In 2006 Isobel released a collaborative LP (Ballad of the Broken Seas) with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, a mixture of folk and more rock-orientated music. October 2006 also saw the release of her latest album, Milkwhite Sheets, a more acoustic folk album, consisting of a mixture of traditional songs alonside Isobel's own compositions.
Isobel's band The Gentle Waves released its first album on Jeepster Records, titled The Green Fields of Foreverland, in 1999. The second Gentle Waves record, Swansong For You came out one year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holliday songs, released by Creeping Bent.
In 2003 Campbell released Amorino, the first solo album under her own name, to very good reviews. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians.
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan form a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They have released three albums so far: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. And finally their third album Hawk was released in August 2010.
Why Does My Head Hurt So
Isobel Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me baby, why does my head hurt so?
I wish I never knew why
I wish I never heard those voices calling me
It's been a long time wandering all around the city square
Picking up nothing but garbage in the dirty rain
I get so tired of trying
Always the same playground
Swinging around and around
Always the same faces
Never an up or down
Baby, tell me why did I drift so far?
Tell me baby, why do I fall so hard?
I wish I never knew why
Sometimes I wish I were blind
Why does my head hurt so?
The lyrics of Isobel Campbell's song, "Why Does My Head Hurt So," convey a sense of longing and confusion. The singer is questioning the reasons for their pain, both emotional and physical. The opening line, "Baby, tell me why does it feel so bad?" sets the tone for the rest of the song. They are searching for answers, wondering where they went wrong and why they are hurting.
The second verse references the singer's feelings of aimlessness and exhaustion. "It's been a long time wandering all around the city square, picking up nothing but garbage in the dirty rain," they sing. The imagery is vivid, painting a picture of desolation and despair. The singer is tired of trying, and sometimes they wish to be blind to the world's ugliness.
The chorus repeats the question, "why does my head hurt so?" and the singer wonders why they have drifted so far and why they fall so hard. In the final verse, they reflect on the monotony of their life. They are stuck in the same pattern, the same faces, with no ups or downs. The song ends as it began, with the unanswered question of why they are hurting.
Overall, "Why Does My Head Hurt So" is a poignant and introspective examination of pain and confusion. The lyrics suggest a longing for answers, but ultimately, the singer is left in the same place where they started.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, tell me why does it feel so bad?
Asking why the current situation feels so unpleasant.
Tell me baby, why does my head hurt so?
Questioning the cause of the physical pain in the head.
I wish I never knew why
Expressing a desire for ignorance about the painful situation.
I wish I never heard those voices calling me
Regretting the influence of negative external influences.
It's been a long time wandering all around the city square
Describing a period of aimless wandering.
Picking up nothing but garbage in the dirty rain
Highlighting the difficulty and unpleasantness of the situation.
I get so tired of trying
Feeling exhausted from effort that doesn't pay off.
Sometimes my only wish is to be blind
Wishing to be oblivious to the harsh realities of the world.
Always the same playground
Feeling stuck in a repetitive cycle.
Swinging around and around
Repeating actions but getting nowhere.
Always the same faces
Being surrounded by familiar, but unfulfilling people.
Never an up or down
Never experiencing a meaningful change in circumstances.
Baby, tell me why did I drift so far?
Questioning how the current situation arose.
Tell me baby, why do I fall so hard?
Asking the reason for intense emotional pain.
Sometimes I wish I were blind
Desiring to escape from the unpleasant reality.
Why does my head hurt so?
Repeating the earlier question for emphasis and confusion.
Writer(s): Isobel Campbell Copyright: Chrysalis Music Ltd.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.