Off With Their Heads is a punk rock band from Minneapolis that has included… Read Full Bio ↴Off With Their Heads is a punk rock band from Minneapolis that has included members of bands such as Rivethead, Dillinger Four, Dear Landlord, The Fake Boys and Banner Pilot. Most of their releases have been splits (with bands that include Blotto, The Measure (SA), Tiltwheel and J Church), 7" singles and EP's, notably the Hospitals 12" EP in 2006. In 2007 they released the compilation All Things Move Towards Their End which collected songs from their splits as well as compilation contributions from 2003 - 2006, most of it previously only available on vinyl. Their first full-length, From the Bottom, was released on No Idea Records in 2008. In 2010 Epitaph Records released In Desolation.

S.O.S
Off With Their Heads Lyrics

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You don't know struggle.
You don't know sorrow.
You don't know what it's like
To have to watch somebody die.

So don't pretend to act like you know me,
And pick apart a mind you don't understand.
The book is long,

Descriptive and haunting.
It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.

You don't know struggle.
You don't know sorrow.
You don't know what it's like
To watch somebody die.

So don't pretend to act like you know me,
And pick apart a mind you don't understand.
The book is long,
Descriptive and haunting.
It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.

So what's it like to have that comfort
To know you'll always be covered,
And to know someone will be there?
I've never had that comfort
Or enjoyed the luxuries of being covered.
So night after night, after night, after night, after night, after night,
I'll be staying up late.
I'll be fighting off the shakes
And puking out the window,
Repressing things you can never know.

I'll be staying up late.
I'll be fighting off the shakes

And puking out the window,
Repressing things you can never know.

Overall Meaning

In "SOS," Off With Their Heads' lead singer Ryan Young expresses his frustration with people who claim to understand his struggles and pain when they haven't experienced them firsthand. He begins the song by highlighting the experience of watching someone close to you die, emphasizing the overwhelming pain and helplessness that comes with it. He instructs others not to attempt to "pick apart" his mind and emotions because it's full of experiences and feelings they can't even begin to comprehend.

Young goes on to express the envy he feels towards people who have a sense of comfort and security in their lives. He contrasts this with his own experience of constantly fighting "the shakes" and repressing things that others can never understand. The repetition of "night after night" emphasizes the unending nature of his struggles and the toll it takes on him.

Overall, "SOS" showcases the frustration and isolation that can come with experiencing difficult emotions and situations, and Young's refusal to let others pretend to understand his pain. It's a powerful commentary on the complexities of human emotions and the need for empathy and understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

You don't know struggle.
You have not experienced the hardships that I have.

You don't know sorrow.
You have not experienced the sadness that I have.

You don't know what it's like To have to watch somebody die.
You have not experienced the pain of watching someone you love die.

So don't pretend to act like you know me, And pick apart a mind you don't understand.
Do not pretend to understand me or analyze my thoughts when you have not gone through what I have.

The book is long, Descriptive and haunting. It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.
My experiences and emotions are complex, and you cannot understand them fully.

So what's it like to have that comfort To know you'll always be covered, And to know someone will be there?
What is it like to have a support system and always feel secure?

I've never had that comfort Or enjoyed the luxuries of being covered.
I have never had that security or experienced the benefits of being supported.

So night after night, after night, after night, after night, after night, I'll be staying up late.
I will be staying up late every single night

I'll be fighting off the shakes And puking out the window, Repressing things you can never know.
I will struggle to manage my emotions and suppress things that nobody else can understand.

I'll be staying up late. I'll be fighting off the shakes And puking out the window, Repressing things you can never know.
I will be struggling with my emotions and suppressing my feelings every single night.

Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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