The band are best known for their singles "5 O'Clock" and "Saturday", and for their covers of Spirit of the West's "Home For a Rest" and AC/DC's "Long Way to the Top". In addition, the band recently hit it big with the single "Lost," which was featured in the promos for the NBC television show The Black Donnelly's. Their single Animal was featured on the soundtrack of the hit video games Burnout 3: Takedown and MX vs. ATV Unleashed.
The band's name comes from the occupation of the Campbell brothers prior to forming the band; they were mixing mortar and carrying bricks for bricklayers. The band was influenced by traditional Scottish music as well as hard rock groups like AC/DC. The Mudmen have opened for many bands, including ZZ Top, Tool, Dropkick Murphys and Bowling for Soup as well as fellow Canadians Nickelback, Sum 41 and The Guess Who.
The Mudmen have toured in Canada, the United States and Great Britain. The band has three albums, Mudmen (2000), Overrated (2003) and Defending the Kingdom (2005). Six Mudmen videos have been produced and shown on MuchMusic. As of 2005, the band is touring throughout Canada and are have released their third (October 11th) album Defending the Kingdom and are working on a live DVD.
In my head
Mudmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I only recently began to make some sense
I never knew I had a voice out here to deal with
A cent collector in a senseless fucking mess
I can't control all of these strangers in my head
Dangers in my head
I know, what the hell I'm thinking
I know, I need healing, in my head
Yeah, I just wanted you to see that I was worth it
I never asked or wanted anymore than that
I can't believe you made me out to be this worthless
A senseless mess is all the currency I've got
I can't control all of these strangers in my head
Dangers in my head
I know, what the hell I'm thinking
I know, I can't stop myself from sinking
I know, I need healing
In my head, in my head
Like water brings you life
And life can cut you down just like a knife
Like water brings you life
Is it real, is it real
(Music)
I know, what the hell I'm thinking
I know, I can't stop myself from sinking
I know, I know I need some healing
I need some healing, I need some healing
The lyrics to Mudmen's song In My Head are a powerful reflection on the internal struggles and turmoil that can consume a person's mind. The opening lines suggest a sense of detachment from reality, as the singer expresses that they "never knew [they] had reality to deal with." This can be interpreted as a statement on the overwhelming nature of the thoughts and emotions that plague the mind of someone struggling with mental health issues.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of being unable to control the "strangers in [the singer's] head" and the dangers they pose. Despite being aware of their internal struggles and the need for healing, the singer feels trapped and powerless, unable to stop themselves from "sinking" further into despair. The line "I just wanted you to see that I was worth it" is particularly poignant, as it suggests the singer may be seeking approval or validation from others to help combat their feelings of worthlessness.
The final verse brings together the themes of life and water, as the singer acknowledges that, like water, life can both sustain and harm. The repetition of "I know" throughout the song adds a sense of urgency to the need for healing and highlights the struggle to control one's thoughts and emotions.
Overall, In My Head is a haunting and powerful depiction of the debilitating effects of mental health issues and the need for healing and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew I had reality to deal with
The singer was ignorant of the actual world and the challenges it brings.
I only recently began to make some sense
The singer started to comprehend life and its intricacies only recently.
I never knew I had a voice out here to deal with
The singer was unaware of the power of their voice in the outside world.
A cent collector in a senseless f*cking mess
The artist feels like their existence is meaningless and they have no worth.
I can't control all of these strangers in my head, dangers in my head
The artist is struggling to control their thoughts and emotions, which are causing them harm and distress.
I know, what the hell I'm thinking
The singer has self-awareness of their thoughts, and acknowledges their confusion.
I know, I can't stop myself from sinking
The singer is aware they are struggling, but cannot seem to fix their problems.
I know, I need healing, in my head
The artist is aware that they need help to heal their mental and emotional turmoil.
Yeah, I just wanted you to see that I was worth it
The artist wants to prove their worth and importance to someone/people who they feel have devalued them.
I never asked or wanted anymore than that
The artist never wanted anything more than to be acknowledged and valued.
I can't believe you made me out to be this worthless
The singer is shocked and hurt that somebody has portrayed them as being insignificant and having no value.
A senseless mess is all the currency I've got
The artist feels like they have nothing valuable to offer and are just a mess with no purpose.
Like water brings you life, and life can cut you down just like a knife
Life can be both nourishing and destructive, like water and a knife.
Is it real, is it real
The singer questions the authenticity of their experiences and emotions.
I know, what the hell I'm thinking
The singer reiterates their self-awareness and confusion of their thoughts.
I know, I can't stop myself from sinking
The artist acknowledges they need help with their struggles and cannot overcome them alone.
I know, I know I need some healing
The artist has realized they require assistance to aid themselves from their emotional turmoil.
I need some healing, I need some healing
The singer requests assistance in furthering their process of intentional recovery.
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.