later to be replaced by Sam Coomes, frontman of Quasi), and Tony Lash (drums), they were known for their well-crafted lyrics and songs featuring melancholic and cheery words and melodies. The pop-oriented songs of Elliott Smith were a contrast to the darker songs of Gust, while both Smith and Gust's songs touched on subjects such as anger, alienation, loneliness and despair.

The band broke up in the fall of 1996 after Smith's solo work began gaining popularity. Gust went on to play in the band No. 2. Coomes carried on as half of Quasi, as well as playing as a guest musician for Built to Spill and Sleater-Kinney. Lash currently keeps himself busy as a producer. He helped with the production of Death Cab for Cutie's first two studio albums (Something About Airplanes and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes).

Cannibal
Heatmiser Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Up on the rooftop my head explodes
Just like the fourth of July
I'm about to say I'm about to want you so
I just feel blue like so many other times

Don't put my name to shame
I listen when my mama calls me
I ain't no broad-faced lie

Trying to take anybody off to see
I listen when my mama calls me
I ain't no broad faced lie
Trying to take anybody off to see

I got 'em in the live
Gotta get this off my head
Why'd you lead me around for so long
Like nobody can
Don't you know what kinda guy I am

Don't put my name to shame
I listen when my mama calls me
I ain't no broad-faced lie
Trying to take anybody off to see
I listen when my mama calls me
I ain't no broad-faced lie
Trying to take anybody off to see

Why'd you lead me around for so long

Like nobody can
Don't you know what kinda guy I am

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Heatmiser's "Cannibal" describe the turmoil and frustration of someone who is in love with a person that they feel is leading them on. The first two lines of the song are striking, as they describe the singer's head exploding, representing the intense emotions they are feeling. The simile of "just like the fourth of July" ties this image with the explosive nature of fireworks. The singer then admits that they are about to confess their love but also feels blue, as they have been in this position before and it hasn't ended well.

The second verse is more confrontational. The singer is expressing their anger and disappointment towards the person they love. They feel like they've been led on for too long and are unaware of what kind of person they are. The repetition of "I listen when my mama calls me" suggests that the singer is not deceptive or manipulative, unlike the person they are in love with. They are trying to adhere to a code of honesty and integrity, and they don't want to be associated with any deceit.

Overall, "Cannibal" is a song about people who are struggling in a relationship where they feel powerless and at the mercy of the other person's whims. The singer is trying to protect themselves from getting hurt by sticking to their values, but they are also dealing with intense emotions that are impossible to ignore.

Line by Line Meaning

Up on the rooftop my head explodes
I am overwhelmed, my thoughts are racing so fast that my head feels like it's about to explode.

Just like the fourth of July
It's explosive and intense, like fireworks on Fourth of July.

I'm about to say I'm about to want you so
I'm about to confess that I really want you.

I just feel blue like so many other times
I feel sad, like I have felt so many times before.

Don't put my name to shame
Don't make me look bad.

I listen when my mama calls me
I am a respectful person who listens to my mother when she wants to speak to me.

I ain't no broad-faced lie
I am not a liar.

Trying to take anybody off to see
I don't try to deceive or mislead anyone.

I got 'em in the live
I have a lot of feelings and emotions that need to be expressed.

Gotta get this off my head
I need to express what is on my mind and relieve the mental burden.

Why'd you lead me around for so long
Why did you make me go through all this trouble for so long?

Like nobody can
As if nobody else could have gone through what I did.

Don't you know what kinda guy I am
Don't you understand my character and who I am as a person?

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LUKE SMITH, JASON DIAZ, COLEMAN TRAPP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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