Ballad
Pailhead Lyrics

The lyrics of Pailhead's song "Ballad" are fairly straightforward, yet they reveal a powerful message about the dynamics of power and control in the music industry. The opening line, "Pick up the Goddamn phone, I pay to hear you lie," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer demands the attention of someone in a position of authority, likely a music industry executive or promoter. The line "I saw you on T.V. / There's nothing here for me" underscores the disillusionment and disappointment the singer feels with the industry and its players, suggesting that the promises made by these gatekeepers are hollow and unfulfilling.

The second stanza, "I'll pay the price / So pick up the Goddamn phone / I'm just a voice you cannot see / But you act as if you know me," highlights the power dynamic at play, with the singer acknowledging that they are willing to pay whatever it takes to get the attention of the person on the other end of the line. It also draws attention to the insincerity of the industry figures who make promises they have no intention of keeping, and the frustration of being reduced to a faceless, voiceless commodity.

The final lines "You chat away while I bleed / Then take my money" are particularly poignant, as they suggest that the industry not only takes advantage of artists' vulnerability and desperation, but actively profits from it. Overall, "Ballad" is a searing indictment of the music industry and the power structures that govern it, revealing the harsh realities that artists face in their pursuit of success.