Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Headache
Liz Phair Lyrics
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On one side of me lies the enemy, the other half is dead
I've got diamonds and I've got pearls
And I said, "Hey mister, won't you come for me?"
You can take me home, but I will never be your girl
I won't let your mystery unfurl
That's the whole thing about it
I've been waiting at the bus stop
Come my way?
"Hey mister, won't you come for me?"
I'm a psychosomatic sister
Running around without a leash
You can take me home, but I will never be your girl
I won't let your mystery unfurl
With the Russian army rolling in my head
Snow is falling, January's all across the land
I've got seven other men in the ditches behind me
And I think I'm the last survivor
"Hey mister, won't you come for me?"
I'm a psychosomatic sister
Running around without a leash
You can take me home, but I will never be your girl
I won't let your mystery unfurl
The lyrics to Liz Phair's song "Headache" seem to switch between different scenarios and feelings that the singer is experiencing. Firstly, there's a fear of intrusion and invasion, as the Russian army is depicted as rolling through the singer's head. The enemy lies on one side, the other half is dead, indicating a potential internal conflict. Despite this, the singer has some valuable possessions ("diamonds and pearls") and is inviting someone ("Hey mister, won't you come for me?") to come and take her home. However, she asserts her independence by stating that she won't be his girl and won't let his mystery unravel.
The chorus seems to break away temporarily from these thoughts and feelings, with the singer saying that she is so in love today and is waiting at the bus stop, wondering if the person she is directed her words towards will come her way. The last verse brings the singer back to a fearful or dangerous situation, with snow falling and January spreading across the land. The singer has seven men in the ditches behind, and she feels like she's the last survivor. Her "psychosomatic" tendencies are revealed again, with her running around without a leash, and once more, she invites the same person to take her home, but she reminds him that she will never be his girl and won't let his mystery unravel.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of conflict and anxiety, alongside a desire for independence and freedom. The different scenes that the singer moves through indicate a potential mental or emotional instability, which is emphasized by the reference to psychosomatic tendencies. "Headache" seems to be a song about the complicated nature of human relationships and the need for personal resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see the Russian Army rolling through my head
My head is filled with chaotic thoughts and ideas that are clashing like an army attack
On one side of me lies the enemy, the other half is dead
My mind is split between negative thoughts and numbing emptiness
I've got diamonds and I've got pearls
I have material possessions, but they do not bring me happiness or fulfillment
And I said, 'Hey mister, won't you come for me?'
I am looking for someone to rescue me from my mental turmoil
You can take me home, but I will never be your girl
I may accept help, but I will not be controlled or forced into anything
I won't let your mystery unfurl
I will not reveal my true self to anyone, keeping my mystery intact
That's the whole thing about it
The complexity of my mental state cannot be easily explained or solved
I'm so in love today
My emotions are volatile, constantly changing and difficult to manage
I've been waiting at the bus stop
I am feeling stuck and waiting for something to change my situation
Come my way?
Is there any hope for my situation to improve?
I'm a psychosomatic sister
I am physically and mentally affected by my anxiety and stress
Running around without a leash
My mind is constantly racing and out of control
With the Russian army rolling in my head
My thoughts are chaotic and overwhelming, like a foreign army invading my mind
Snow is falling, January's all across the land
My mental state is cold, bleak and barren like a winter landscape
I've got seven other men in the ditches behind me
My past experiences and traumas are weighing me down, causing me to feel trapped
And I think I'm the last survivor
I feel alone and isolated in my struggles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dannlynch
I'm lucky enough to have met Liz a few times and I asked her about the lyric flub in this song and she said that she just liked the way it sounded and that she fought very hard with the record company to keep it in the song. Gotta love her!!!!!!!!!!
Dylan Evans
That's so cool!! I have never noticed a flub!! haha
jadudar
I always thought it was deliberate. I will die with this song embedded in my stupid twentieth century cortex.
Seven other men in the ditches behind me…
TheChris403
The flub has always been my favorite part of the song.
Jordan Miguel Adorno
Absolutely one of the most amazing songs ever made. Beyond catchy and deep; possibly about the Russian Campaign of 1812?
jadudar
I often steal lyrics in speech (especially in corp bs). “I got seven other men in the ditches behind me” is one of my favorites. Thank you Liz.
Toyiah
Haha that's just Liz being Liz and definitely the best part of the song!
JPCurtis71
Coolest girl to ever walk the earth. Juliana Hatfield a close second.
George Karadimos
awesome song from an awesome. I'm loading it back on the Ipod later..it's been a little while...great record!
carl tucker jr
<3 got some thing right there you are a art,es in heart