In September 2011 Wilson declared on his Facebook-page that Heartattack In A Layby is one of the 20 songs he's most proud of during his career.
Under a Blackfield-interview Wilson got the following question: "...I know you don’t really want to talk about Porcupine Tree right now, but I have to ask you about my favorite song of yours, “Heartattack In A Layby.” Frankly, I think it’s a work of genius, and I wonder what made you write it."
SW: "Oh, well thank you. It’s one of my favorites of mine, too. I think that for me, one of the things that’s always been the most heartbreaking about the human condition is the idea of regret. Regret for not having said what you should’ve said at the time or done what you should’ve done. Regret for not following your instincts and married the right person when you had the chance. All of that stuff. I think it’s terribly sad human quality, and “Heartattack In A Layby” is about regret. It’s all about a guy basically dying in a Layby and thinking about the way he’s left home the day before, the night before, the week before, or whenever. That incredibly potent sense of regret for not resolving this argument or row or whatever it was. I just thought it was a really beautiful image. Actually, when I started writing the song, it was about a man who’d been shot and he was lying in a Layby. But then I thought that what’s even more potent, in a way, is this idea that he’s having a heart attack and he doesn’t even realize that he’s dying. It was just that idea, really, and it’s definitely one of my favorite songs of them all, too. I’m glad you like it."
Heartattack in a Layby
Porcupine Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
East of Baldock and Ashford
Feeling for my cell
In the light from the dashboard
Hissing from the road
The smell of rain in the air con
Maybe check the news
Lighting up a smoke
I've got this feeling inside me
Don't feel too good
If I close my eyes
And fell asleep in this lay-by
Would it all subside
The fever pushing the day by
Motor window wind
I could do with some fresh air
Can't breathe too well
(She waits for me.
Home waits for me.)
I guess I should go now
She's waiting to make up
To tell me she's sorry
And how much she missed me
I guess I'm just burnt out
I really should slow down
I'm perfectly fine but
I just need to lie down
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
Heartattack in a Layby by Porcupine Tree is a song that paints a poignant picture of the struggle with exhaustion, burnout, and the desire for escape. The opening lines establish the physical setting; the singer has stopped his car on the side of the road and is feeling around for his phone. As the song progresses, we get the sense that this is not just a casual stop en route, but rather a deliberate choice to withdraw from the pressures of everyday life. He lights a cigarette and contemplates the idea of just closing his eyes and staying there. There is a sense of detachment in his voice as he describes the world around him, from the rain in the air conditioning to the hissing of the road.
Line by Line Meaning
I pull off the road
I take a break from driving
East of Baldock and Ashford
In a specific location in the United Kingdom
Feeling for my cell
Searching for my mobile phone
In the light from the dashboard
With the help of the car's interior light
Hissing from the road
The sound of tires on wet pavement
The smell of rain in the air con
The scent of rain mixed with the car's air conditioning
Maybe check the news
Possibly watch the news on my phone
Or just put a tape on
Alternatively, listen to music on tape
Lighting up a smoke
Lighting a cigarette
I've got this feeling inside me
Experiencing an internal sensation
Don't feel too good
Not feeling well physically or emotionally
If I close my eyes
Considering the option to rest
And fell asleep in this lay-by
And sleep in this parking area
Would it all subside
Will the negative feelings go away?
The fever pushing the day by
The discomfort overpowering my day
Motor window wind
The sound of wind passing by the vehicle
I could do with some fresh air
I need to breathe some fresh air
Can't breathe too well
Breathing is difficult
(She waits for me.
Home waits for me.)
('She' or significant other) is expecting me to come home soon
I guess I should go now
I suppose I should leave now
She's waiting to make up
She's waiting to reconcile
To tell me she's sorry
To apologize
And how much she missed me
And express how much she has been thinking about me
I guess I'm just burnt out
I suppose I am overworked
I really should slow down
I truly must reduce my workload
I'm perfectly fine but
I'm doing well, but still have concerns
I just need to lie down
I need to rest
We'll grow old together
We will age in each other's company
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: COLIN EDWIN BALCH, GAVIN RICHARD HARRISON, RICHARD BARBIERI, STEVEN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind