The discography of Helmet boasts eight studio albums and two compilation albums. Following their initial release, "Strap It On" (1990), through Amphetamine Reptile, Helmet inked a deal with Interscope Records, leading to three albums under the label, notably the highly successful "Meantime" (1992). While their subsequent works, "Betty" (1994) and "Aftertaste" (1997), achieved considerable success, they fell short of matching the critical and popular acclaim garnered by "Meantime." After disbanding in 1998, Helmet regrouped in 2004 and has since presented four additional albums: "Size Matters" (2004), "Monochrome" (2006), "Seeing Eye Dog" (2010), and "Dead to the World" (2016). Currently, the band is actively engaged in the creation of their ninth studio album.
Discography
Strap It On (1990)
Meantime (1992)
Betty (1994)
Aftertaste (1997)
Size Matters (2004)
Monochrome (2006)
Seeing Eye Dog (2010)
Dead to the World (2016)
Overrated
Helmet Lyrics
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It came so slow you don't remember
When you got so fat
Up above the bathroom mirror the light'll
Make you weak but
It's that pacifying lie that grows now
Every week
I'll never forget things like, 'who did what?'
Cover old ground and drag
What's useless up
I won't feel guilty about being late again
There's no one to answer to and
No one to hate
Helmet's song Overrated is a commentary on life in modern society and the feelings of dissatisfaction that come along with it. The opening line, "Today's another day you won't deny that," suggests a sense of mundanity in everyday life, as if each day is just a repeat of the last. The following line, "It came so slow you don't remember when you got so fat," speaks to the idea that time passes without us even realizing it. We become caught up in the day-to-day and before we know it, we've lost track of ourselves and our goals.
The image of the bathroom mirror is powerful because it's a place where we often look at ourselves and judge our appearances. The line "Up above the bathroom mirror the light'll make you weak" suggests that our self-reflection can be crippling. We can be too hard on ourselves, leading to feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. But, as the song suggests, the lie that we tell ourselves that everything will be okay is "pacifying." We try to convince ourselves that we're happy or satisfied with our lives, but deep down we know that we're not.
The chorus, "And still you hate it, it's overrated" speaks to the idea that we've bought into the idea of what our lives should be, but in reality, it's not all it's cracked up to be. We're left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. The final verse suggests that we shouldn't feel guilty for being late or not meeting societal expectations because there's no one to answer to and no one to hate. It's a reminder to live life on our own terms and not worry about conforming to societal standards.
Line by Line Meaning
Today's another day you won't deny that
You acknowledge that another day has passed.
It came so slow you don't remember when you got so fat
Time went by slowly and gradually that you didn't realize you gained weight.
Up above the bathroom mirror the light'll make you weak but it's that pacifying lie that grows now every week
The bathroom mirror is where you see your weaknesses and imperfections under the harsh, unforgiving light. But you've learned to pacify yourself with excuses and lies that are becoming more frequent and acceptable to you.
And still you hate it, it's overrated
Despite trying to convince yourself otherwise, you still hate your current situation and believe it's overrated.
I'll never forget things like, 'who did what?' Cover old ground and drag what's useless up
You dwell too much on the past and bring up old, irrelevant issues and conflicts.
I won't feel guilty about being late again, there's no one to answer to and no one to hate
You don't feel guilty for being late because you are not accountable to anyone and you don't have anyone to resent for it.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAGE NYE HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind