Head was born in London to parents Seafield Head, (1919-2009) a documentary-maker, and Helen Shingler, an actress (1919-2019). His younger brother is Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Britain star Anthony Stewart Head.
Head began acting and writing songs as a child, and by the mid-1960s had a London recording contract. He had limited success (although some of his early singles now appear on mod/psych compilations, enjoying a cult status) until he was selected by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Judas Iscariot on the original album version of Jesus Christ Superstar. At around the same time he won a leading role in the Oscar-winning Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), alongside Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson. Despite these successes, he received little public attention in the next ten years (save for 1975's Say It Ain't So Joe), reappearing in the spotlight in 1984 as the star of the musical, Chess. The song "One Night in Bangkok", from Chess, featuring Head on lead vocal, became a radio hit.
After his 1984 hit "One Night In Bangkok", Head has had little attention internationally. Fluent in French, he has released some albums in that language, notably the song "Une femme un homme", a duet with Marie Carmen released in 1993 which became a radio hit in French-speaking Canada.
Some of his most recent work was in Luc Plamondon's musical comedy Cindy, in which he played Cindy's father.
Head is currently playing a character on ITV's Heartbeat.
Heaven On Their Minds
Murray Head Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At last
All too well
I can see
Where we all
Soon will be
If you strip away
The myth
You will see
Where we all
Soon will be
Jesus
You've started to believe
The things they say of you
You really do believe
This talk of God is true
And all the good you've done
Will soon be swept away
You've begun to matter more
Than the things you say
Listen Jesus
I don't like what I see
All I ask is that you listen to me
And remember
I've been your right hand man all along
You have set them all on fire
They think they've found the new Messiah
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong
I remember when this whole thing began
No talk of God then, we called you a man
And believe me
My admiration for you hasn't died
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied
Nazareth's most famous son
Should have stayed a great unknown
Like his father carving wood
He'd have made good
Tables, chairs and oaken chests
Would have suited Jesus best
He'd have caused nobody harm
No one alarm
Listen Jesus, do you care for your race?
Don't you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied
Have you forgotten how put down we are?
I am frightened by the crowd
For we are getting much too loud
And they'll crush us if we go too far
If we go too far
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please remember that I want us to live
But it's sad to see our chances weakening with every hour
All your followers are blind
Too much heaven on their minds
It was beautiful, but now it's sour
Yes it's all gone sour
Ah ah ah ah ah
God Jesus, it's all gone sour
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please remember that I want us to live
So come on, come on, listen to me
Ah ah
Come on, listen, listen to me
Come on and listen to me
Ah ah
"Heaven on Their Minds" is a song from the rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar. The lyrics are sung by Judas Iscariot, who is warning Jesus about some of his followers who think he is the son of God and are getting out of control. In the beginning, he finally sees his mind clearly and where they all will end up soon. From his perspective, he suggests that if the people banish the myth of the man, they will understand the reality of their situation. Judas sees that Jesus is starting to believe that he is the son of God, and all the good things that he has done will be abandoned. More importantly, they will soon hurt Jesus when they realize that they were wrong about him.
Judas sees himself as Jesus's right-hand man, and Jesus has ignored his warnings. In Judas's eyes, Jesus has spoken in different ways that can be interpreted as wrong, and they will hurt him if he does not realize it. However, Judas doesn't want Jesus to put himself in a position to be hurt. Instead, he wants him to hear him and live. But for now, people are getting much too loud, and they will crush them if they go too far. The song ends with a repetition of wanting Jesus to listen to the warning he gives.
Line by Line Meaning
My mind is clearer now
I am now able to see more clearly.
At last
After a long time.
All too well
In a manner indicating a painful awareness of having experienced or seen something before.
I can see
I am now able to perceive.
Where we all
The place where all of us.
Soon will be
Will arrive at eventually.
If you strip away
If you remove or take away.
The myth
The widely held but false belief or idea about someone or something.
From the man
From the actual person.
You will see
You will be able to perceive and understand.
Jesus
The central figure of Christianity.
You've started to believe
You have begun to accept as true.
The things they say of you
What others are saying about you.
You really do believe
You actually believe.
This talk of God is true
The idea that God exists is accurate.
And all the good you've done
All the positive actions you have taken.
Will soon be swept away
Will soon disappear or be forgotten.
You've begun to matter more
Your importance has increased.
Than the things you say
More than the words you speak.
Listen Jesus
Please pay attention, Jesus.
I don't like what I see
I am concerned and troubled by what I am observing.
All I ask is that you listen to me
I am only requesting that you hear and consider my words.
And remember
Please bear in mind.
I've been your right hand man all along
I have been your closest and most trusted assistant throughout.
You have set them all on fire
You have excited and energized them.
They think they've found the new Messiah
They believe that they have discovered a new savior figure.
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong
They will cause you harm when they realize their mistake.
I remember when this whole thing began
I recall the beginning of this entire situation.
No talk of God then, we called you a man
At that time, there was no talk about divinity, and we referred to you as a regular person.
And believe me
Please trust and believe what I am saying.
My admiration for you hasn't died
I still feel great respect and admiration for you.
But every word you say today
The things you are saying currently.
Gets twisted 'round some other way
Gets distorted or misrepresented in other ways.
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied
They will cause you harm if they believe you have been dishonest.
Nazareth's most famous son
The most well-known person from Nazareth.
Should have stayed a great unknown
Would have been better off remaining a relatively anonymous figure.
Like his father carving wood
Should have continued in his father's profession of woodworking.
He'd have made good
He would have been successful.
Tables, chairs and oaken chests
Furniture items made from oak.
Would have suited Jesus best
Would have been the most appropriate and fitting job for Jesus.
He'd have caused nobody harm
He would have not caused any harm to anyone.
No one alarm
Nobody would have been concerned or worried.
Listen Jesus, do you care for your race?
Jesus, do you have any concern for your people?
Don't you see we must keep in our place?
Don't you realize that we need to remain in our designated position in society?
We are occupied
We are being controlled or governed by outside forces.
Have you forgotten how put down we are?
Are you not aware of how oppressed and mistreated we are?
I am frightened by the crowd
The crowd is making me afraid and uneasy.
For we are getting much too loud
We are attracting too much attention and becoming too boisterous.
And they'll crush us if we go too far
They will harm or suppress us if we push things too much.
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please heed the caution and advice I am providing, Jesus.
Please remember that I want us to live
Please bear in mind that I desire for us to survive and not be harmed.
But it's sad to see our chances weakening with every hour
It is disheartening to witness our odds of success decreasing steadily over time.
All your followers are blind
All of your supporters are ignorant or naïve.
Too much heaven on their minds
They are overly fixated on matters of spirituality and divine matters.
It was beautiful, but now it's sour
The situation was once pleasant and promising, but now it has turned negative and unpleasant.
Yes it's all gone sour
Indeed, everything has turned negative.
Ah ah ah ah ah
Vocalization.
God Jesus, it's all gone sour
An expression of disappointment and disillusionment with the current state of affairs in the context of religion.
So come on, come on, listen to me
An urgent plea for Jesus' attention and heed.
Ah ah
Vocalization.
Come on, listen, listen to me
Please listen carefully to what I am saying.
Come on and listen to me
Please pay attention to me.
Ah ah
Vocalization.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind