Though his name is sometimes assumed to be a pseudonym due to its similarity to German composer Kurt Weill, it is in fact his birth name, as given by his parents Donna and Charles Vile.
Vile began his musical career in 2003 creating lo-fi home recordings with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel. The duo subsequently formed the indie rock band The War on Drugs in 2005. Vile departed following the release of their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008.
Vile's music has been likened to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty. His first album for Matador, titled Childish Prodigy was released in October 2009. Prior to signing with Matador, Vile released two albums, God Is Saying This To You and Constant Hitmaker, on Mexican Summer and Woodsist, respectively. He plays both solo shows as well as shows with a backing band called The Violators.
Smoke Ring For My Halo, released in March of 2011, is Kurt Vile's fourth album and second official release for Matador Records. Uncut placed the album at number 14 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" and garnered Vile the iTunes #Rewind2011 Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year. Vile followed up the widely acclaimed album with the six-song EP release, So Outta Reach, in November of the same year. The EP was composed of tracks originating from the same sessions that birthed Smoke Ring for My Halo. So Outta Reach includes the single 'The Creature', acknowledged as one of Vile's best, and a driving rock cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'Downbound Train'.
Lost my Head there
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost my head there
Lost my head there
Lost my head there
I don't wanna sit around, walk around today
I'd much rather levitate
I was buggin' out 'bout a couple-two-three things
I was feeling worse than the words come out
Fell on some keys, and this song walked outta me
Lost my head
Yes, that's how we like it there
Lost my head there
I don't wanna talk about it, yell about it, oh no
Me, I just wanna sing about it
Lost my head there for a second
Had a little funky psychosis, oh sweet relief
I don't wanna sit around and walk around at all today
So I gone went ahead and just levitated
Lost my head there, whoops
Lost my head there again
Didn't wanna mess around, look around at all of it
But then I did though
The lyrics to Kurt Vile's song "Lost my Head There" appear to describe the artist's state of mind and his desire to escape from the challenges he is facing. The repeated phrase "Lost my head there" suggests that Vile is experiencing some kind of mental disorientation or breakdown, which he may find cathartic. He expresses an urgent need to "levitate" and escape from the burdens of his day-to-day life, suggesting that he is struggling with some kind of internal or external pressure.
Vile suggests that his creative outlet is the best way for him to deal with these challenges. He explains that he was "buggin' out 'bout a couple-two-three things" when he picked up his microphone and started to sing. Despite feeling "worse than the words come out," he began to play some keys and the song "walked outta me." This suggests that creating music is a core part of Vile's coping mechanism. He finds solace in the process of creating music, and this helps him deal with the challenges he faces.
Overall, "Lost my Head There" appears to be a song about mental health and the power of music to help us cope with challenges. The repeated phrase "Lost my head there" suggests a temporary mental disorientation or breakdown, which Vile finds cathartic. He uses his creative outlet as a means of escape and finds solace in the process of creating music.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost my head there
The singer experienced a moment of disorientation or confusion.
Lost my head there
The singer reiterates the experience of losing their composure.
Lost my head there
The singer emphasizes the experience of losing control.
Lost my head there
The artist repeats the phrase to emphasize how disorienting the experience was.
I don't wanna sit around, walk around today
The artist does not want to engage with the world today.
I'd much rather levitate
The singer would prefer to escape or transcend their current state.
I was buggin' out 'bout a couple-two-three things
The singer was experiencing anxiety or distress about multiple issues.
Picked up my microphone and started to sing
The artist used music as a form of catharsis or release.
I was feeling worse than the words come out
The artist's emotional state was more intense than their words could express.
Fell on some keys, and this song walked outta me
The artist's emotions and music combined to create the song spontaneously.
Lost my head
The singer repeats the phrase as a reminder of the experience of losing control.
Yes, that's how we like it there
The artist implies that some people enjoy feeling out of control or disoriented.
Lost my head there
The singer reiterates the experience of losing their composure.
I don't wanna talk about it, yell about it, oh no
The singer does not want to engage with their negative emotions directly or confrontationally.
Me, I just wanna sing about it
The singer prefers to express their emotions through music rather than direct confrontation.
Lost my head there for a second
The artist reiterates the short-lived experience of losing control.
Had a little funky psychosis, oh sweet relief
The artist suggests that their disorientation brought a sense of relief or release.
I don't wanna sit around and walk around at all today
The singer reiterates their desire to withdraw from the world for the day.
So I gone went ahead and just levitated
The singer fantasizes about transcending their current state through levitation.
Lost my head there, whoops
The artist uses humor to acknowledge and downplay their moment of confusion.
Lost my head there again
The artist describes a repeated moment of disorientation.
Didn't wanna mess around, look around at all of it
The artist does not want to engage with the distractions and challenges of the world.
But then I did though
The singer contradicts themselves, implying that they are unable to fully withdraw from the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kurt Vile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gren Marton
on Wheelhouse
Sometimes I talk too much but I gotta get it out
But I don’t wanna talk, I only wanna listen
My baby talks soft, my ears are always ringing now
Humming a sad song when I’m alone
But you gotta be alone to figure things out sometimes
Be alone, when even in a crowd of friends and not so
Sometimes of whom you just can’t distinguish but
Thank god for the former, yeah
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside
There’s a desert down below the earth’s core
A hidden staircase in the house that you reside in
A little something from the cupboard over there
A little medicine, it’s a medication situation
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside